--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The reframe for the question “What do you…" description: "\"“The reframe for the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is this: “Who or what do you want to grow into?” Life is all about growth and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/bill-burnett-15078_change_the-reframe-for-the-question-what-do-you_1052225.jpg" --- # The reframe for the question “What do you want to be when… ![“The reframe for the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is this: “Who or what do you want to grow into?” Life is all about growth and change. It’s not static. It’s not about some destination. It’s not about answering the question once and for all and then it’s all done.” quote by Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/bill-burnett-15078_change_the-reframe-for-the-question-what-do-you_1052225.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/bill-burnett-15078_change_the-reframe-for-the-question-what-do-you_1052225.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b01/bill-burnett-15078_change_the-reframe-for-the-question-what-do-you_1052225.jpg) > ““The reframe for the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is this: “Who or what do you want to grow into?” Life is all about growth and change. It’s not static. It’s not about some destination. It’s not about answering the question once and for all and then it’s all done.”” [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Shift focus from fixed goals to evolving identity, emphasizing continuous growth. **In simple terms:** Grow into who you want to become. Key Takeaway Embrace change, keep learning. Themes personal development identity growth Mood inspirational motivational Type philosophical practical When to use this quote - career planning - education - self‑reflection Key Concepts design thinking lifelong learning Questions to Reflect On - What identity are you shaping? - How can you stay adaptable? A Different Perspective Fixating on a single goal can limit potential. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow/) [Grow Want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grow-want-365942/) [Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth/) [Growth And Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/growth-and-change/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Life Growth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-growth/) [Want Grow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/want-grow/) ## Related quotes > [Life is about growth and change. When you are no longer doing that — that is your whisper; that is your whisper that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/life-is-about-growth-and-change-when-you-are-no-longer-doing-that/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I don't want to grow up, I want to grow down](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/i-don-t-want-to-grow-up-i-want-to-grow-down/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [I think as any artist you always want to grow; you always want to get better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-garrett/i-think-as-any-artist-you-always-want-to-grow-you-always-want-to-get/) [Brad Garrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-garrett/) > [I dont want to stay this way. I want to grow. I want to change and Im pressing toward that mark.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/i-dont-want-to-stay-this-way-i-want-to-grow-i-want-to-change-and-im/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [“i know at last what i want to be when i grow up. when i grow up i want to be a little boy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-heller/i-know-at-last-what-i-want-to-be-when-i-grow-up-when-i-grow-up-i-want/) [Joseph Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-heller/) > [“I want to grow with him. I want to be with him. I want to love Lo without people telling me that our love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-want-to-grow-with-him-i-want-to-be-with-him-i-want-to-love-lo/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“We all like to think we'll grow up,' Beatrice said. 'History's the one dream we all try and dream together.' I don't want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-bradfield/we-all-like-to-think-we-ll-grow-up-beatrice-said-history-s-the-one/) [Scott Bradfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-bradfield/) > [I want to grow. I want to be better. You Grow. We all grow. We're made to grow.You either evolve or you disappear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/i-want-to-grow-i-want-to-be-better-you-grow-we-all-grow-we-re-made-to/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I want to make a better record than I made the last time. I want to grow. I want to discover new things about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-legend/i-want-to-make-a-better-record-than-i-made-the-last-time-i-want-to/) [John Legend](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-legend/) > [“THE THREE MOST IMPORTANT QUESTIONS 1.​What experiences do you want to have in this lifetime? 2.​How do you want to grow? 3.​How do you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vishen-lakhiani/the-three-most-important-questions-1-what-experiences-do-you-want-to/) [Vishen Lakhiani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vishen-lakhiani/) > [Diversity makes us better and allows us to grow, which is what I want for WWE.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/diversity-makes-us-better-and-allows-us-to-grow-which-is-what-i-want/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [Growth and change may be painful sometimes, but nothing in life is as painful as staying stuck where you don't belong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/growth-and-change-may-be-painful-sometimes-but-nothing-in-life-is-as/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Where there is age there is evolution, where there is life there is growth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelica-huston/where-there-is-age-there-is-evolution-where-there-is-life-there-is/) [Anjelica Huston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelica-huston/) > [“Life is growth, You grow or you die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-knight/life-is-growth-you-grow-or-you-die/) [Phil Knight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-knight/) > [I just want to grow spiritually with the Lord,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-durant/i-just-want-to-grow-spiritually-with-the-lord/) [Kevin Durant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-durant/) ## More by Bill Burnett > [“answer. Donald’s dysfunctional belief was related to Janine’s, but he’d held on to it for much longer—a life of responsible and successful work should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/answer-donald-s-dysfunctional-belief-was-related-to-janine-s-but-he-d/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“When you finally get down to making a choice from your narrowed-down list of alternatives, and you’ve cognitively evaluated the issues, and emotionally and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/when-you-finally-get-down-to-making-a-choice-from-your-narrowed-down/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“Dysfunctional Belief: To be happy, I have to make the right choice. Reframe: There is no right choice—only good choosing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/dysfunctional-belief-to-be-happy-i-have-to-make-the-right-choice/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“We mostly use cognitive knowing—all that good, objective, organized, informational kind of knowing—the sort of knowing that gets you A’s in school. But we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/we-mostly-use-cognitive-knowing-all-that-good-objective-organized/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“Design doesn’t just work for creating cool stuff like computers and Ferraris; it works in creating a cool life. 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Reframe: Happiness is letting go of what you don’t need.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/dysfunctional-belief-happiness-is-having-it-all-reframe-happiness-is/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“Dysfunctional Belief: I am looking for a job. Reframe: I am pursuing a number of offers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/dysfunctional-belief-i-am-looking-for-a-job-reframe-i-am-pursuing-a/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“It's worth emphasizing that failures and hardships are a part of every life, even the well-designed ones.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/it-s-worth-emphasizing-that-failures-and-hardships-are-a-part-of/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“In fact, in the United States, only 27 percent of college grads end up in a career related to their majors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/in-fact-in-the-united-states-only-27-percent-of-college-grads-end-up/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“Most people fail not for lack of talent but for lack of imagination. You can get a lot of this information by sitting down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/most-people-fail-not-for-lack-of-talent-but-for-lack-of-imagination/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“the research shows that, for most people, passion comes after they try something, discover they like it, and develop mastery—not before. To”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/the-research-shows-that-for-most-people-passion-comes-after-they-try/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“Quantity has a quality all its own. In life design, more is better, because more ideas equal access to better ideas, and better ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/quantity-has-a-quality-all-its-own-in-life-design-more-is-better/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [“When an activity is done to win, to advance, to achieve—even if it’s “fun” to do so—it’s not play. It may be a wonderful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/when-an-activity-is-done-to-win-to-advance-to-achieve-even-if-it-s/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) [Explore all 44 Bill Burnett quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) [Phil Hogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hogan/) > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“The reframe for the question “What do you want to be when you grow up?” is this: “Who or what do you want to grow into?” Life is all about growth and change. 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