---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: College didn't stick, so I worked odd…"
description: "\"College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've always written songs and played music. I actually met a guy who was a songwriter, which I didn't r..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg"
---

#  College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've…

![“College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've always written songs and played music. I actually met a guy who was a songwriter, which I didn't realize was a real job.” quote by Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg)

> “College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've always written songs and played music. I actually met a guy who was a songwriter, which I didn't realize was a real job.”

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Life’s setbacks can redirect you toward authentic passions; unconventional paths may lead to meaningful work.

**In simple terms:** Setbacks can guide you to true calling.

Key Takeaway

Follow your passion despite unconventional routes.

Themes

career music resilience authenticity

Mood

hopeful determined

Type

inspirational practical

When to use this quote

- job searching
- songwriting
- career counseling
- personal development

Key Concepts

self‑discovery non‑linear career paths creative expression

Questions to Reflect On

- What passions can you pursue alongside practical work?
- How do you balance artistic dreams with livelihood?

A Different Perspective

Not all unconventional jobs are sustainable; financial stability may be a concern.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[College](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/college/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Odd jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/odd-jobs/) [Songwriter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/songwriter/)

## Related quotes

> [I always considered myself a songwriter, but I didn't move to New York with plans of doing that; it just sort of happened. Everyone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-morby/i-always-considered-myself-a-songwriter-but-i-didn-t-move-to-new-york/)

[Kevin Morby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-morby/)

> [I wanted to be a songwriter.I didn't so much want to be a performer.I more grew into that just from being a songwriter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosanne-cash/i-wanted-to-be-a-songwriter-i-didn-t-so-much-want-to-be-a-performer-i/)

[Rosanne Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosanne-cash/)

> [I've had the great luxury in my career to be so successful as a songwriter that I didn't have the desperate need to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-carmen/i-ve-had-the-great-luxury-in-my-career-to-be-so-successful-as-a/)

[Eric Carmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-carmen/)

> [I never knew I was a songwriter. I didn't even know I was a singer. My parents just got me a guitar 'cause my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dion-dimucci/i-never-knew-i-was-a-songwriter-i-didn-t-even-know-i-was-a-singer-my/)

[Dion DiMucci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dion-dimucci/)

> [I probably wouldn't be a songwriter if I didn't grow up the way I did. It was difficult and it was at times very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-lamontagne/i-probably-wouldn-t-be-a-songwriter-if-i-didn-t-grow-up-the-way-i-did/)

[Ray LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-lamontagne/)

> [I always like to write the songs, and they get turned loose into the world, and who knows what happens to them. That's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-always-like-to-write-the-songs-and-they-get-turned-loose-into-the/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [The curse of being a songwriter is that's you're always at work. I could look out the window right now and see something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/the-curse-of-being-a-songwriter-is-that-s-you-re-always-at-work-i/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I moved to Nashville to be a songwriter. I found out that was a job, that someone would pay you to sit in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-moved-to-nashville-to-be-a-songwriter-i-found-out-that-was-a-job/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [Being a hungry artist, you don't have the luxury of buying whatever you want. There were years of me doing a lot of odd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nam/being-a-hungry-artist-you-don-t-have-the-luxury-of-buying-whatever/)

[Eric Nam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nam/)

> [I wanted to be a therapist if the acting didn't work. I also did a lot waitressing and odd jobs. I'd audition but couldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-aniston/i-wanted-to-be-a-therapist-if-the-acting-didn-t-work-i-also-did-a-lot/)

[Jennifer Aniston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-aniston/)

> [I had a lot of different jobs between fifteen and nineteen. I'd moved out of my house way, way younger than I should have.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-reynolds/i-had-a-lot-of-different-jobs-between-fifteen-and-nineteen-i-d-moved/)

[Ryan Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-reynolds/)

> [“I keep myself busy with odd jobs, but it doesn’t really help. Every nerve, every cell, every sense of my entire being is focused…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-leighton/i-keep-myself-busy-with-odd-jobs-but-it-doesn-t-really-help-every/)

[M. Leighton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-leighton/)

> [When I say work I only mean writing. Everything else is just odd jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-laurence/when-i-say-work-i-only-mean-writing-everything-else-is-just-odd-jobs/)

[Margaret Laurence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-laurence/)

> [When I was writing my first two books I was also freelancing and teaching and doing other odd jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/curtis-sittenfeld/when-i-was-writing-my-first-two-books-i-was-also-freelancing-and/)

[Curtis Sittenfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/curtis-sittenfeld/)

> [I supported myself by delivering the 'Wall Street Journal' and doing odd jobs. I love plumbing and carpentry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lynch/i-supported-myself-by-delivering-the-wall-street-journal-and-doing/)

[David Lynch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lynch/)

