--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As I look back over my first few jobs…" description: "\"“As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme that has run through every one of them is regret. I regret the times I didn’t speak up. I regr..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/clay-scroggins-27377_regret_as-i-look-back-over-my-first-few-jobs-th_663460.jpg" --- # As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme… ![“As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme that has run through every one of them is regret. I regret the times I didn’t speak up. I regret the times I twiddled my thumbs, waiting for someone to tell me what to do. I regret feeling like a victim to the structure or hierarchy of the…” quote by Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/clay-scroggins-27377_regret_as-i-look-back-over-my-first-few-jobs-th_663460.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/clay-scroggins-27377_regret_as-i-look-back-over-my-first-few-jobs-th_663460.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/093/clay-scroggins-27377_regret_as-i-look-back-over-my-first-few-jobs-th_663460.jpg) > ““As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme that has run through every one of them is regret. I regret the times I didn’t speak up. I regret the times I twiddled my thumbs, waiting for someone to tell me what to do. I regret feeling like a victim to the structure or hierarchy of the organization.”” [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Regret stems from silence and inaction within hierarchical structures; speaking up and taking initiative can prevent feeling powerless. **In simple terms:** Regret comes from not speaking up. Key Takeaway Speak up and act to avoid regret. Themes self-awareness communication empowerment Mood reflective cautionary Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - team meetings - performance reviews - project planning - conflict resolution Key Concepts organizational behavior personal responsibility Questions to Reflect On - When have you stayed silent and regretted it? - How can you safely voice concerns? A Different Perspective Speaking up may risk backlash in rigid hierarchies. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regret Feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-feeling-1281357/) [Regret Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret-regret/) [Speak Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-regret-519263/) [Tell Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-regret-2804735/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Never underestimate how much words can hurt. Think before you speak because you might regret it later.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/never-underestimate-how-much-words-can-hurt-think-before-you-speak/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“And so, ladies and gentlemen, you can take as fact the four words I’m about to speak—though I speak them with some regret, since…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lincoln-child/and-so-ladies-and-gentlemen-you-can-take-as-fact-the-four-words-i-m/) [Lincoln Child](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lincoln-child/) > [The only possible regret I have is the feeling that I will die without having played enough tennis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-borotra/the-only-possible-regret-i-have-is-the-feeling-that-i-will-die/) [Jean Borotra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-borotra/) > [I try not to regret too much. I find that feeling guilty takes up so much of my time already.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikolaj-coster-waldau/i-try-not-to-regret-too-much-i-find-that-feeling-guilty-takes-up-so/) [Nikolaj Coster-Waldau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikolaj-coster-waldau/) > [“It was there, deep inside everyone, hope, repentance, regret. The feeling had possessed both Elizabeth and I even on the threshold of hell, on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suren-fant/it-was-there-deep-inside-everyone-hope-repentance-regret-the-feeling/) [Suren Fant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suren-fant/) > [“I talk about a life that I pretend to live and you ask me what I’m talking about. But when I finally tell, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harley-mei-kent/i-talk-about-a-life-that-i-pretend-to-live-and-you-ask-me-what-i-m/) [Harley Mei Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harley-mei-kent/) > [“Sometimes, laughing like a lunatic can be the best solution. Or crying loudly into a pillow. But don't regret anything. Always tell yourself "I.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-estrada/sometimes-laughing-like-a-lunatic-can-be-the-best-solution-or-crying/) [Victoria Estrada](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-estrada/) > [“I want to tell you that I'm sorry. I need to tell you I regret everything I said to you that night and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-bladon/i-want-to-tell-you-that-i-m-sorry-i-need-to-tell-you-i-regret/) [Deborah Bladon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-bladon/) > [Always be yourself. never try to hide who you are. the only shame is to have shame. always stand up for what you believe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/always-be-yourself-never-try-to-hide-who-you-are-the-only-shame-is-to/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Regret. It had been regret she’d felt that night she’d killed the Crochan. Regret and guilt and shame, for acting on blind obedience, for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/regret-it-had-been-regret-she-d-felt-that-night-she-d-killed-the/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [“Allowing others to decide for us does not guarantee a better decision but almost always guarantees a fuller regret, and regret is a poison…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-moser/allowing-others-to-decide-for-us-does-not-guarantee-a-better-decision/) [Nancy Moser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-moser/) > [“ We must come to grief and regret anyway - and I for one would rather regret the reality than its phantasm, knowledge than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/a-s-byatt/we-must-come-to-grief-and-regret-anyway-and-i-for-one-would-rather/) [A.S. Byatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/a-s-byatt/) > [ What haunted people even, perhaps especially, on their deathbed? What chased them, tortured them and brought some of them to their knees? And \[he\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louise-penny/what-haunted-people-even-perhaps-especially-on-their-deathbed-what/) [Louise Penny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louise-penny/) > [This thing you carry inside you, I don't know what it is. I don't know where you got it. But Harry, the past is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-thing-you-carry-inside-you-i-don-t-know-what-it-is-i-don-t-know/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [O last regret, regret can die!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-lord-tennyson/o-last-regret-regret-can-die/) [Alfred Lord Tennyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-lord-tennyson/) ## More by Clay Scroggins > [“Great leaders love what they do, who they do it with, and who they do it for.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/great-leaders-love-what-they-do-who-they-do-it-with-and-who-they-do/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Influence always outpaces authority.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/influence-always-outpaces-authority/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“One thing I can tell you is that no matter how loud God’s voice is right now, you probably need to turn it up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/one-thing-i-can-tell-you-is-that-no-matter-how-loud-god-s-voice-is/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Great leaders leverage influence and relationships over title and position.