--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was an executive at Columbia Pictures…" description: "\"I was an executive at Columbia Pictures for ten years. I was doing great. My career was on the upswing. But, right then, was when I said I gotta quit. ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/devon-franklin-15376_career_i-was-an-executive-at-columbia-pictures_1646890.jpg" --- # I was an executive at Columbia Pictures for ten years. I… ![“I was an executive at Columbia Pictures for ten years. I was doing great. My career was on the upswing. But, right then, was when I said I gotta quit. I gotta start my own company. I gotta be on the other side of it because I felt the strong call on my life - to tell stories that, on the face of…” quote by DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/devon-franklin-15376_career_i-was-an-executive-at-columbia-pictures_1646890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/devon-franklin-15376_career_i-was-an-executive-at-columbia-pictures_1646890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1ae/devon-franklin-15376_career_i-was-an-executive-at-columbia-pictures_1646890.jpg) > “I was an executive at Columbia Pictures for ten years. I was doing great. My career was on the upswing. But, right then, was when I said I gotta quit. I gotta start my own company. I gotta be on the other side of it because I felt the strong call on my life - to tell stories that, on the face of it, might not look like a commercial movie.” [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He left a successful executive role to pursue personal purpose, prioritizing meaningful storytelling over commercial success. **In simple terms:** Quit a safe job to follow a deeper calling. Key Takeaway Follow your purpose, not just profit. Themes purpose career change storytelling risk authenticity Mood determined inspired Type personal professional When to use this quote - starting a new venture - leaving corporate job - creating non‑commercial films - aligning work with values Key Concepts entrepreneurship creative integrity mission-driven work Questions to Reflect On - What does “telling stories that might not look like a commercial movie” mean to you? - How can you balance artistic integrity with business viability? A Different Perspective Risk of financial instability and market resistance to non‑commercial projects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Great career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/great-career/) [Stories](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stories/) ## Related quotes > [We gotta quit the love cause we both miserable in love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william/we-gotta-quit-the-love-cause-we-both-miserable-in-love/) [WillIAm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william/) > [I gotta quit smoking, doctor's orders, and the drinking, court orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-attell/i-gotta-quit-smoking-doctor-s-orders-and-the-drinking-court-orders/) [Dave Attell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-attell/) > [I had a great career. 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Sio what I don't have is not as important to as what I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/padma-lakshmi/i-have-a-great-career-and-i-have-my-daughter-sio-what-i-don-t-have-is/) [Padma Lakshmi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/padma-lakshmi/) > [I think hard work is definitely a huge thing, but there is something, if you want to call it luck or whatever - a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/i-think-hard-work-is-definitely-a-huge-thing-but-there-is-something/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [I've had a great career I feel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-serra/i-ve-had-a-great-career-i-feel/) [Matt Serra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-serra/) > [The likes of Zoe Ball, Claudia Winkleman, Emma Willis, strong, smart women who have built a great career, they are liked by audiences and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-scanlon/the-likes-of-zoe-ball-claudia-winkleman-emma-willis-strong-smart/) [Angela Scanlon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-scanlon/) > [I've had a great career in sports broadcasting - but I'm interested in lots of things. 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If you can something that people want to see live, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bette-midler/the-old-forms-of-entertainment-are-not-extinct-live-performances-are/) [Bette Midler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bette-midler/) > [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/) [Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/) ## More by DeVon Franklin > [Anything you pray for, you need to prepare for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/anything-you-pray-for-you-need-to-prepare-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [I feel like you only need one moment of inspiration to turn your life around.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/i-feel-like-you-only-need-one-moment-of-inspiration-to-turn-your-life/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [I can look at something that others (might not) and I can see the value in it. I can make that film a film…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/i-can-look-at-something-that-others-might-not-and-i-can-see-the-value/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [My definition of God: God is not only the alpha, the omega, he is friend, he's a confidant, he is a buddy. He is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/my-definition-of-god-god-is-not-only-the-alpha-the-omega-he-is-friend/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [If I embrace who I am it will open doors not shut them. If your faith won’t fit in the door that opens then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/if-i-embrace-who-i-am-it-will-open-doors-not-shut-them-if-your-faith/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Don't downgrade your dream to match your reality. Upgrade your faith to match your destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/don-t-downgrade-your-dream-to-match-your-reality-upgrade-your-faith/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [My favorite Scripture is Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." God is our strength; his love, demonstrated through…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/my-favorite-scripture-is-philippians-4-13-i-can-do-all-things-through/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [If your faith won't fit in the door that opens, then I argue do not walk through that door.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/if-your-faith-won-t-fit-in-the-door-that-opens-then-i-argue-do-not/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Cast PURPOSE as the lead in your movie and you will help God, your Director, produce a masterwork.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/cast-purpose-as-the-lead-in-your-movie-and-you-will-help-god-your/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [I define success as a deep sense of peace, and we find the most peace when we live out our true calling and fulfill…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/i-define-success-as-a-deep-sense-of-peace-and-we-find-the-most-peace/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Is your integrity at the level of the thing you are praying for?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/is-your-integrity-at-the-level-of-the-thing-you-are-praying-for/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Trust the gifts that God has placed within you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/trust-the-gifts-that-god-has-placed-within-you/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Don't abandon what makes you who you are. Don't give up hope.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/don-t-abandon-what-makes-you-who-you-are-don-t-give-up-hope/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [Growing up in the church in West Virginia, faith is always there. It's part of the fabric of the culture.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/growing-up-in-the-church-in-west-virginia-faith-is-always-there-it-s/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) > [The path to success requires you to commit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/devon-franklin/the-path-to-success-requires-you-to-commit/) [DeVon Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) [Explore all 43 DeVon Franklin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/devon-franklin/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) Alison James > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [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/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. 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