--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was in my 20s, I learned not only…" description: "\"When I was in my 20s, I learned not only how to work hard but about the importance of focus.\" — Dara Khosrowshahi" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg" --- # When I was in my 20s, I learned not only how to work hard… ![“When I was in my 20s, I learned not only how to work hard but about the importance of focus.” quote by Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg) > “When I was in my 20s, I learned not only how to work hard but about the importance of focus.” [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. In youth, I learned that hard work is essential, but focus amplifies its impact. **In simple terms:** Hard work plus focus yields results. Key Takeaway Focus your effort. Themes hard work focus personal growth Mood motivational reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - career building - academic study - skill acquisition - entrepreneurship Key Concepts productivity self‑improvement Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance focus with flexibility? - What habits improve focus? A Different Perspective Counterpoint: Over‑focus can limit creativity. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [“Achieving your goal should always be of secondary importance. Your focus should be on becoming the kind of person deserving of the goal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mensah-oteh/achieving-your-goal-should-always-be-of-secondary-importance-your/) [Mensah Oteh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mensah-oteh/) > [I learned that I have to work hard every day, that I can't get down if I get in a slump.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-beltran/i-learned-that-i-have-to-work-hard-every-day-that-i-can-t-get-down-if/) [Carlos Beltran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-beltran/) > [I'm so not stylish by nature, but I've learned to work with what I have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julie-bowen/i-m-so-not-stylish-by-nature-but-i-ve-learned-to-work-with-what-i-have/) [Julie Bowen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julie-bowen/) > [I learned how to work with other people really well. We would get put into groups and would have to work out what people's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raye/i-learned-how-to-work-with-other-people-really-well-we-would-get-put/) [Raye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raye/) > [I learned from the Macarturos. I had never been at a table with a labor organizer and a playwright and a performance artist and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandra-cisneros/i-learned-from-the-macarturos-i-had-never-been-at-a-table-with-a/) [Sandra Cisneros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandra-cisneros/) > [“I'd never learned to work efficiently as long as I had an internet connection. If a paragraph or even a phrase in a manuscript…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-isaacs/i-d-never-learned-to-work-efficiently-as-long-as-i-had-an-internet/) [Susan Isaacs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-isaacs/) > [I learned you work for what you get, and I feel sorry for people who haven't had that upbringing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/i-learned-you-work-for-what-you-get-and-i-feel-sorry-for-people-who/) [John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/) > [I learned that when you work for the very best, you have to bring your very best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-nutter/i-learned-that-when-you-work-for-the-very-best-you-have-to-bring-your/) [David Nutter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-nutter/) > [My dad was one who - he was nonpartisan, first of all. He learned to work with whatever administration was in office.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernice-king/my-dad-was-one-who-he-was-nonpartisan-first-of-all-he-learned-to-work/) [Bernice King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernice-king/) > [There's an intuition learned through our work. Teaching others doesn't mean they can just go out and replicate it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/austin-kleon/there-s-an-intuition-learned-through-our-work-teaching-others-doesn-t/) [Austin Kleon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/austin-kleon/) > [I've learned that I work best when I'm entirely naked. The recording process was done that way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emilie-autumn/i-ve-learned-that-i-work-best-when-i-m-entirely-naked-the-recording/) [Emilie Autumn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emilie-autumn/) > [I've learned to keep my work on the stage or on the screen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lloyd-young/i-ve-learned-to-keep-my-work-on-the-stage-or-on-the-screen/) [John Lloyd Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lloyd-young/) > [Yes, actually ever since I saw his films and tried to write about them, Sirk's been in everything I've done. Not Sirk himself, but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainer-werner-fassbinder/yes-actually-ever-since-i-saw-his-films-and-tried-to-write-about-them/) [Rainer Werner Fassbinder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainer-werner-fassbinder/) > [The thing I learned is that the work is getting done by people who dig in and work on a particular project: the people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-hass/the-thing-i-learned-is-that-the-work-is-getting-done-by-people-who/) [Robert Hass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-hass/) > [What I have learned from my work up to now, is to try to be open, but also protect myself by not letting the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-campion/what-i-have-learned-from-my-work-up-to-now-is-to-try-to-be-open-but/) [Jane Campion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-campion/) ## More by Dara Khosrowshahi > [Taking big risks combined with having a team you believe in and that believes just as much in you as a leader make for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/taking-big-risks-combined-with-having-a-team-you-believe-in-and-that/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [Where people work and their environment is becoming more and more important, especially for millennials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/where-people-work-and-their-environment-is-becoming-more-and-more/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [What some Americans don't appreciate is how strong the brand of the American Dream is around the world. I'm an example of how powerful…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/what-some-americans-don-t-appreciate-is-how-strong-the-brand-of-the/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [If you don't optimize for the consumer on the Internet, you're dead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/if-you-don-t-optimize-for-the-consumer-on-the-internet-you-re-dead/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [Chinese consumers don't book hotel rooms that are as expensive as U.S. consumers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/chinese-consumers-don-t-book-hotel-rooms-that-are-as-expensive-as-u-s/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [My wife and I got married on 12/12/12 in Las Vegas, and she was wearing a Slayer T-shirt. That tells you what kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/my-wife-and-i-got-married-on-12-12-12-in-las-vegas-and-she-was/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [As companies get bigger, they tend to slow down. It's a universal law.