--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was living under a desk in West…" description: "\"I was living under a desk in West Hollywood. It was a closet that I shared with another comic. I was shocked when they called me to come in to try out ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/dat-phan-37618_chance_i-was-living-under-a-desk-in-west-hollyw_2495353.png" --- # I was living under a desk in West Hollywood. It was a… ![“I was living under a desk in West Hollywood. It was a closet that I shared with another comic. I was shocked when they called me to come in to try out for the show. The chances of me getting on a TV show and winning it is like one-in-a-million. I had only been doing comedy for six years at that…” quote by Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/dat-phan-37618_chance_i-was-living-under-a-desk-in-west-hollyw_2495353.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/dat-phan-37618_chance_i-was-living-under-a-desk-in-west-hollyw_2495353.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6f3/dat-phan-37618_chance_i-was-living-under-a-desk-in-west-hollyw_2495353.png) > “I was living under a desk in West Hollywood. It was a closet that I shared with another comic. I was shocked when they called me to come in to try out for the show. The chances of me getting on a TV show and winning it is like one-in-a-million. I had only been doing comedy for six years at that point, so I was basically considered an open mic-er or maybe a feature act once in awhile.” [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Despite humble beginnings and low expectations, perseverance can lead to unexpected breakthroughs and opportunities. **In simple terms:** Hard work can bring surprising success. Key Takeaway Stay persistent and open to chances. Themes perseverance humility unexpected success Mood inspirational realistic Type personal career When to use this quote - stand‑up comedy - creative pursuits - entrepreneurship Key Concepts career growth confidence networking Questions to Reflect On - How do you handle setbacks? - What steps can you take to improve visibility? A Different Perspective Success may still be rare; external factors matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Chance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) [Closets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/closets/) [Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy/) [Comedy Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comedy-years-1007136/) [Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic/) [Comic Shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/comic-shocked-1007138/) [Desks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desks/) [Doing Comedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-comedy/) [Features](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/features/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Mics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mics/) [Millions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/millions/) [One in a million](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/one-in-a-million/) [Open mic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/open-mic/) [Shared Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shared-comic-1007137/) [Shocked](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shocked/) [Shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/shows/) [Six](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/six/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Tv shows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tv-shows/) [Tvs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tvs/) [West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west/) [West hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/west-hollywood/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) [Years](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/years/) ## Related quotes > [I'm extremely proud of what I have achieved. I've travelled around the world twice, went from rolling quarters for cigarettes, balling my eyes out,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-bunting/i-m-extremely-proud-of-what-i-have-achieved-i-ve-travelled-around-the/) [Shane Bunting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-bunting/) > [Wherever I am, I will embrace the life and the lifestyle. I've lived in Hollywood before, and we've moved into the old neighbourhood in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-barrowman/wherever-i-am-i-will-embrace-the-life-and-the-lifestyle-i-ve-lived-in/) [John Barrowman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-barrowman/) > [People who are following their dreams inspire me. I train at this relatively new gym in West Hollywood called Training Mate. It's owned by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dayna-devon/people-who-are-following-their-dreams-inspire-me-i-train-at-this/) [Dayna Devon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dayna-devon/) > [My first show was at Here Lounge in West Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shangela/my-first-show-was-at-here-lounge-in-west-hollywood/) [Shangela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shangela/) > [My mom blames California for me being a lesbian. Everything was fine until you moved out there. That's right, Mom, we have mandatory lesbianism…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/coley-sohn/my-mom-blames-california-for-me-being-a-lesbian-everything-was-fine/) [Coley Sohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/coley-sohn/) > [What I didn't realize is, getting out to L.A., you realize how normal it is, especially if you go eat or have dinner in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-mcvay/what-i-didn-t-realize-is-getting-out-to-l-a-you-realize-how-normal-it/) [Sean McVay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-mcvay/) > [I haven't got muscles, and I don't live in West Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/i-haven-t-got-muscles-and-i-don-t-live-in-west-hollywood/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [I don't live in the city of L.A. I live in West Hollywood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-lovett/i-don-t-live-in-the-city-of-l-a-i-live-in-west-hollywood/) [Jon Lovett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-lovett/) > [Everything I learned and didn't do in New York I would put into place here in the London West Hollywood. It's fascinating, when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-ramsay/everything-i-learned-and-didn-t-do-in-new-york-i-would-put-into-place/) [Gordon Ramsay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-ramsay/) > [I've been entertaining men with my comedy for many, many years, and I don't plan on stopping.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iliza-shlesinger/i-ve-been-entertaining-men-with-my-comedy-for-many-many-years-and-i/) [Iliza Shlesinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iliza-shlesinger/) > [When you've been doing comedy for forty years, you really do know most of the jokes. And even if you don't know a specific…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cleese/when-you-ve-been-doing-comedy-for-forty-years-you-really-do-know-most/) [John Cleese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cleese/) > [My friends say I make them laugh a lot, so I think that somewhere in me is a little comedic ability that comes out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/selenis-leyva/my-friends-say-i-make-them-laugh-a-lot-so-i-think-that-somewhere-in/) [Selenis Leyva](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/selenis-leyva/) > [Well I sure had been looking for a comedy for years without any success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-kilmer/well-i-sure-had-been-looking-for-a-comedy-for-years-without-any/) [Val Kilmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-kilmer/) > [I did sketch comedy for years. Ive always enjoyed it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-farr/i-did-sketch-comedy-for-years-ive-always-enjoyed-it/) [Jamie Farr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-farr/) > [Classic comedy is classic comedy, and it will go on for years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-jason/classic-comedy-is-classic-comedy-and-it-will-go-on-for-years/) [David Jason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-jason/) ## More by Dat Phan > [Money comes and goes. I'm thankful I have money. I'm trying to save up more. I would like more money. But it's not happiness.