--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As Derek explained to me, he started by…" description: "\"“As Derek explained to me, he started by pursuing music at night and on the weekend. “I didn’t quit my day job until I was making more money with my mu..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg" --- # As Derek explained to me, he started by pursuing music at… ![“As Derek explained to me, he started by pursuing music at night and on the weekend. “I didn’t quit my day job until I was making more money with my music.” quote by Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg) > ““As Derek explained to me, he started by pursuing music at night and on the weekend. “I didn’t quit my day job until I was making more money with my music.”” [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He kept his stable job while building a music career, quitting only after his music income surpassed his day‑job earnings. **In simple terms:** He didn’t quit his day job until his music made more money. Key Takeaway Maintain financial security while pursuing passion. Themes career finance passion risk entrepreneurship Mood determined hopeful Type advice motivational When to use this quote - Freelance musician - startup founder - part‑time artist - career transition Key Concepts Opportunity cost incremental growth side hustle Questions to Reflect On - When is it safe to leave a stable job for a creative pursuit? - How do you measure success before quitting? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout if juggling too many responsibilities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ## Related quotes > [“Sit your ass down, Don Juanabe," Derek said. "Don Juanabe?" Ascanio pulled out his swords. "Don Juan Wannabe," Derek explained. "See I shortened it.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilona-andrews/sit-your-ass-down-don-juanabe-derek-said-don-juanabe-ascanio-pulled/) [Ilona Andrews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilona-andrews/) > [One of the reasons I started pursuing MMA was for all the similarities to pro wrestling that it has.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayna-baszler/one-of-the-reasons-i-started-pursuing-mma-was-for-all-the/) [Shayna Baszler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayna-baszler/) > [I actually started modeling in Ethiopia, because that's where I grew up, and I started out by just doing little fashion shows for school,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liya-kebede/i-actually-started-modeling-in-ethiopia-because-that-s-where-i-grew/) [Liya Kebede](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liya-kebede/) > [I started pursuing stand-up comedy in 12th grade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jermaine-fowler/i-started-pursuing-stand-up-comedy-in-12th-grade/) [Jermaine Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jermaine-fowler/) > [Though I have started pursuing acting, there is no stopping for me from scoring music because music has always been my passion, though acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-antony/though-i-have-started-pursuing-acting-there-is-no-stopping-for-me/) [Vijay Antony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-antony/) > [Music was my passion, and I started out as a singer. It's just natural to me to keep pursuing my music career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-jung/music-was-my-passion-and-i-started-out-as-a-singer-it-s-just-natural/) [Jessica Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-jung/) > [I wouldn't have wasted a lot of time pursuing music. I was very lucky that my first demos got accepted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-macdonald/i-wouldn-t-have-wasted-a-lot-of-time-pursuing-music-i-was-very-lucky/) [Amy Macdonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-macdonald/) > [I'm still not really planning on pursuing a music career. I like to make music because it's fun to do and it makes me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-m-still-not-really-planning-on-pursuing-a-music-career-i-like-to/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I guess part of my ambivalence about pursuing music as well as acting is that acting is already one of the most difficult careers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lola-kirke/i-guess-part-of-my-ambivalence-about-pursuing-music-as-well-as-acting/) [Lola Kirke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lola-kirke/) > [I used to ride the school bus to school and just listen to music with my headphones. I'd stick my head out the window…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zz-ward-53197/i-used-to-ride-the-school-bus-to-school-and-just-listen-to-music-with/) ZZ Ward > [I miss the physicality of drumming. There's immediateness about it that I'm always striving for in my acting. Maybe I'm in the wrong profession.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trevor-st-john/i-miss-the-physicality-of-drumming-there-s-immediateness-about-it/) [Trevor St. John](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trevor-st-john/) > [Pursuing music eats into your life to the point where there is no space left for anything else. You are lucky if you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-michel-jarre/pursuing-music-eats-into-your-life-to-the-point-where-there-is-no/) [Jean-Michel Jarre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-michel-jarre/) > [I'd promised my parents that I'd go to college, take the time to grow up a bit, and experience something different before really pursuing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rotimi/i-d-promised-my-parents-that-i-d-go-to-college-take-the-time-to-grow/) [Rotimi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rotimi/) > [I've been pursuing music since I was 14.