--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was growing up, my father helped…" description: "\"When I was growing up, my father helped kindle my passion for innovation and technology. He was a high-ranking executive at AT&T and used our family di..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/denise-morrison-6128_dinner-table_when-i-was-growing-up-my-father-helped-k_3201296.png" --- # When I was growing up, my father helped kindle my passion… ![“When I was growing up, my father helped kindle my passion for innovation and technology. He was a high-ranking executive at AT&T and used our family dinner table as a focus group.” quote by Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/denise-morrison-6128_dinner-table_when-i-was-growing-up-my-father-helped-k_3201296.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/denise-morrison-6128_dinner-table_when-i-was-growing-up-my-father-helped-k_3201296.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/92e/denise-morrison-6128_dinner-table_when-i-was-growing-up-my-father-helped-k_3201296.png) > “When I was growing up, my father helped kindle my passion for innovation and technology. He was a high-ranking executive at AT&T and used our family dinner table as a focus group.” [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early family influence sparked a lifelong drive for tech innovation. **In simple terms:** Father inspired tech passion. Key Takeaway Leverage early mentors. Themes innovation technology family influence Mood grateful inspired Type personal career When to use this quote - career decisions - product development - team leadership - startup culture Key Concepts entrepreneurship growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - How did dinner discussions shape your career? - Can you replicate this mentorship today? A Different Perspective Family influence may not translate to all fields. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dinner table](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dinner-table/) [Family](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family/) [Family dinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-dinner/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [Innovation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovation/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Passion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/passion/) [Technology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/technology/) ## Related quotes > [“Self-discipline coupled with passion and innovation will get you far in this world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/self-discipline-coupled-with-passion-and-innovation-will-get-you-far/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [My passion for innovation and my interest in the 'business of science' has seen Biocon commercialize many innovative platforms and products.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kiran-mazumdar-shaw/my-passion-for-innovation-and-my-interest-in-the-business-of-science/) [Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kiran-mazumdar-shaw/) > [Gamers love technology, and they have high expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-su/gamers-love-technology-and-they-have-high-expectations/) [Lisa Su](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-su/) > [We can close the gap and improve what happens in the classroom by using educational technology that is the same high quality everywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/major-owens/we-can-close-the-gap-and-improve-what-happens-in-the-classroom-by/) [Major Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/major-owens/) > [Sometimes after an enjoyable family home evening, during a fervent family prayer, or when our entire family is at the dinner table on Sunday…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlin-k-jensen/sometimes-after-an-enjoyable-family-home-evening-during-a-fervent/) [Marlin K. Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlin-k-jensen/) > [It's the sense of what family is at the dinner table. It was the joy of knowing mother was in the kitchen making our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-prudhomme/it-s-the-sense-of-what-family-is-at-the-dinner-table-it-was-the-joy/) [Paul Prudhomme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-prudhomme/) > [“Cathy smiled back ‘Rules were meant to be broken.’ ‘Don’t disagree,’ Oversteegen replied immediately. ‘Indeed they are. Providin’, however, that the one breakin’ the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-weber/cathy-smiled-back-rules-were-meant-to-be-broken-don-t-disagree/) [David Weber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-weber/) > [Home is the wallpaper above the bed, the family dinner table, the church bells in the morning, the bruised shins of the playground, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-anatole-grunwald/home-is-the-wallpaper-above-the-bed-the-family-dinner-table-the/) [Henry Anatole Grunwald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-anatole-grunwald/) > [The family dinner table is the cornerstone of civilization and those who 'graze' from refrigerators or in front of the television sets are doomed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-family-dinner-table-is-the-cornerstone-of-civilization-and-those/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [Our family dinner table was my first platform - every dinner was all about sharing stories and jokes and points of view.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phoebe-waller-bridge/our-family-dinner-table-was-my-first-platform-every-dinner-was-all/) [Phoebe Waller-Bridge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phoebe-waller-bridge/) > [“The other half, Lost Tokyo-1, has not been located yet, although presumably it exists out there somewhere in the universe, a mega-demi-city of eighty-five…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-yu/the-other-half-lost-tokyo-1-has-not-been-located-yet-although/) [Charles Yu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-yu/) > [I love to cook, and I love to have all my family around the dinner table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julia-roberts/i-love-to-cook-and-i-love-to-have-all-my-family-around-the-dinner/) [Julia Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julia-roberts/) > [There has been a reevaluation of our slave philosophy that permitted us to be satisfied with the leftovers at the back door rather than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-henry/there-has-been-a-reevaluation-of-our-slave-philosophy-that-permitted/) Aaron Henry > [For the past several centuries the bonding power of the family dinner table has been one of the few constants, and now it's binding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-mcmurtry/for-the-past-several-centuries-the-bonding-power-of-the-family-dinner/) [Larry McMurtry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-mcmurtry/) > [Some of the most important conversations I've ever had occurred at my family's dinner table.