--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started off small and then this was…" description: "\"I started off small and then this was just the great opportunity.\" — Billie Joe Armstrong" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png" --- # I started off small and then this was just the great… ![“I started off small and then this was just the great opportunity.” quote by Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png) > “I started off small and then this was just the great opportunity.” [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He began with modest efforts, which led to a significant opportunity. **In simple terms:** Small beginnings can lead to big chances. Key Takeaway Start modestly, stay open to growth. Themes career opportunity humility growth Mood motivational reflective Type career advice When to use this quote - starting a band - freelance gigs - networking events - skill building Key Concepts entrepreneurship music industry career development Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize a “great opportunity”? - What steps turn small starts into big results? A Different Perspective Opportunity may not always follow effort. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Great opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-opportunity/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Small Just](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/small-just-1539060/) [Started](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started/) [Started Small](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-small-2112407/) ## Related quotes > [I started off in a small theatre performance company and worked my way into commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-sawa/i-started-off-in-a-small-theatre-performance-company-and-worked-my/) [Devon Sawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-sawa/) > [“Something big, always started out something small”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clerisse-rogers/something-big-always-started-out-something-small/) [Clerisse Rogers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clerisse-rogers/) > [I started in a very small tennis club in a South American country where I never thought about becoming the best tennis player.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garbine-muguruza/i-started-in-a-very-small-tennis-club-in-a-south-american-country/) [Garbine Muguruza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garbine-muguruza/) > [I started small with commercials and print.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gina-rodriguez/i-started-small-with-commercials-and-print/) [Gina Rodriguez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gina-rodriguez/) > [But everyone has a chance. Every big guy started off small.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gokongwei/but-everyone-has-a-chance-every-big-guy-started-off-small/) [John Gokongwei](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gokongwei/) > [I don't think cinema is big or small. It's just good or bad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-gopal-varma/i-don-t-think-cinema-is-big-or-small-it-s-just-good-or-bad/) [Ram Gopal Varma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-gopal-varma/) > [“There was an element of risk - however small - in everything. You just had to accept that and get on with it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-mansell/there-was-an-element-of-risk-however-small-in-everything-you-just-had/) [Jill Mansell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-mansell/) > [When my son was small, he just came with me everywhere, whether it was going to yoga class or auditions or sleeping over at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frankie-shaw/when-my-son-was-small-he-just-came-with-me-everywhere-whether-it-was/) [Frankie Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frankie-shaw/) > [Sometimes, someone says something so small and it just fits right into this empty place in your heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senora-roy/sometimes-someone-says-something-so-small-and-it-just-fits-right-into/) [Senora Roy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/senora-roy/) > [There's no such thing as a small part. There are just small actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sidney-lumet/there-s-no-such-thing-as-a-small-part-there-are-just-small-actors/) [Sidney Lumet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sidney-lumet/) > [Tunisia is small - just ten million, no great natural resources.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliott-abrams/tunisia-is-small-just-ten-million-no-great-natural-resources/) [Elliott Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliott-abrams/) > [Everything small is just a small version of something big!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ramandeep-singh/everything-small-is-just-a-small-version-of-something-big/) [Ramandeep Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ramandeep-singh/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/those-times-when-you-feel-like-quitting-can-be-times-of-great/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) ## More by Billie Joe Armstrong > [You want a drumstick? Like a ice cream cone or a chicken wing!?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/you-want-a-drumstick-like-a-ice-cream-cone-or-a-chicken-wing/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [Time passes by like lightning. Before you know it you're struck down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/time-passes-by-like-lightning-before-you-know-it-you-re-struck-down/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I just wanted to get the hell out of my town. I wanted to leave with reckless abandon. I didn't care where I ended…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-wanted-to-get-the-hell-out-of-my-town-i-wanted-to-leave-with/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [There are many things in life that you feel you need such as television, magazines, teachers telling that you have to make money and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/there-are-many-things-in-life-that-you-feel-you-need-such-as/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [The first time that you escape from home or the small town that you live in - there's a reason a small town is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/the-first-time-that-you-escape-from-home-or-the-small-town-that-you/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I think people are born bisexual, and it's just that our parents and society kind of veer us off into this feeling of 'Oh,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-think-people-are-born-bisexual-and-it-s-just-that-our-parents-and/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I was on drugs when I wrote some of my songs. It was a rough time for me, but I'm lucky enough to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-was-on-drugs-when-i-wrote-some-of-my-songs-it-was-a-rough-time-for/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I hate television. I hate the internet. I hate cell phones. I hate cameras. I hate everything that destroys creativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-hate-television-i-hate-the-internet-i-hate-cell-phones-i-hate/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [It's not necessarily getting older or the change that comes with it, I think it's more about the memories that you have. Where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/it-s-not-necessarily-getting-older-or-the-change-that-comes-with-it-i/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I thought everybody was in on the joke. But I was the joke.