--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was getting paid for my art, because I…" description: "\"I was getting paid for my art, because I was always an under-achiever.\" — Carson Ellis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg" --- # I was getting paid for my art, because I was always an… ![“I was getting paid for my art, because I was always an under-achiever.” quote by Carson Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg) > “I was getting paid for my art, because I was always an under-achiever.” [Carson Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-ellis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The creator reveals that financial reward often follows a pattern of underachievement, implying a complex relationship between effort and payoff. **In simple terms:** Underachievement sometimes leads to payment for art. Key Takeaway Value consistency and growth over occasional success. Themes creativity compensation self-worth productivity Mood thoughtful analytical Type creative career When to use this quote - Freelance work - portfolio building - setting realistic goals Key Concepts Economic value of art motivation career development Questions to Reflect On - Why do underperformers sometimes get paid? - How to align effort with reward? A Different Perspective Financial success may be inconsistent. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Achiever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achiever/) [Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Art Achiever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-achiever-3610161/) [Art is](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art-is/) [Artist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/artist/) [Getting Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-paid/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Paid Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid-art-818315/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) ## Related quotes > [For me getting paid for art is a class issue. I don't have the luxury not to care. It's great if your parents buy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-georges/for-me-getting-paid-for-art-is-a-class-issue-i-don-t-have-the-luxury/) [Nicole Georges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-georges/) > [“W- Work of Art A- Achiever R- Resilient R- Radical I- Independent O- Organized R- Resourceful”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-l-alder/w-work-of-art-a-achiever-r-resilient-r-radical-i-independent-o/) [Shannon L. Alder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-l-alder/) > [I am more likely to get paid for my art if it's presented alongside a white artist, so the questions around value and agency…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vivek-shraya/i-am-more-likely-to-get-paid-for-my-art-if-it-s-presented-alongside-a/) [Vivek Shraya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vivek-shraya/) > [“No freebies...be paid for your art. This is your business.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-goldin/no-freebies-be-paid-for-your-art-this-is-your-business/) [Lisa Goldin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-goldin/) > [That's the first band I ever played in that was working and I was getting paid for it. I was 12. The other guys…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gatton/that-s-the-first-band-i-ever-played-in-that-was-working-and-i-was/) [Danny Gatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gatton/) > [If any one of my players isn’t interfering with play, they’re not getting paid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-clough/if-any-one-of-my-players-isn-t-interfering-with-play-they-re-not/) [Brian Clough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-clough/) > [It's unbelievable really. For something that started off as a hobby, I ended up getting paid for doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-hatton/it-s-unbelievable-really-for-something-that-started-off-as-a-hobby-i/) [Ricky Hatton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-hatton/) > [I don't know what's better: getting laid or getting paid. I just know when I'm getting one, the other's getting away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanye-west/i-don-t-know-what-s-better-getting-laid-or-getting-paid-i-just-know/) [Kanye West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanye-west/) > [If the players aren't getting paid, there's something terribly, terribly wrong, and that's true only in the United States. Everywhere else, where money is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-deford/if-the-players-aren-t-getting-paid-there-s-something-terribly/) [Frank Deford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-deford/) > [As long as you are getting to do what you love and getting paid to do it, it's the best feeling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/varun-sharma/as-long-as-you-are-getting-to-do-what-you-love-and-getting-paid-to-do/) [Varun Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/varun-sharma/) > [I've been playing football all my life and I wasn't getting paid for it when I was younger.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-carroll/i-ve-been-playing-football-all-my-life-and-i-wasn-t-getting-paid-for/) [Andy Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-carroll/) > [Everybody, every tradesman that worked for Shafin or built my house got fully paid, well paid. Everybody got paid. I would like that to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-filan/everybody-every-tradesman-that-worked-for-shafin-or-built-my-house/) [Shane Filan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-filan/) > [I don't think people understand when you say you are making a micro-budget film that you are getting paid no money,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-elizabeth-winstead/i-don-t-think-people-understand-when-you-say-you-are-making-a-micro/) [Mary Elizabeth Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-elizabeth-winstead/) > [I don't like to cry in public, unless I'm getting paid for it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-martin/i-don-t-like-to-cry-in-public-unless-i-m-getting-paid-for-it/) [Andrea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-martin/) > [“And...how much are we getting paid for achieving the impossible?