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/great-leaders-leverage-influence-and-relationships-over-title-and/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Leading without constraints and giving into unbridled ambition will be the death of any leader because God didn’t intend for our ambition to run…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/leading-without-constraints-and-giving-into-unbridled-ambition-will/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“I have found that amid swirling emotions, my ability to calmly process my thoughts with awareness and emotional intelligence is largely dependent on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/i-have-found-that-amid-swirling-emotions-my-ability-to-calmly-process/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Honestly, I don’t know which is more damaging—being too critical or thinking too highly of yourself. Either way, accepting a distorted identity is failing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/honestly-i-don-t-know-which-is-more-damaging-being-too-critical-or/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Remember, leadership is the ability to motivate people to work harder, longer, and smarter, because the vision of the end goal has been painted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/remember-leadership-is-the-ability-to-motivate-people-to-work-harder/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“The greatest benefit I bring my team is not my talents, gifts, experience, or education. It’s my energy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/the-greatest-benefit-i-bring-my-team-is-not-my-talents-gifts/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Your identity is the right identity when you let it be defined by what God says about you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/your-identity-is-the-right-identity-when-you-let-it-be-defined-by/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Leaders don’t sit back and point fingers. Leaders lead with the authority of leadership . . . or without it. The authority is largely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/leaders-don-t-sit-back-and-point-fingers-leaders-lead-with-the/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Leadership is not about challenge for challenge’s sake. It’s not about shaking things up just to keep people on their toes. It’s about challenge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/leadership-is-not-about-challenge-for-challenge-s-sake-it-s-not-about/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“When a younger leader tells me he is frustrated at not having a voice yet or not having influence yet, the answer I give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/when-a-younger-leader-tells-me-he-is-frustrated-at-not-having-a-voice/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Fear thrives in the absence of love.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/fear-thrives-in-the-absence-of-love/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) > [“Each of us has a unique opportunity to create something right where we are. It doesn’t require special authority or a fancy title or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clay-scroggins/each-of-us-has-a-unique-opportunity-to-create-something-right-where/) [Clay Scroggins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) [Explore all 20 Clay Scroggins quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clay-scroggins/) ## More Regret quotes > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Never fight on the wrong side; you might win but the burden of guilt is more than a loss.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lilian-salan/never-fight-on-the-wrong-side-you-might-win-but-the-burden-of-guilt/) [Lilian Salan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lilian-salan/) > [I don't regret burning bridges. I regret that some people weren't on those bridges when I burned them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-don-t-regret-burning-bridges-i-regret-that-some-people-weren-t-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“As parents who make every effort we can to raise our children in loving security, we do not need to feel more guilt than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabor-mat/as-parents-who-make-every-effort-we-can-to-raise-our-children-in/) [Gabor Maté](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabor-mat/) > [The only regret I have in my career, is my managers wanted a big payday, and I wanted four or five more fights before…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerry-cooney/the-only-regret-i-have-in-my-career-is-my-managers-wanted-a-big/) [Gerry Cooney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerry-cooney/) > [I have no regrets in my life. I think that everything happens to you for a reason. The hard times that you go through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-mero/i-have-no-regrets-in-my-life-i-think-that-everything-happens-to-you/) [Rita Mero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-mero/) > [When the Lord Jesus Christ became my surety . . . He went to Calvary's cross, and all my guilt was charged against Him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-allen-ironside/when-the-lord-jesus-christ-became-my-surety-he-went-to-calvary-s/) [Henry Allen Ironside](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-allen-ironside/) > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“For those filled with regret, perhaps the most needful exercise of proactivity is to realize that past mistakes are also out there in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-r-covey/for-those-filled-with-regret-perhaps-the-most-needful-exercise-of/) [Stephen R. Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-r-covey/) > [I would rather regret the things that I have done than the things that I have not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lucille-ball/i-would-rather-regret-the-things-that-i-have-done-than-the-things/) [Lucille Ball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lucille-ball/) > [One of the things I regret about not putting in that book or I think it's there but I didn't really elaborate on it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-warner/one-of-the-things-i-regret-about-not-putting-in-that-book-or-i-think/) [Brad Warner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-warner/) > [Having no regrets is very unrealistic. Everyone has that awkward or embarrassing moment they wish they could take back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jayden-hayes/having-no-regrets-is-very-unrealistic-everyone-has-that-awkward-or/) [Jayden Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jayden-hayes/) > [I always had a sort of niggling regret that we didn't come do stuff in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noel-fielding/i-always-had-a-sort-of-niggling-regret-that-we-didn-t-come-do-stuff/) [Noel Fielding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noel-fielding/) > [I am not perfect by any means and ill be the first to admit I make plenty of mistakes but I wont make them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-am-not-perfect-by-any-means-and-ill-be-the-first-to-admit-i-make/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“ving self and others is an every second of every day of every week, of every month, of every year gift that should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sanjo-jendayi/ving-self-and-others-is-an-every-second-of-every-day-of-every-week-of/) [Sanjo Jendayi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sanjo-jendayi/) [Browse all 9,960 Regret quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“As I look back over my first few jobs, the common theme that has run through every one of them is regret. 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