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-thought-everybody-was-in-on-the-joke-but-i-was-the-joke/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I just open my mouth and out it comes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-just-open-my-mouth-and-out-it-comes/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [I never thought being obnoxious would get me where I am today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-never-thought-being-obnoxious-would-get-me-where-i-am-today/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [When someone is in a car accident and they're driving at 100 mph, drunk, who's tape do you think his listening to at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/when-someone-is-in-a-car-accident-and-they-re-driving-at-100-mph/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [History will tell if we were really a good band or just a one day fly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/history-will-tell-if-we-were-really-a-good-band-or-just-a-one-day-fly/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) > [“If someone falls down, please pick them back up. Just because there's not a camera in your face doesn't mean you don't have to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/if-someone-falls-down-please-pick-them-back-up-just-because-there-s/) [Billie Joe Armstrong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) [Explore all 199 Billie Joe Armstrong quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/) ## More Great opportunity quotes > [I was kind of like chasing my tail and trying to do the right thing, and was a little bit stupid. Or irresponsible, which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/i-was-kind-of-like-chasing-my-tail-and-trying-to-do-the-right-thing/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) > [Those times when you feel like quitting can be times of great opportunity, for God uses your troubles to help you grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-w-wiersbe/those-times-when-you-feel-like-quitting-can-be-times-of-great/) [Warren W. Wiersbe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-w-wiersbe/) > [I don't think there's a shortage of remarkable ideas. I think your business has plenty of great opportunities to do great things. Nope, what's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/i-don-t-think-there-s-a-shortage-of-remarkable-ideas-i-think-your/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [We feel that, with Sidney, we have a great opportunity over the next few years to put a great team on the ice. We're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mario-lemieux/we-feel-that-with-sidney-we-have-a-great-opportunity-over-the-next/) [Mario Lemieux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mario-lemieux/) > [Great moments are born great opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikola-tesla/great-moments-are-born-great-opportunity/) [Nikola Tesla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikola-tesla/) > [ As an artist, it's a great opportunity to play a character like this \[Ugandan dictator Idi Amin in The Last King of Scotland\]. And… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/forest-whitaker/as-an-artist-it-s-a-great-opportunity-to-play-a-character-like-this/) [Forest Whitaker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/forest-whitaker/) > [As a group I thought we played connected. I feel like we had a lot of great shots, some great opportunities, and for us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-botterill/as-a-group-i-thought-we-played-connected-i-feel-like-we-had-a-lot-of/) [Jennifer Botterill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-botterill/) > [Successful weight management really means a permanent change in lifestyle - and success in this arena provides that person with a great opportunity to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-collins/successful-weight-management-really-means-a-permanent-change-in/) [Francis Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-collins/) > [This American system of ours,call it Americanism,call it capitalism,call it what you will,gives each and every one of us a great opportunity if we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-capone/this-american-system-of-ours-call-it-americanism-call-it-capitalism/) [Al Capone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-capone/) > [I think that's a great opportunity, to pick a script where you can build up a good skill. I think the main thing I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carly-schroeder/i-think-that-s-a-great-opportunity-to-pick-a-script-where-you-can/) [Carly Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carly-schroeder/) > [It is a great opportunity and a great challenge to be a part of Indian team for the World Cup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-sreesanth/it-is-a-great-opportunity-and-a-great-challenge-to-be-a-part-of/) [S. Sreesanth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-sreesanth/) > [To be honest, 'Ready Steady Cook' was a great opportunity, but I did compromise myself. I was stood there quizzing chefs on what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-be-honest-ready-steady-cook-was-a-great-opportunity-but-i-did/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [The first day working with my father was nerve wracking. I was terrified that I would embarrass him or he would embarrass me and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-deschanel/the-first-day-working-with-my-father-was-nerve-wracking-i-was/) [Emily Deschanel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-deschanel/) > [I'd been at Valve since I got out of college. I felt like I kind of grew up there, and I wanted to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-swift/i-d-been-at-valve-since-i-got-out-of-college-i-felt-like-i-kind-of/) [Kim Swift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-swift/) > [I think doing 'Teen Wolf' is just giving me a really great opportunity to possibly get other jobs and show what I can do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colton-haynes/i-think-doing-teen-wolf-is-just-giving-me-a-really-great-opportunity/) [Colton Haynes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colton-haynes/) [Browse all 282 Great opportunity quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-opportunity/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started off small and then this was just the great opportunity.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Billie Joe Armstrong" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-just-the-great-opportunity/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Great opportunity" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-just-the-great-opportunity/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/billie-joe-armstrong-1888_great-opportunity_i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-ju_1862575.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started off small and then this was just the great opportunity.” — Billie Joe Armstrong", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Billie Joe Armstrong", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billie-joe-armstrong/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started off small and then...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-just-the-great-opportunity/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billie-joe-armstrong/i-started-off-small-and-then-this-was-just-the-great-opportunity/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```