--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think the hardest part is figuring out…" description: "\"I think the hardest part is figuring out what to say no to because the whole start of your career is just begging anybody to let you perform or to cont..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/dan-deacon-17097_begging_i-think-the-hardest-part-is-figuring-out_2864588.jpg" --- # I think the hardest part is figuring out what to say no to… ![“I think the hardest part is figuring out what to say no to because the whole start of your career is just begging anybody to let you perform or to contribute music to something. Then it's like turning on a faucet because the moment it's on, people are like, "Oh, you can do stuff? All right. Well…” quote by Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/dan-deacon-17097_begging_i-think-the-hardest-part-is-figuring-out_2864588.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/dan-deacon-17097_begging_i-think-the-hardest-part-is-figuring-out_2864588.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/856/dan-deacon-17097_begging_i-think-the-hardest-part-is-figuring-out_2864588.jpg) > “I think the hardest part is figuring out what to say no to because the whole start of your career is just begging anybody to let you perform or to contribute music to something. Then it's like turning on a faucet because the moment it's on, people are like, "Oh, you can do stuff? All right. Well, you want to do it every single thing?” [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Discusses difficulty of saying “no” early in a career, likening opportunities to an overflowing faucet. **In simple terms:** Early career demands endless yes. Key Takeaway Learn to set boundaries. Themes career music boundaries Mood reflective determined Type advice professional When to use this quote - artist management - career planning - industry mentorship Key Concepts opportunity decision‑making creative pressure Questions to Reflect On - When should you say no? - How to balance ambition and limits? A Different Perspective May oversimplify challenges. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Moments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moments/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) ## Related quotes > [I'm all about showing people what I can really do in country music. 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That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/petra-collins/you-don-t-have-to-try-to-get-a-job-and-go-through-set-steps-before/) [Petra Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/petra-collins/) > [If I have to start my career afresh, I would like to repeat everything, good or bad, which I did in the past 33 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chunky-pandey/if-i-have-to-start-my-career-afresh-i-would-like-to-repeat-everything/) [Chunky Pandey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chunky-pandey/) > [I think it must be so hard to start your career with everyone going on about how gorgeous you are. To be in that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-carmichael/i-think-it-must-be-so-hard-to-start-your-career-with-everyone-going/) [Laura Carmichael](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-carmichael/) > [Someone once asked me "If your life could be extended to 150 and you could start another career, would you?" And I said "No,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-mcewan/someone-once-asked-me-if-your-life-could-be-extended-to-150-and-you/) [Ian Mcewan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-mcewan/) > [I figure if I have one false start every ten or 12 years that I've been running, I probably won't false start again during…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allen-johnson/i-figure-if-i-have-one-false-start-every-ten-or-12-years-that-i-ve/) [Allen Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allen-johnson/) > [I don't like to brag about it, but there are people I've worked with at the start of their career, and they've all become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flying-lotus/i-don-t-like-to-brag-about-it-but-there-are-people-i-ve-worked-with/) [Flying Lotus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flying-lotus/) > [It's great to start your career in the big leagues, start the season in the big leagues, if you can. If not, make the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-semien/it-s-great-to-start-your-career-in-the-big-leagues-start-the-season/) [Marcus Semien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-semien/) > [List 20 things you are going to do in the next 30 days to fast-start your career. Then take action on at least one of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/list-20-things-you-are-going-to-do-in-the-next-30-days-to-fast-start/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [I wanted to start my career on TV with a show which could extract maximum potential out of me and of course, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalsa-sharma/i-wanted-to-start-my-career-on-tv-with-a-show-which-could-extract/) [Madalsa Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalsa-sharma/) > [Even after you've won fame and fortune, every time you write you've got to write, there's no shortcut, you have to start your career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-saroyan/even-after-you-ve-won-fame-and-fortune-every-time-you-write-you-ve/) [William Saroyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-saroyan/) > [When you start your career, you act in all kinds of movies. You don't pick and choose. But later on, you may feel that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riya-sen/when-you-start-your-career-you-act-in-all-kinds-of-movies-you-don-t/) [Riya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riya-sen/) > [From my standpoint, I feel like I'm at the start of my career, I'm only 23-years-old but I have been doing it for 10 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-dunne/from-my-standpoint-i-feel-like-i-m-at-the-start-of-my-career-i-m-only/) [Pete Dunne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-dunne/) > [Strategically, horror films are a good way to start your career. You can get a lot of impact with very little.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-jackson/strategically-horror-films-are-a-good-way-to-start-your-career-you/) [Peter Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-jackson/) ## More by Dan Deacon > [I throw ideas out into the open when I really should just be writing them down in a journal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-throw-ideas-out-into-the-open-when-i-really-should-just-be-writing/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I'm often just writing just to write. I'm not writing with...If I write, like, sitting down with a goal in mind, it's always, like,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-m-often-just-writing-just-to-write-i-m-not-writing-with-if-i-write/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I thought I wouldn't enjoy the business side of music, but it's fun because it is completely - like running a DIY venue was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-thought-i-wouldn-t-enjoy-the-business-side-of-music-but-it-s-fun/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I really do like seeing other people perform my music. It's one of the most rewarding things for me, so it's worth the extra…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-really-do-like-seeing-other-people-perform-my-music-it-s-one-of-the/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I think living in Baltimore and being a part of the community and trying to be part of as many communities as possible within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-think-living-in-baltimore-and-being-a-part-of-the-community-and/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I just wanted to make a record that wasn't escapism. Like, I didn't want to write another record that was devoid of meaningful content.