--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first ambition in life, I made up my…" description: "\"My first ambition in life, I made up my mind I was going to become Miles Davis. I studied music, music theory. I played trumpet for nine years. One day..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/chris-gardner-3822_ambition_my-first-ambition-in-life-i-made-up-my-m_1522503.png" --- # My first ambition in life, I made up my mind I was going… ![“My first ambition in life, I made up my mind I was going to become Miles Davis. I studied music, music theory. I played trumpet for nine years. One day, my mother explained, 'You can't be Miles Davis. There's one, and he's got that job.'” quote by Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/chris-gardner-3822_ambition_my-first-ambition-in-life-i-made-up-my-m_1522503.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/chris-gardner-3822_ambition_my-first-ambition-in-life-i-made-up-my-m_1522503.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4a0/chris-gardner-3822_ambition_my-first-ambition-in-life-i-made-up-my-m_1522503.png) > “My first ambition in life, I made up my mind I was going to become Miles Davis. I studied music, music theory. I played trumpet for nine years. One day, my mother explained, 'You can't be Miles Davis. There's one, and he's got that job.'” [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker reflects on the impossibility of replicating a unique artistic genius, emphasizing individuality and the futility of trying to become someone else. **In simple terms:** You cannot become a famous individual; you must forge your own path. Key Takeaway Pursue your unique talent instead of copying others. Themes ambition identity individuality music role models Mood motivational reflective inspirational Type advice personal development When to use this quote - music education - career planning - personal branding - self-discovery Key Concepts self-actualization unique talent career development Questions to Reflect On - What unique strengths can you develop? - How can you honor influences without imitation? A Different Perspective It may overlook the value of learning from mentors. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Mother](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mother/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music theory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-theory/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [I played the trumpet for nine years, and then I joined the choir after that, and then I was in musicals in high school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bebe-rexha/i-played-the-trumpet-for-nine-years-and-then-i-joined-the-choir-after/) [Bebe Rexha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bebe-rexha/) > [When I was nine years old, I started playing guitar, and I took classical guitar lessons and studied music theory. And played jazz for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-was-nine-years-old-i-started-playing-guitar-and-i-took/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I had a drummer in my band who started teaching me tricks to come up with interesting rhythms. Because I don't come from a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jens-lekman/i-had-a-drummer-in-my-band-who-started-teaching-me-tricks-to-come-up/) [Jens Lekman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jens-lekman/) > [I studied voice when I was at school, and I was in the chamber choir, and I studied music theory as well, so I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lily-allen/i-studied-voice-when-i-was-at-school-and-i-was-in-the-chamber-choir/) [Lily Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lily-allen/) > [When I was very young, I played in a punk-rock band, but I also studied music theory and classical music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/when-i-was-very-young-i-played-in-a-punk-rock-band-but-i-also-studied/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [I got my first trumpet when I was six years old, from Al Hirt. My father was playing in Al Hirt's band at that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-got-my-first-trumpet-when-i-was-six-years-old-from-al-hirt-my/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [I was in the band when I was a kid, I played the trumpet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/drew-carey/i-was-in-the-band-when-i-was-a-kid-i-played-the-trumpet/) [Drew Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/drew-carey/) > [I played the trumpet a bit like a porker, I think.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/boris-vian/i-played-the-trumpet-a-bit-like-a-porker-i-think/) [Boris Vian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/boris-vian/) > [I got to be about 13 and everyone started playing guitars and being in rock bands. There was no place for me with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-booth/i-got-to-be-about-13-and-everyone-started-playing-guitars-and-being/) [Douglas Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-booth/) > [I played trumpet in school at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-anthony/i-played-trumpet-in-school-at-an-early-age/) [Michael Anthony](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-anthony/) > [“I had a dream about you. We were in a band. I was the lead singer, guitar player, saxophonist, harpist, violinist, bassist, cellist, harmonica…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-had-a-dream-about-you-we-were-in-a-band-i-was-the-lead-singer/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [The first time I ever played the trumpet in public, I played the Marine Hymn. I sounded terrible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/the-first-time-i-ever-played-the-trumpet-in-public-i-played-the/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [My dad he doesnt play that many instruments. He played trumpet in high school band. But he made a lot of friends with the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayley-williams/my-dad-he-doesnt-play-that-many-instruments-he-played-trumpet-in-high/) [Hayley Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayley-williams/) > [I played trumpet for Noah and the Whale a couple of times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johnny-flynn/i-played-trumpet-for-noah-and-the-whale-a-couple-of-times/) [Johnny Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johnny-flynn/) > [I played trumpet for about two weeks. Sixth grade. And I didn't practice. Maybe a little longer than two weeks, but I didn't practice…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-played-trumpet-for-about-two-weeks-sixth-grade-and-i-didn-t/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) ## More by Chris Gardner > [Be bold enough to find the one thing that you are passionate about. It might not be what you were trained to do. