--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: After getting the job at MTV, the…" description: "\"After getting the job at MTV, the challenge was, 'How do I start my career as a television host without people holding my dad's career over my head?' I..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f98/dan-levy-6718_dad_after-getting-the-job-at-mtv-the-challen_2182012.jpg" --- # After getting the job at MTV, the challenge was, 'How do I… ![“After getting the job at MTV, the challenge was, 'How do I start my career as a television host without people holding my dad's career over my head?' It's a very easy thing for people to look to my dad and say, 'Well, he got his job because of this.'” quote by Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f98/dan-levy-6718_dad_after-getting-the-job-at-mtv-the-challen_2182012.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f98/dan-levy-6718_dad_after-getting-the-job-at-mtv-the-challen_2182012.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f98/dan-levy-6718_dad_after-getting-the-job-at-mtv-the-challen_2182012.jpg) > “After getting the job at MTV, the challenge was, 'How do I start my career as a television host without people holding my dad's career over my head?' It's a very easy thing for people to look to my dad and say, 'Well, he got his job because of this.'” [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He struggled to launch his TV hosting career without being seen as riding his father’s coattails. **In simple terms:** He wanted to succeed on his own merit. Key Takeaway Build a personal brand independent of family legacy. Themes career family legacy identity media ambition Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - job interviews - networking events - personal projects - media appearances Key Concepts personal branding meritocracy Questions to Reflect On - How can you showcase your unique strengths? - What steps can you take to earn independent respect? A Different Perspective Family connections can both help and hinder credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career Television](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-television-862262/) [Dad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) [Dad Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad-career-875447/) [Easy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/easy/) [Getting Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/getting-job-426645/) [Look](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look/) [Mtv Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mtv-challenge-1566216/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Television Host](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/television-host-1219574/) ## Related quotes > [I don't watch a whole lot of TV, but since the time I was 10 or 11, I've watched MTV's 'The Challenge.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-larson/i-don-t-watch-a-whole-lot-of-tv-but-since-the-time-i-was-10-or-11-i/) [Kyle Larson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-larson/) > [I never thought I would become a television host, but I never thought anybody would pay me to just talk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kimberly-caldwell/i-never-thought-i-would-become-a-television-host-but-i-never-thought/) [Kimberly Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kimberly-caldwell/) > [There have been two Geraldo Riveras through his long career. One of them was a reporter who has done some remarkable work. The other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-hume/there-have-been-two-geraldo-riveras-through-his-long-career-one-of/) [Brit Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-hume/) > [I am pretty much who I seem, and it's not a television host.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-hyneman/i-am-pretty-much-who-i-seem-and-it-s-not-a-television-host/) [Jamie Hyneman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-hyneman/) > [The problem is since I have become a big television host now, people have forgotten that I am a singer too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aditya-narayan/the-problem-is-since-i-have-become-a-big-television-host-now-people/) [Aditya Narayan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aditya-narayan/) > [I don't want to feel like I'm a television host - because I don't think that I am. What I really want to feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-corden/i-don-t-want-to-feel-like-i-m-a-television-host-because-i-don-t-think/) [James Corden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-corden/) > [Everyone always says, 'You must have always wanted to be just like your dad.' But my dad's career had nothing to do with my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/everyone-always-says-you-must-have-always-wanted-to-be-just-like-your/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [I've dealt every day of my life with my dad's career, the comparisons to him, with people wanting me to live up to him.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-long/i-ve-dealt-every-day-of-my-life-with-my-dad-s-career-the-comparisons/) [Chris Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-long/) > [My dad was career Army.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reg-e-cathey/my-dad-was-career-army/) [Reg E. Cathey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reg-e-cathey/) > [My dad was a career military man, so I had that kind of discipline and training.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bart-starr/my-dad-was-a-career-military-man-so-i-had-that-kind-of-discipline-and/) [Bart Starr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bart-starr/) > [I don't know if me and my dad have necessarily touched on this because we talk about Reid but not a lot. But me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-don-t-know-if-me-and-my-dad-have-necessarily-touched-on-this/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [Usually a family is led through the mom or the dad and their career and for the family to be led by my career,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-orrico/usually-a-family-is-led-through-the-mom-or-the-dad-and-their-career/) [Stacie Orrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-orrico/) > [I'm grateful that I have a theater career because television isn't kind to you when you're over forty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-learned/i-m-grateful-that-i-have-a-theater-career-because-television-isn-t/) [Michael Learned](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-learned/) > [I started out on the stage, then I had a great career in television for quite a few years. The good news about a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-stokes-mitchell/i-started-out-on-the-stage-then-i-had-a-great-career-in-television/) [Brian Stokes Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-stokes-mitchell/) > [When I was coming up in the '80s television, if you were on television that meant either you were a young actor just coming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-bob-thornton/when-i-was-coming-up-in-the-80s-television-if-you-were-on-television/) [Billy Bob Thornton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-bob-thornton/) ## More by Dan Levy > [I had always been scared of the unknown, and I think it had a lot to do with a lack of self-confidence (and wearing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-had-always-been-scared-of-the-unknown-and-i-think-it-had-a-lot-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [I remember quite clearly a time when I knew exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I was six, I was worry-free,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-remember-quite-clearly-a-time-when-i-knew-exactly-what-i-wanted-to/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [A lot of queer characters get painted with either a caricature brush, or they're used to teach, in a way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/a-lot-of-queer-characters-get-painted-with-either-a-caricature-brush/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [The fact that I like to buy inessential things to make myself feel better is neither a secret nor something I'm particularly proud of.