## More by Chris Stapleton

> [My dad could hold a tune. He wasn't necessarily a singer, but he did love music, and he listened to it quite loud in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/my-dad-could-hold-a-tune-he-wasn-t-necessarily-a-singer-but-he-did/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [Among my dad's generation, when you gave another man a pocketknife as a gift, it was a show of respect. I'll still give someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/among-my-dad-s-generation-when-you-gave-another-man-a-pocketknife-as/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I get tired of people trying to dog out the radio for not playing this or that. There are lots of people who like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-get-tired-of-people-trying-to-dog-out-the-radio-for-not-playing/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I don't see myself as some kind of fightin'-the-good-fight guy. But I always feel like if you don't like one kind of music or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-don-t-see-myself-as-some-kind-of-fightin-the-good-fight-guy-but-i/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I didn't have any expectations with 'Traveller' - I don't think anybody did. That's how I prefer the process to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-didn-t-have-any-expectations-with-traveller-i-don-t-think-anybody/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [The curse of being a songwriter is that's you're always at work. I could look out the window right now and see something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/the-curse-of-being-a-songwriter-is-that-s-you-re-always-at-work-i/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [It's man's work. My dad was gone at 4:30 in the morning and home at 8 at night, and he worked underground, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/it-s-man-s-work-my-dad-was-gone-at-4-30-in-the-morning-and-home-at-8/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I like more of the club mentality, where we're playing, and if we feel like we want to play a cover, we'll switch to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-like-more-of-the-club-mentality-where-we-re-playing-and-if-we-feel/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I'm not going to ask musicians to sit there and pretend to play. It feels insulting to the musicians to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-m-not-going-to-ask-musicians-to-sit-there-and-pretend-to-play-it/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [For me, the more time you can take and the more care you can take with songs, the better off you're going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/for-me-the-more-time-you-can-take-and-the-more-care-you-can-take-with/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I like the old days when, if I wrote a song and I recorded it, it didn't mean somebody else couldn't record it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-like-the-old-days-when-if-i-wrote-a-song-and-i-recorded-it-it-didn/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I moved to Nashville to be a songwriter. I found out that was a job, that someone would pay you to sit in a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-moved-to-nashville-to-be-a-songwriter-i-found-out-that-was-a-job/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [A lot of great bluegrass comes out of Kentucky. There's a lot of great music, like the Judds, Billy Ray Cyrus, Ricky Skaggs, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/a-lot-of-great-bluegrass-comes-out-of-kentucky-there-s-a-lot-of-great/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [My earliest memories of music are probably my dad listening to a bunch of outlaw country, but also old R&amp;B and Ray Charles, Aretha…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/my-earliest-memories-of-music-are-probably-my-dad-listening-to-a/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

> [I'm a fan of records. I'm a fan of listening to something cover to cover and not wanting to skip over anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/i-m-a-fan-of-records-i-m-a-fan-of-listening-to-something-cover-to/)

[Chris Stapleton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

[Explore all 71 Chris Stapleton quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/)

## More Always quotes

> [I think performing has pretty much always been a part of me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isa-briones/i-think-performing-has-pretty-much-always-been-a-part-of-me/)

[Isa Briones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isa-briones/)

> [I always thought if I was born 2000 years earlier, I would be a monk, probably carving a monastery or some giant pantheon buildings.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenova-chen/i-always-thought-if-i-was-born-2000-years-earlier-i-would-be-a-monk/)

[Jenova Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenova-chen/)

> [I always like a character who makes me laugh.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-stirling/i-always-like-a-character-who-makes-me-laugh/)

[Rachael Stirling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-stirling/)

> [It's always great to see old friends, especially those I have not been able to see in 15 months.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-regal/it-s-always-great-to-see-old-friends-especially-those-i-have-not-been/)

[William Regal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-regal/)

> [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 have really good lateral movement. I've always had quick lateral movement.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-rivers/i-have-really-good-lateral-movement-i-ve-always-had-quick-lateral/)

[Austin Rivers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-rivers/)

> [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/)

> [Mythology is something that always has opportunities to explore. 'It' has been on Earth for millions of years. He's been in contact with humans…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-muschietti/mythology-is-something-that-always-has-opportunities-to-explore-it/)

[Andy Muschietti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-muschietti/)

> [It's not writing in the traditional sense, but I've always said that the writing process continues on the set and even into the editing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-b-weide/it-s-not-writing-in-the-traditional-sense-but-i-ve-always-said-that/)

[Robert B. Weide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-b-weide/)

> [I always watch my matches back 100 times afterwards because that's how I improve. This is something I've always done, even in NXT.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-rose/i-always-watch-my-matches-back-100-times-afterwards-because-that-s/)

[Mandy Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-rose/)

> [I've always been of the idea that is doesn't really matter where you are geographically - with 'Lonerism,' we made half the album in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-parker/i-ve-always-been-of-the-idea-that-is-doesn-t-really-matter-where-you/)

[Kevin Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-parker/)

> [It's very easy to fool yourself that you're working, you know, when you're really not working very hard. I mean, I'm very lazy. So…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-caro/it-s-very-easy-to-fool-yourself-that-you-re-working-you-know-when-you/)

[Robert Caro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-caro/)

> [Whether it was Little League or playing with your brothers or sisters, that was always a problem. If I would lose - because I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cal-ripken-jr/whether-it-was-little-league-or-playing-with-your-brothers-or-sisters/)

[Cal Ripken, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cal-ripken-jr/)

> [I always say if you put someone from a small town into a big city for ten years, then when they go back, they'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-colter/i-always-say-if-you-put-someone-from-a-small-town-into-a-big-city-for/)

[Mike Colter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-colter/)

> [Bayern is always a team that can win the Champions League title in Europe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lothar-matthaus/bayern-is-always-a-team-that-can-win-the-champions-league-title-in/)

[Lothar Matthaus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lothar-matthaus/)

Browse all 36,048 Always quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've always written songs and played music. I actually met a guy who was a songwriter, which I didn't realize was a real job.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Chris Stapleton"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-jobs-but-i-ve-always-written/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Always"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-jobs-but-i-ve-always-written/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cc7/chris-stapleton-9571_always_college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-job_408735.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“College didn't stick, so I worked odd jobs, but I've always written songs and played music. I actually met a…” — Chris Stapleton",
                "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": "Chris Stapleton",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-stapleton/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "College didn't stick, so I worked...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-jobs-but-i-ve-always-written/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-stapleton/college-didn-t-stick-so-i-worked-odd-jobs-but-i-ve-always-written/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