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-sanderson/and-how-much-are-we-getting-paid-for-achieving-the-impossible/) [Brandon Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-sanderson/) ## More by Carson Ellis > [Chapter books are often written in series and kids have come to expect that they'll come out once a year, so publishers want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-ellis/chapter-books-are-often-written-in-series-and-kids-have-come-to/) [Carson Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-ellis/) > [I hate rushing the creative process, but there could definitely be a lot worse lots in life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-ellis/i-hate-rushing-the-creative-process-but-there-could-definitely-be-a/) [Carson Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-ellis/) [Explore all 3 Carson Ellis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-ellis/) ## More Achiever quotes > [We create a standard for how we want to do things and everybody's got to buy into that standard or you really can't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/we-create-a-standard-for-how-we-want-to-do-things-and-everybody-s-got/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [“Don't pretend to be what you're not, instead, pretend to what you want to be, it is not pretence, it is a journey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/don-t-pretend-to-be-what-you-re-not-instead-pretend-to-what-you-want/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [I don't think art is a goal orientated business. I don't do things for the challenges, I only do them because I love them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-lake/i-don-t-think-art-is-a-goal-orientated-business-i-don-t-do-things-for/) [Greg Lake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-lake/) > [Jaylen's a high achiever. You can be a high achiever in every which way. He's a guy that - we've talked about several times…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-stevens/jaylen-s-a-high-achiever-you-can-be-a-high-achiever-in-every-which/) [Brad Stevens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-stevens/) > [“Every great achiever is inspired by a great mentor.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/every-great-achiever-is-inspired-by-a-great-mentor/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [She explained that many people, but especially women, feel fraudulent when they are praised for their accomplishments. Instead of feeling worthy of recognition, they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sheryl-sandberg/she-explained-that-many-people-but-especially-women-feel-fraudulent/) [Sheryl Sandberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sheryl-sandberg/) > [Probably any successful career has X number of breaks in it, and maybe the difference between successful people and those who aren't super achievers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-ganz-cooney/probably-any-successful-career-has-x-number-of-breaks-in-it-and-maybe/) [Joan Ganz Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-ganz-cooney/) > [“Money is not the first step to becoming a great achiever. Your ideas determine the cost you will need to pay. So if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/money-is-not-the-first-step-to-becoming-a-great-achiever-your-ideas/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [Understand that workaholics aren't productive people. Quite the contrary. A workaholic is someone who takes twice as much time to accomplish half as much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-j-zelinski/understand-that-workaholics-aren-t-productive-people-quite-the/) [Ernie J Zelinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-j-zelinski/) > [Im an over achiever, so how bout I start a team of leaders, and pick up Stevie Wonder to be the wide receiver.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyler-the-creator/im-an-over-achiever-so-how-bout-i-start-a-team-of-leaders-and-pick-up/) [Tyler The Creator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyler-the-creator/) > [“Take the challenge of your life. Reach out to your goals. There is no limit to what you can achieve.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/take-the-challenge-of-your-life-reach-out-to-your-goals-there-is-no/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Shortridge High School was an elitist high school. In a way it was a scandal because you could go there no matter where you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-vonnegut/shortridge-high-school-was-an-elitist-high-school-in-a-way-it-was-a/) [Kurt Vonnegut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-vonnegut/) > [“Result of HARDWORK Is Neither Friends Nor Enemy, To the AGE Of the ACHIEVER!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sujit-lalwani/result-of-hardwork-is-neither-friends-nor-enemy-to-the-age-of-the/) [Sujit Lalwani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sujit-lalwani/) > [“Achievers are those who have redefined impossible, changing what can't be done into a work in progress. ”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-e-goodrich/achievers-are-those-who-have-redefined-impossible-changing-what-can-t/) [Richelle E. Goodrich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-e-goodrich/) > [With the MacArthur grant, I realized that people have high expectations of me, that they were placing me in this group of achievers. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-diamond/with-the-macarthur-grant-i-realized-that-people-have-high/) [Jared Diamond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-diamond/) [Browse all 118 Achiever quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/achiever/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was getting paid for my art, because I was always an under-achiever.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Carson Ellis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-ellis/i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i-was-always-an-under-achiever/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Achiever" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-ellis/i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i-was-always-an-under-achiever/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/22f/carson-ellis-82610_achiever_i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i_2013599.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was getting paid for my art, because I was always an under-achiever.” — Carson Ellis", "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": "Carson Ellis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carson-ellis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was getting paid for my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-ellis/i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i-was-always-an-under-achiever/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carson-ellis/i-was-getting-paid-for-my-art-because-i-was-always-an-under-achiever/#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 } } ] } ```