--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I went through a phase where all I was…" description: "\"I went through a phase where all I was doing was commercials, and not that it was a bad thing, but I was referred to as 'the Allstate guy' as I was wal..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/dennis-haysbert-13483_bad_i-went-through-a-phase-where-all-i-was-d_2494503.jpg" --- # I went through a phase where all I was doing was… ![“I went through a phase where all I was doing was commercials, and not that it was a bad thing, but I was referred to as 'the Allstate guy' as I was walking the streets. Someone comes up to you on the street, you would like them to know your name.” quote by Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/dennis-haysbert-13483_bad_i-went-through-a-phase-where-all-i-was-d_2494503.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/dennis-haysbert-13483_bad_i-went-through-a-phase-where-all-i-was-d_2494503.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/983/dennis-haysbert-13483_bad_i-went-through-a-phase-where-all-i-was-d_2494503.jpg) > “I went through a phase where all I was doing was commercials, and not that it was a bad thing, but I was referred to as 'the Allstate guy' as I was walking the streets. Someone comes up to you on the street, you would like them to know your name.” [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He reflects on being typecast as a brand spokesperson and the desire for personal recognition beyond the role. **In simple terms:** Being known for a brand can hide personal identity. Key Takeaway Seek ways to showcase your own name. Themes identity branding recognition Mood reflective determined Type motivational career When to use this quote - networking events - career transitions - personal branding - public speaking Key Concepts typecasting personal branding Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance brand work with personal identity? - What steps can you take to be known beyond a role? A Different Perspective Brand association may limit perceived versatility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad/) [Bad thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bad-thing/) [Commercials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commercials/) [Doing Commercials](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doing-commercials-448560/) [Name](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/name/) [Referred Allstate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/referred-allstate-999179/) [Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/street/) [Thing Referred](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-referred-999180/) [Walking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walking/) [Went Phase](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/went-phase-862872/) [Your](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/your/) ## Related quotes > [It was very hard breaking into the film industry in Britain. I had been to art school, and I was painting and doing commercials.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-scott/it-was-very-hard-breaking-into-the-film-industry-in-britain-i-had/) [Tony Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-scott/) > [Philosophically, I don't like doing commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-caen/philosophically-i-don-t-like-doing-commercials/) [Herb Caen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-caen/) > [I began modeling in N.Y. and doing commercials. That led to regional theatre and then Broadway and then movies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/i-began-modeling-in-n-y-and-doing-commercials-that-led-to-regional/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [But I did make some money doing commercials. I did fourteen in one year.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dabney-coleman/but-i-did-make-some-money-doing-commercials-i-did-fourteen-in-one-year/) [Dabney Coleman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dabney-coleman/) > [I started doing commercials in 2008 right after we released 'Death Race,' and the reason was that I spent two years prepping Death Race…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-w-s-anderson/i-started-doing-commercials-in-2008-right-after-we-released-death/) [Paul W. S. Anderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-w-s-anderson/) > [I started out doing commercials, like Diet Coke and Pizza Hut. And I started to find there was a different life for me, in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-hagler/i-started-out-doing-commercials-like-diet-coke-and-pizza-hut-and-i/) [Marvin Hagler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-hagler/) > [A lot of people are like, "You're doing commercials?" 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Ever since I was introduced to it, I loved it. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kofi-siriboe/i-started-in-this-industry-television-as-a-kid-doing-commercials-ever/) [Kofi Siriboe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kofi-siriboe/) > [The upside to doing commercials is you have to work in a lot of different genres and make stuff that you never thought you'd…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-lucia/the-upside-to-doing-commercials-is-you-have-to-work-in-a-lot-of/) [St. Lucia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-lucia/) > [A lot of the good cameraman who we used are doing television work; they're doing commercials for a lot of money. And the commercials…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/a-lot-of-the-good-cameraman-who-we-used-are-doing-television-work/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [It's so nice to be part of a project that you're actually really proud of because when I first started, just to make ends…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-paul/it-s-so-nice-to-be-part-of-a-project-that-you-re-actually-really/) [Aaron Paul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-paul/) > [I didn't really like doing commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-gordon-levitt/i-didn-t-really-like-doing-commercials/) [Joseph Gordon-Levitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-gordon-levitt/) > [I'm uncomfortable doing commercials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-urlacher/i-m-uncomfortable-doing-commercials/) [Brian Urlacher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-urlacher/) ## More by Dennis Haysbert > [Sometimes you have to laugh to keep from crying or getting overly angry or to maintain control.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/sometimes-you-have-to-laugh-to-keep-from-crying-or-getting-overly/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [If I weren't an actor, I'd either be a teacher or a critic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/if-i-weren-t-an-actor-i-d-either-be-a-teacher-or-a-critic/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [I have children, so I'm constantly worrying about the world they are going to inherit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/i-have-children-so-i-m-constantly-worrying-about-the-world-they-are/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [All of the directors I work with have their own unique gifts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-haysbert/all-of-the-directors-i-work-with-have-their-own-unique-gifts/) [Dennis Haysbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-haysbert/) > [First of all, I never think of my characters as good or evil. 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When I argue with him on the kind of music he is listening to, he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zeenat-aman/i-listen-to-heavy-metal-thanks-to-my-son-when-i-argue-with-him-on-the/) [Zeenat Aman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zeenat-aman/) > [I've said it before, good people are forced to do bad things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angus-cloud/i-ve-said-it-before-good-people-are-forced-to-do-bad-things/) [Angus Cloud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angus-cloud/) > [“If any woman opens her legs for you, don't feel so lucky to be fed with nonsense, she has been a bitch for a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bassey-johnson/if-any-woman-opens-her-legs-for-you-don-t-feel-so-lucky-to-be-fed/) [Michael Bassey Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bassey-johnson/) > [One thing I always tell players is that there are three bad things: Nothing good happens after midnight, nothing good happens when you're around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/one-thing-i-always-tell-players-is-that-there-are-three-bad-things/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Everybody has bad days, but how you respond to it is a testament to whether you are a winner or a loser.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-gordon/everybody-has-bad-days-but-how-you-respond-to-it-is-a-testament-to/) [Aaron Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-gordon/) > [Obviously I'm very grateful 'Bad Guy' is doing so well - it's shocking and surprising and gratifying - but I do think it's important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/finneas/obviously-i-m-very-grateful-bad-guy-is-doing-so-well-it-s-shocking/) [Finneas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/finneas/) > [I felt pretty good growing up. 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