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/money-comes-and-goes-i-m-thankful-i-have-money-i-m-trying-to-save-up/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [I was doing gigs to stay alive. I worked two or three jobs at a time, there were times when I stayed up for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-was-doing-gigs-to-stay-alive-i-worked-two-or-three-jobs-at-a-time/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [I knew comedy was the thing for me when I was the only Asian kid in high school... who failed math.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-knew-comedy-was-the-thing-for-me-when-i-was-the-only-asian-kid-in/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [And I come from a small Vietnamese family. We're really close too, all ten of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/and-i-come-from-a-small-vietnamese-family-we-re-really-close-too-all/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [It's a constant battle between what your heart tells you, and what your brain tells you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/it-s-a-constant-battle-between-what-your-heart-tells-you-and-what/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [When you grow up poor, you have to either work really hard to try and get where you want to be, or you'll just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/when-you-grow-up-poor-you-have-to-either-work-really-hard-to-try-and/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [I learned that money's not happiness. The more famous I am and the more money I make, the closer I stay to my family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-learned-that-money-s-not-happiness-the-more-famous-i-am-and-the/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [We want to be seen as more than just martial artists, or bad stereotype token roles in American TV and movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/we-want-to-be-seen-as-more-than-just-martial-artists-or-bad/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [I did whatever it takes to do stand-up. There is an abundance of material in struggling and poverty and trying to make it. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/i-did-whatever-it-takes-to-do-stand-up-there-is-an-abundance-of/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [Vietnam, we take over by doing pedicure! That's how we take over. We take over one foot at a time, damn it - that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/vietnam-we-take-over-by-doing-pedicure-that-s-how-we-take-over-we/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) > [Us Asians look like we're twenty until we're fifty. Once we're fifty, we look like Yoda.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dat-phan/us-asians-look-like-we-re-twenty-until-we-re-fifty-once-we-re-fifty/) [Dat Phan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) [Explore all 12 Dat Phan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dat-phan/) ## More Chance quotes > [Before I debuted, it was my goal to make my debut, and afterwards, I aimed at winning champion titles on television music shows, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyuna/before-i-debuted-it-was-my-goal-to-make-my-debut-and-afterwards-i/) [Hyuna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyuna/) > [I understand it's promotion, but no one ever gave me a chance. No one ever thought I'd be the champ, and look where I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stipe-miocic/i-understand-it-s-promotion-but-no-one-ever-gave-me-a-chance-no-one/) [Stipe Miocic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stipe-miocic/) > [I might, by chance, write something just as shoddy; But then I wouldn't show it to everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moliere/i-might-by-chance-write-something-just-as-shoddy-but-then-i-wouldn-t/) [Moliere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moliere/) > [When I get a chance to play golf or go on a boat with good people, take the boat out and put some lobsters…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-mac/when-i-get-a-chance-to-play-golf-or-go-on-a-boat-with-good-people/) [Bernie Mac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-mac/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [I get afraid of the dark if I'm in a great deal of dark, and I have to move around inside of that fear...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emil-ferris/i-get-afraid-of-the-dark-if-i-m-in-a-great-deal-of-dark-and-i-have-to/) [Emil Ferris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emil-ferris/) > [I have heard that if you pull a bent breath through the second hole of a harmonica tuned to the key of Georgia while…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/buddy-wakefield/i-have-heard-that-if-you-pull-a-bent-breath-through-the-second-hole/) [Buddy Wakefield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/buddy-wakefield/) > [There are times when we can feel destiny close around us like a fist around a doorknob. Sure, we can resist. But a knob…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-robbins/there-are-times-when-we-can-feel-destiny-close-around-us-like-a-fist/) [Tom Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-robbins/) > [Pain held no terror for him. Pain was, if not friend, then family, something he had grown up with in his crèche, learning to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paolo-bacigalupi/pain-held-no-terror-for-him-pain-was-if-not-friend-then-family/) [Paolo Bacigalupi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paolo-bacigalupi/) > [Love changes people, for better or for worse. You could look at it as a chance for you to change. The best kind of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-changes-people-for-better-or-for-worse-you-could-look-at-it-as-a/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“It's not who, it's when”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-taubas/it-s-not-who-it-s-when/) [Alejandro Taubas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-taubas/) > [Childhood is Last Chance Gulch for happiness. After that, you know too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-stoppard/childhood-is-last-chance-gulch-for-happiness-after-that-you-know-too/) [Tom Stoppard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-stoppard/) > [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/) [Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/) > [If you’re worrying about the past, you’ve got a good chance of screwing up the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-a-tullman/if-you-re-worrying-about-the-past-you-ve-got-a-good-chance-of/) [Howard A. Tullman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-a-tullman/) > [To be successful, one must take chances.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-stargell/to-be-successful-one-must-take-chances/) [Willie Stargell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-stargell/) [Browse all 12,460 Chance quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/chance/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was living under a desk in West Hollywood. It was a closet that I shared with another comic. 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