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/the-fact-that-i-like-to-buy-inessential-things-to-make-myself-feel/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [I've never really turned to my dad for anything, I think out of fear of the label of nepotism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-ve-never-really-turned-to-my-dad-for-anything-i-think-out-of-fear/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [There is a lot men don't know about women. And I'm not just talking about how you manage to leave the bathroom smelling like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/there-is-a-lot-men-don-t-know-about-women-and-i-m-not-just-talking/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > ['Real talk' refers to the act of speaking the honest truth about something or someone without fear of consequence.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/real-talk-refers-to-the-act-of-speaking-the-honest-truth-about/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [My name is Dan, and I'm a technoholic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/my-name-is-dan-and-i-m-a-technoholic/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [There was a commonality in a lot of the private school experiences that I had of children whose lives were not their own. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/there-was-a-commonality-in-a-lot-of-the-private-school-experiences/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [Ironically, fashion trends, be it denim or polka dots, have a tendency to perpetuate the contrary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/ironically-fashion-trends-be-it-denim-or-polka-dots-have-a-tendency/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [A little confidence can make the simplest of T-shirts look like a million bucks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/a-little-confidence-can-make-the-simplest-of-t-shirts-look-like-a/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [I was raised before the advent of DVD players in cars and iPads at the dinner table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-was-raised-before-the-advent-of-dvd-players-in-cars-and-ipads-at/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [I hated working red carpets, I hated the whole celebrity interview process. I just realized I'd rather be the person somebody wanted to ask…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/i-hated-working-red-carpets-i-hated-the-whole-celebrity-interview/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [When it comes to birthdays, I think there are two camps. There are people like me, who choose to treat it like any other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/when-it-comes-to-birthdays-i-think-there-are-two-camps-there-are/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) > [As a Canadian, we are sort of inherently built with an unshakable humility that at times can work against you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-levy/as-a-canadian-we-are-sort-of-inherently-built-with-an-unshakable/) [Dan Levy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) [Explore all 98 Dan Levy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-levy/) ## More Dad quotes > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [As a family, we all loved the Flyers. To me, rooting for the Flyers were how I bonded with my dad especially.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-f-goldberg/as-a-family-we-all-loved-the-flyers-to-me-rooting-for-the-flyers-were/) [Adam F. Goldberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-f-goldberg/) > [My greatest memories as a kid were playing sports with my dad and watching sports with my dad.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-teixeira/my-greatest-memories-as-a-kid-were-playing-sports-with-my-dad-and/) [Mark Teixeira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-teixeira/) > [Here I am, 11 years old, and these grown men have to give it everything they have to beat me. In one part of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karch-kiraly/here-i-am-11-years-old-and-these-grown-men-have-to-give-it-everything/) [Karch Kiraly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karch-kiraly/) > [I always remember what my dad told me when I decided to turn into an actor. He was emphatic that whatever I do, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karthi/i-always-remember-what-my-dad-told-me-when-i-decided-to-turn-into-an/) [Karthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karthi/) > [My mom and dad had the relationship that I want, and they were teammates. They were always equal 50/50.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becca-kufrin/my-mom-and-dad-had-the-relationship-that-i-want-and-they-were/) [Becca Kufrin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becca-kufrin/) > [The child who ran weeping to you with a cut finger is now brought home, smiling gamely, with a broken collarbone and incredible contusions-…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pam-brown/the-child-who-ran-weeping-to-you-with-a-cut-finger-is-now-brought/) [Pam Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pam-brown/) > [My father was the role model I looked up. My dad was an entertainer, too. I patterned my life after him. He wanted me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-morgan/my-father-was-the-role-model-i-looked-up-my-dad-was-an-entertainer/) [Tracy Morgan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-morgan/) > [Most people are sensitized to animals through their cats and dogs, but for me it was a flounder. I used to go fishing with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-mathews/most-people-are-sensitized-to-animals-through-their-cats-and-dogs-but/) [Dan Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-mathews/) > [I saw this anti-drug commercial that showed a kid smoking pot in his dad's room with his friend. This kid finds a gun, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-saw-this-anti-drug-commercial-that-showed-a-kid-smoking-pot-in-his/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) > [It's something he used to say when he was happy. It could be a very, very simple day. We might be sitting out on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-grant/it-s-something-he-used-to-say-when-he-was-happy-it-could-be-a-very/) [Jennifer Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-grant/) > [I talk to my dad all the time, he's more like my buddy than my father, and he's not happy that I use him…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-spade/i-talk-to-my-dad-all-the-time-he-s-more-like-my-buddy-than-my-father/) [David Spade](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-spade/) > [This week I realized my dad will make you cry in the store if you make him mad. Also when your crossing the street…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-week-i-realized-my-dad-will-make-you-cry-in-the-store-if-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I was just putting way too much pressure on myself. I was just trying to get that validation from my dad. It got so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-griffey-jr/i-was-just-putting-way-too-much-pressure-on-myself-i-was-just-trying/) [Ken Griffey Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-griffey-jr/) > [Some article called me the most feared man in Silicon Valley. Good Lord! Why? My teenage boys got a kick out of it: 'Dad,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-myhrvold/some-article-called-me-the-most-feared-man-in-silicon-valley-good/) [Nathan Myhrvold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-myhrvold/) [Browse all 9,737 Dad quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dad/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "After getting the job at MTV, the challenge was, 'How do I start my career as a television host without people holding my dad's career over my head?' 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