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanel-west-coast/i-ve-been-pursuing-music-since-i-was-14/) [Chanel West Coast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanel-west-coast/) > [What is a champion but a guy that didn't quit?... Life is a continuous experience. You only fail by not learning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renzo-gracie/what-is-a-champion-but-a-guy-that-didn-t-quit-life-is-a-continuous/) [Renzo Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renzo-gracie/) ## More by Cal Newport > [“the importance of ability. The things that make a great job great, I discovered, are rare and valuable. If you want them in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/the-importance-of-ability-the-things-that-make-a-great-job-great-i/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“many software companies now deploy the Scrum project management methodology, which replaces a lot of this ad hoc messaging with regular, highly structured, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/many-software-companies-now-deploy-the-scrum-project-management/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“when paying more than $1,000 a day to write the chapter in a suite of an old hotel down the street from a Hogwarts-style…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/when-paying-more-than-1-000-a-day-to-write-the-chapter-in-a-suite-of/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“When deciding whether to follow an appealing pursuit that will introduce more control into your work life, seek evidence of whether people are willing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/when-deciding-whether-to-follow-an-appealing-pursuit-that-will/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Let your mind become a lens, thanks to the converging rays of attention; let your soul be all intent on whatever it is that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/let-your-mind-become-a-lens-thanks-to-the-converging-rays-of/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“study by Harvard Business School professor Leslie Perlow. 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He didn’t decide out of nowhere that he wanted to host a television show and then work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/kirk-s-path-to-american-treasures-was-incremental-he-didn-t-decide/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“If you spend too much time focusing on whether or not you’ve found your true calling, the question will be rendered moot when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/if-you-spend-too-much-time-focusing-on-whether-or-not-you-ve-found/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“Their plans were circumspect and small-time. They weren’t dreaming of taking over the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/their-plans-were-circumspect-and-small-time-they-weren-t-dreaming-of/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) > [“This chain method (as some now call it) soon became a hit among writers and fitness enthusiasts—communities that thrive on the ability to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/this-chain-method-as-some-now-call-it-soon-became-a-hit-among-writers/) [Cal Newport](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) [Explore all 257 Cal Newport quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/) ## More Music quotes > [I feel like I definitely have a real sporty style, more so than a lot of people in G.O.O.D. Music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/i-feel-like-i-definitely-have-a-real-sporty-style-more-so-than-a-lot/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I'm at the edge of the world, Where do I go from here? Do I disappear? Edge of the world, Should I sink or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bring-me-the-horizon/i-m-at-the-edge-of-the-world-where-do-i-go-from-here-do-i-disappear/) [Bring Me The Horizon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bring-me-the-horizon/) > [I've seen a lot of people come out of Carol City, but I had this distinct vision for Carol City, just me coming out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/i-ve-seen-a-lot-of-people-come-out-of-carol-city-but-i-had-this/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [When you listen to someone improvise, the notes that are played are only half the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hubert-laws/when-you-listen-to-someone-improvise-the-notes-that-are-played-are/) Hubert Laws > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [ “Downloading's the same as what I used to do. I used to tape the charts of the songs I liked \[off the radio\]. I… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liam-gallagher/downloading-s-the-same-as-what-i-used-to-do-i-used-to-tape-the-charts/) [Liam Gallagher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liam-gallagher/) > [I've been writing songs since I was 10 years old and always had a penchant for rhyming. I started listening to hip hop through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hoodie-allen/i-ve-been-writing-songs-since-i-was-10-years-old-and-always-had-a/) [Hoodie Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hoodie-allen/) > [Each woman is like an instrument, waiting to be learned, loved, and finely played, to have at last her own true music made.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-rothfuss/each-woman-is-like-an-instrument-waiting-to-be-learned-loved-and/) [Patrick Rothfuss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-rothfuss/) > [I want people to hear my lyrics and my melodies and say, 'That dude's in pain.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ivan-moody/i-want-people-to-hear-my-lyrics-and-my-melodies-and-say-that-dude-s/) [Ivan Moody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ivan-moody/) > [I make dance music because I love to dance. But I want to think at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stromae/i-make-dance-music-because-i-love-to-dance-but-i-want-to-think-at-the/) [Stromae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stromae/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I feel very grateful to be alive and well enough to make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ant/i-feel-very-grateful-to-be-alive-and-well-enough-to-make-music/) Adam Ant > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) [Browse all 55,293 Music quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As Derek explained to me, he started by pursuing music at night and on the weekend. “I didn’t quit my day job until I was making more money with my music.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Cal Newport" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-pursuing-music-at-night-and-on/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Music" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-pursuing-music-at-night-and-on/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/627/cal-newport-1302_music_as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-p_2376103.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“As Derek explained to me, he started by pursuing music at night and on the weekend. “I didn’t quit my day…” — Cal Newport", "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": "Cal Newport", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-newport/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“As Derek explained to me, he...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-pursuing-music-at-night-and-on/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-newport/as-derek-explained-to-me-he-started-by-pursuing-music-at-night-and-on/#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 } } ] } ```