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/as-companies-get-bigger-they-tend-to-slow-down-it-s-a-universal-law/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [Traveloka is the clear online travel leader in Indonesia and is expanding aggressively throughout Southeast Asia.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/traveloka-is-the-clear-online-travel-leader-in-indonesia-and-is/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [I think my background, coming from Iran, which is a great country but is going through its share of troubles, really allows me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/i-think-my-background-coming-from-iran-which-is-a-great-country-but/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [I started in investment banking at Allen & Company in 1991. It was the go-go days of media mergers, and we were incredibly busy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/i-started-in-investment-banking-at-allen-company-in-1991-it-was-the/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [I think from a personal standpoint, maybe I appreciate a little more that there are two sides to every story, and the way that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/i-think-from-a-personal-standpoint-maybe-i-appreciate-a-little-more/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [While Expedia is outbound-focused, Wotif is much more about domestic travel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/while-expedia-is-outbound-focused-wotif-is-much-more-about-domestic/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [You have to empower your employees to make their own choices and trust that they will make the right choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/you-have-to-empower-your-employees-to-make-their-own-choices-and/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [A CEO of a multinational global company can't say what to do; you've got to plant the flag.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/a-ceo-of-a-multinational-global-company-can-t-say-what-to-do-you-ve/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) > [I thought all those channels on cable TV were really cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/i-thought-all-those-channels-on-cable-tv-were-really-cool/) [Dara Khosrowshahi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) [Explore all 55 Dara Khosrowshahi quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/) ## More Focus quotes > [If you take your eye off the ball or lose focus for even a minute you can lose a game against any team.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felipe-anderson/if-you-take-your-eye-off-the-ball-or-lose-focus-for-even-a-minute-you/) [Felipe Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felipe-anderson/) > [Music is a job, but I figured out ways to get my mind into a place where I could be creative. I actually discovered…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flume/music-is-a-job-but-i-figured-out-ways-to-get-my-mind-into-a-place/) [Flume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flume/) > [“If you're focused, you can't get bored.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alin-sav/if-you-re-focused-you-can-t-get-bored/) [Alin Sav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alin-sav/) > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Focus on becoming more to achieve more while doing less](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hal-elrod/focus-on-becoming-more-to-achieve-more-while-doing-less/) [Hal Elrod](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hal-elrod/) > [I don't think about the press or the crowds or the other leaders of the race. The focus is only on myself. As soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magdalena-neuner/i-don-t-think-about-the-press-or-the-crowds-or-the-other-leaders-of/) [Magdalena Neuner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magdalena-neuner/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [“This is Galileo,” said Aristotle. “He advocates understanding the world through observation and experiment. He is an unimaginative thinker, but his results demand our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liu-cixin/this-is-galileo-said-aristotle-he-advocates-understanding-the-world/) [Liu Cixin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liu-cixin/) > [Too many times we flitter our energy into too many goals and in the process don't achieve much. Focus is very important in life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vaishali-kasture/too-many-times-we-flitter-our-energy-into-too-many-goals-and-in-the/) [Vaishali Kasture](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vaishali-kasture/) > [If you ask another competitor, they may tell you they felt very competitive towards me. But I can tell you that my biggest competition…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/if-you-ask-another-competitor-they-may-tell-you-they-felt-very/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [When you approach something to photograph it, first be still with yourself until the object of your attention affirms your presence. Then don't leave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/minor-white/when-you-approach-something-to-photograph-it-first-be-still-with/) [Minor White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/minor-white/) > [Enlightened people live in very charged states of attention, with a tremendous power circuiting through them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/enlightened-people-live-in-very-charged-states-of-attention-with-a/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [All I'm focused on is playing my game. Everything else will take care of itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grigor-dimitrov/all-i-m-focused-on-is-playing-my-game-everything-else-will-take-care/) [Grigor Dimitrov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grigor-dimitrov/) > [Focus on being productive instead of busy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-ferriss/focus-on-being-productive-instead-of-busy/) [Tim Ferriss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-ferriss/) [Browse all 11,734 Focus quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was in my 20s, I learned not only how to work hard but about the importance of focus.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Dara Khosrowshahi" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only-how-to-work-hard-but-about/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Focus" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only-how-to-work-hard-but-about/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c98/dara-khosrowshahi-12261_focus_when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only_781142.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When I was in my 20s, I learned not only how to work hard but about the importance of focus.” — Dara Khosrowshahi", "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": "Dara Khosrowshahi", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dara-khosrowshahi/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When I was in my 20s,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only-how-to-work-hard-but-about/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dara-khosrowshahi/when-i-was-in-my-20s-i-learned-not-only-how-to-work-hard-but-about/#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 } } ] } ```