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-just-wanted-to-make-a-record-that-wasn-t-escapism-like-i-didn-t/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [Obviously, selling out is an issue but it's almost like an uncanny valley where you can be pretty unpopular for a while but you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/obviously-selling-out-is-an-issue-but-it-s-almost-like-an-uncanny/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I've since become really good at overwhelming myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-ve-since-become-really-good-at-overwhelming-myself/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [For the last three years, I've been working on 'Bromst,' and that's all that encompassed my brain. And now that it's out, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/for-the-last-three-years-i-ve-been-working-on-bromst-and-that-s-all/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [I think a lot of electronic musicians are drawn to starting with texture because the whole reason we're working with electronics is to try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/i-think-a-lot-of-electronic-musicians-are-drawn-to-starting-with/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [That's tangent, but I like the strategizing and thinking about how things are going to fall and thinking of different ways to engage with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/that-s-tangent-but-i-like-the-strategizing-and-thinking-about-how/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [To get large groups of people to dance, there needs to be something accessible about the music. The beat can't be too esoteric, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/to-get-large-groups-of-people-to-dance-there-needs-to-be-something/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [The main thing I want to do is make people feel more connected and more active.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/the-main-thing-i-want-to-do-is-make-people-feel-more-connected-and/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [You can have a table full of gourmet food, but the minute you put a box of Entenmann's doughnuts out, that's all people are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/you-can-have-a-table-full-of-gourmet-food-but-the-minute-you-put-a/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) > [When I went to school, it was really just to immerse myself in listening to, studying, and making music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-deacon/when-i-went-to-school-it-was-really-just-to-immerse-myself-in/) [Dan Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) [Explore all 38 Dan Deacon quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-deacon/) ## More Begging quotes > [“You are the queen, he ought to be begging leave of you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-r-r-martin/you-are-the-queen-he-ought-to-be-begging-leave-of-you/) [George R.R. Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-r-r-martin/) > [Daddy always said the only thing worth begging for was your life, but maybe he was wrong. Maybe sometimes your love is a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gabrielle-zevin/daddy-always-said-the-only-thing-worth-begging-for-was-your-life-but/) [Gabrielle Zevin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gabrielle-zevin/) > [How much more of the mosque, of prayer and fasting? Better go drunk and begging round the taverns. Khayyam, drink wine, for soon this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-khayy-m/how-much-more-of-the-mosque-of-prayer-and-fasting-better-go-drunk-and/) [Omar Khayyam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-khayy-m/) > [“Any fool that had once helped you will someday make known to everyone that you were once a needy. No matter how broke you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/any-fool-that-had-once-helped-you-will-someday-make-known-to-everyone/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [“He kept begging God, “Please, please, please open my heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/he-kept-begging-god-please-please-please-open-my-heart/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [We long for our father. We wear his clothes, and actually try to fill his shoes. . . . We hang on to him,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-pittman/we-long-for-our-father-we-wear-his-clothes-and-actually-try-to-fill/) [Frank Pittman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-pittman/) > [The desperation was coming off you in waves. You were all but begging to dance with me. I am doing you a favor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda-hocking/the-desperation-was-coming-off-you-in-waves-you-were-all-but-begging/) [Amanda Hocking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda-hocking/) > [While you're ignoring me, someone else is begging for my attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/while-you-re-ignoring-me-someone-else-is-begging-for-my-attention/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I would willingly stand at street corners, hat in hand, begging passerby to drop their unused minutes into it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-berenson/i-would-willingly-stand-at-street-corners-hat-in-hand-begging/) [Bernard Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-berenson/) > [A man in love ... is the master, so it seems, but only if his lady friend permits it! The need to interchange the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-desclos/a-man-in-love-is-the-master-so-it-seems-but-only-if-his-lady-friend/) [Anne Desclos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-desclos/) > [As for poker, I've stayed away from that, even though when I was in Vegas for Ocean's Eleven, I would get accosted by these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-damon/as-for-poker-i-ve-stayed-away-from-that-even-though-when-i-was-in/) [Matt Damon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-damon/) > [“The whole four to five weeks that we've been here in this courtroom has been for one reason. And that is because Theodore Robert…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-rule/the-whole-four-to-five-weeks-that-we-ve-been-here-in-this-courtroom/) [Ann Rule](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-rule/) > [“This is scary,” she whispers. “I’ve never had a boyfriend before. I don’t know how this works. Do people become exclusive this fast? Are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-hoover/this-is-scary-she-whispers-i-ve-never-had-a-boyfriend-before-i-don-t/) [Colleen Hoover](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-hoover/) > [“On my way over to Park Avenue to find a cab I pass an ugly, homeless bum-- a member of the genetic underclass-- and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bret-easton-ellis/on-my-way-over-to-park-avenue-to-find-a-cab-i-pass-an-ugly-homeless/) [Bret Easton Ellis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bret-easton-ellis/) > [I turned into a monk when my mother went to learn Buddhism in Burma. While she learnt at the monastery, I used to roam…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kabir-bedi/i-turned-into-a-monk-when-my-mother-went-to-learn-buddhism-in-burma/) [Kabir Bedi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kabir-bedi/) Browse all 501 Begging quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think the hardest part is figuring out what to say no to because the whole start of your career is just begging anybody to let you perform or to contribute music to something. Then it's like turning on a faucet because the moment it's on, people are like, \"Oh, you can do stuff? All right. 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