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-ehrlich/some-of-the-most-important-conversations-i-ve-ever-had-occurred-at-my/) [Bob Ehrlich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-ehrlich/) ## More by Denise Morrison > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Being an iconic food company can be both a blessing and a curse. It can be a curse if, amidst change, you maintain the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/being-an-iconic-food-company-can-be-both-a-blessing-and-a-curse-it/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [My mother taught us that ambition is part of femininity and really taught us to have substance but also style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/my-mother-taught-us-that-ambition-is-part-of-femininity-and-really/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [There is power in helping people get excited about what they do and inspiring and motivating them to unleash their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/there-is-power-in-helping-people-get-excited-about-what-they-do-and/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Food is art and science. So, you take something out, you have to work with the recipe to make sure that you're providing delicious…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/food-is-art-and-science-so-you-take-something-out-you-have-to-work/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The best companies will build culturally diverse leadership teams and workforces with divergent backgrounds, perspectives, and ideas.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/the-best-companies-will-build-culturally-diverse-leadership-teams-and/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [As the leader, you're empowering talent. Once you've given the direction, it's a joy to see it put into action, to see people on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/as-the-leader-you-re-empowering-talent-once-you-ve-given-the/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Don't just let your career happen to you. You need to be strategic about how you define your leadership journey and where that takes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/don-t-just-let-your-career-happen-to-you-you-need-to-be-strategic/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [I was so results-oriented.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/i-was-so-results-oriented/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [I've been preparing to run a big company all my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/i-ve-been-preparing-to-run-a-big-company-all-my-life/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Women need to think about where they've been, where they are, where they're going, and how they're going to get there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/women-need-to-think-about-where-they-ve-been-where-they-are-where/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Working with some outside consultants or people that really can bring you an external perspective or a benchmarking to identify opportunities is a really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/working-with-some-outside-consultants-or-people-that-really-can-bring/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [Moving with the times is an important idea for strategy today.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/moving-with-the-times-is-an-important-idea-for-strategy-today/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The entrepreneurial spirit has moved from the garage in high-tech to the kitchen in food.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/the-entrepreneurial-spirit-has-moved-from-the-garage-in-high-tech-to/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [The top principle for disruptive and sustaining innovation is that it has to have a laser focus on customers. Innovation begins with their needs…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/the-top-principle-for-disruptive-and-sustaining-innovation-is-that-it/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) [Explore all 100 Denise Morrison quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) ## More Dinner table quotes > [“Children's lives are always beginning and adults' lives are always ending. Or is it the opposite? Your childhood is always ending and your adult…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-espach/children-s-lives-are-always-beginning-and-adults-lives-are-always/) [Alison Espach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-espach/) > [The language we share is at the core of our identity as citizens, and our ticket to full participation in American political life. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/s-i-hayakawa/the-language-we-share-is-at-the-core-of-our-identity-as-citizens-and/) [S. I. Hayakawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/s-i-hayakawa/) > [“I’m not sure how the ponies happened, though I have an inkling: “Can I get you anything?” I’ll say, getting up from a dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sloane-crosley/i-m-not-sure-how-the-ponies-happened-though-i-have-an-inkling-can-i/) [Sloane Crosley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sloane-crosley/) > [“These are all good things, I said. But no one knows where your country is or who you are. You don't have a familiar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-shteyngart/these-are-all-good-things-i-said-but-no-one-knows-where-your-country/) [Gary Shteyngart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-shteyngart/) > [“Generally speaking, most of our vital, spontaneous, instinctual life gets shamed. Children are shamed for being too rambunctious, for wanting things and for laughing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bradshaw/generally-speaking-most-of-our-vital-spontaneous-instinctual-life/) [John Bradshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bradshaw/) > [I'll tell you one thing... no doubt about it, my favorite kind of comedy is talking head comedy. I mean, if it were up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-mckay/i-ll-tell-you-one-thing-no-doubt-about-it-my-favorite-kind-of-comedy/) [Adam McKay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-mckay/) > [I think God made this very path for me, and he guided me all throughout. And my family has always been very supportive. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajkummar-rao/i-think-god-made-this-very-path-for-me-and-he-guided-me-all/) [Rajkummar Rao](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajkummar-rao/) > [Americans are curious about the texture of everyday life in the Middle East because they rarely get to see it. I wanted readers to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annia-ciezadlo/americans-are-curious-about-the-texture-of-everyday-life-in-the/) [Annia Ciezadlo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annia-ciezadlo/) > [I have never been carried around by a large boy, or laughed until my stomach hurt at the dinner table, or listened to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronica-roth/i-have-never-been-carried-around-by-a-large-boy-or-laughed-until-my/) [Veronica Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronica-roth/) > [For me, being on set is no different than being at a dinner table or riding the subway next to someone; inevitably their life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-mahoney/for-me-being-on-set-is-no-different-than-being-at-a-dinner-table-or/) [Victoria Mahoney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-mahoney/) > [“You know as well as I do that life has a way of clearing that path for you. 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