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/be-bold-enough-to-find-the-one-thing-that-you-are-passionate-about-it/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Others may question your credentials, your papers, your degrees. Others may look for all kinds of ways to diminish your worth. But what is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/others-may-question-your-credentials-your-papers-your-degrees-others/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Walk that walk and go forward all the time. Don't just talk that talk, walk it and go forward. Also, the walk didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/walk-that-walk-and-go-forward-all-the-time-don-t-just-talk-that-talk/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Salespeople are the most important people in any organization. Until a salesperson gets an order, nobody in the company has a job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/salespeople-are-the-most-important-people-in-any-organization-until-a/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You're never too old to do something new.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-re-never-too-old-to-do-something-new/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [It's ok to FAIL it's not ok to Quit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-ok-to-fail-it-s-not-ok-to-quit/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [“It’s okay to fail, it’s not okay to quit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/it-s-okay-to-fail-it-s-not-okay-to-quit/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I have one of those old-fashioned mothers who told me every single day, 'Son, you can do or be anything that you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-have-one-of-those-old-fashioned-mothers-who-told-me-every-single/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [You know how mountains get moved? Everyone who can move a couple, move a couple. Those who can move rocks, move rocks. Those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/you-know-how-mountains-get-moved-everyone-who-can-move-a-couple-move/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I had spent years in the United States military. Specifically in the U.S. Navy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-spent-years-in-the-united-states-military-specifically-in-the-u/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I've never been big on sports coats and pants. I'm a suit guy. It makes it clear who's in charge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-ve-never-been-big-on-sports-coats-and-pants-i-m-a-suit-guy-it-makes/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Still a dreamer, yet more of a realist than ever before, I knew this was my time to sail. On the horizon I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/still-a-dreamer-yet-more-of-a-realist-than-ever-before-i-knew-this/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [Nine times out of 10, extenuating circumstances aside, I believe that people are where they are by some kind of choice on their part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/nine-times-out-of-10-extenuating-circumstances-aside-i-believe-that/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [(The movie) is the story of my life, but it's not about me. It's about anybody who ever dreamed big and had someone tell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/the-movie-is-the-story-of-my-life-but-it-s-not-about-me-it-s-about/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) > [I had never gone to college. I was not from a politically connected family. I had no money of my own. Who is going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-gardner/i-had-never-gone-to-college-i-was-not-from-a-politically-connected/) [Chris Gardner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) [Explore all 120 Chris Gardner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-gardner/) ## More Ambition quotes > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [I just think my own ambition would not allow me to sit on the gifts that my creator had given me. And so that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janelle-monae/i-just-think-my-own-ambition-would-not-allow-me-to-sit-on-the-gifts/) [Janelle Monae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janelle-monae/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I'm hungry and ambitious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julen-lopetegui/i-m-hungry-and-ambitious/) [Julen Lopetegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julen-lopetegui/) > [“I was ambitious and desperate to direct my first film, so I capitulated and blew it. Never again. Never fucking again.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-ferguson/i-was-ambitious-and-desperate-to-direct-my-first-film-so-i/) [Craig Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-ferguson/) > [I was always attracted most to joining City, and I am pleased to be at such a good club with such a big ambition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edin-dzeko/i-was-always-attracted-most-to-joining-city-and-i-am-pleased-to-be-at/) [Edin Dzeko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edin-dzeko/) > [Work towards your goal and dont watch the post size,its either they hate,or like you.there is no room for both sides.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-buabeng/work-towards-your-goal-and-dont-watch-the-post-size-its-either-they/) [Isaac Buabeng](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-buabeng/) > [“But young men have not only this frivolous ambition of being thought masters of execution, inciting them on the one hand, but also their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-young-men-have-not-only-this-frivolous-ambition-of-being-thought/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I almost never have a plan for myself... I'm not ambitious in that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-plimpton/i-almost-never-have-a-plan-for-myself-i-m-not-ambitious-in-that-way/) [Martha Plimpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-plimpton/) > [I play for high stakes and given an audience - there is no act too daring or too noble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/winston-churchill/i-play-for-high-stakes-and-given-an-audience-there-is-no-act-too/) [Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/winston-churchill/) > [There's nothing worse than a leader who lacks ambition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/there-s-nothing-worse-than-a-leader-who-lacks-ambition/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If i can't even protect my captain's dream, then whatever ambition i have is nothing but talk..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoro/if-i-can-t-even-protect-my-captain-s-dream-then-whatever-ambition-i/) [Zoro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoro/) > [It may seem unattainable but if you put actions, your heart and your mind into it, you will prevail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/london-mond/it-may-seem-unattainable-but-if-you-put-actions-your-heart-and-your/) [London Mond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/london-mond/) > [Obligation is what's leading us to toward successful, and what keeps us moving towards the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wazim-shaw/obligation-is-what-s-leading-us-to-toward-successful-and-what-keeps/) [Wazim Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wazim-shaw/) [Browse all 4,601 Ambition quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first ambition in life, I made up my mind I was going to become Miles Davis. 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