---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I have a job to do, time means…"
description: "\"When I have a job to do, time means nothing. I lose patience with people who work on a clock.\" — Don Cornelius"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg"
---

#  When I have a job to do, time means nothing. I lose…

![“When I have a job to do, time means nothing. I lose patience with people who work on a clock.” quote by Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg)

> “When I have a job to do, time means nothing. I lose patience with people who work on a clock.”

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Time is irrelevant when focused on a task; impatience arises toward those bound by schedules.

**In simple terms:** Focus makes time feel endless; schedules frustrate.

Key Takeaway

Prioritize deep work over clock‑watching.

Themes

focus patience productivity

Mood

determined reflective

Type

advice philosophical

When to use this quote

- project deadlines
- creative work
- team collaboration
- remote work

Key Concepts

time perception mindset

Questions to Reflect On

- How does your work style affect others?
- Can you balance urgency with patience?

A Different Perspective

Clock‑based constraints can hinder flexibility and morale.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Job Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-time-340307/) [Lose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose/) [Lose Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lose-patience-1231079/) [Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/means/) [Nothing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nothing/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Patience People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience-people-474939/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Time Means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time-means/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Clock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-clock-4161466/)

## Related quotes

> [“Time means succession, and succession, change: Hence timelessness is bound to disarrange Schedules of sentiment.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/time-means-succession-and-succession-change-hence-timelessness-is-2/)

[Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/)

> [“Time means nothing." ~The Time Traveller's Wife”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/audrey-niffenegger/time-means-nothing-the-time-traveller-s-wife/)

[Audrey Niffenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/audrey-niffenegger/)

> [You can get fired from any job at any time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-garcia/you-can-get-fired-from-any-job-at-any-time/)

[Jorge Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-garcia/)

> [Being pretty is a full time job that's why I'm only part time...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-pretty-is-a-full-time-job-that-s-why-i-m-only-part-time/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [I'm in a rare position where I don't have to do job after job. I can take time when my family needs it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelina-jolie/i-m-in-a-rare-position-where-i-don-t-have-to-do-job-after-job-i-can/)

[Angelina Jolie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelina-jolie/)

> [I'm working full time on my job and part time on my fortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-rohn/i-m-working-full-time-on-my-job-and-part-time-on-my-fortune/)

[Jim Rohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-rohn/)

> [I've been through periods where I haven't worked and would have paid someone to give me a job - I think that's really helped…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-skarsten/i-ve-been-through-periods-where-i-haven-t-worked-and-would-have-paid/)

[Rachel Skarsten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-skarsten/)

> [It's a full time job with a part-time companion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvia-day/it-s-a-full-time-job-with-a-part-time-companion/)

[Sylvia Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvia-day/)

> [“You go to school to get a job, and you get a job to take time off to do nothing. Why not do nothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janne-teller/you-go-to-school-to-get-a-job-and-you-get-a-job-to-take-time-off-to/)

[Janne Teller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janne-teller/)

> [I was very afraid that I wouldn't be able to do this job well. And the time never came back.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-olds/i-was-very-afraid-that-i-wouldn-t-be-able-to-do-this-job-well-and-the/)

[Sharon Olds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-olds/)

> [I work when I'm alone, but I have children and a family and a job, so alone time is at a premium.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumaan-alam/i-work-when-i-m-alone-but-i-have-children-and-a-family-and-a-job-so/)

[Rumaan Alam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumaan-alam/)

> [Had I not gone through the ordeal, in more than one country, of landing a job, I would he tempted to lose patience over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/b-c-forbes/had-i-not-gone-through-the-ordeal-in-more-than-one-country-of-landing/)

[B. C. Forbes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/b-c-forbes/)

> [You know, I lose patience really easily; I'd rather shop in the grocery store than in the department store. I can pick an apple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-simmons/you-know-i-lose-patience-really-easily-i-d-rather-shop-in-the-grocery/)

[Gail Simmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-simmons/)

> [When you're tempted to lose patience with someone, think about how patient God has been with you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melania/when-you-re-tempted-to-lose-patience-with-someone-think-about-how/)

[Melania](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melania/)

> [“Never force something, Drew. A bolt, a pass, a game, whatever." His dark brown eyes held mine. "Force it and you'll lose. Patience and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristen-callihan/never-force-something-drew-a-bolt-a-pass-a-game-whatever-his-dark/)

[Kristen Callihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristen-callihan/)

## More by Don Cornelius

> [I'm trying to use euphemisms here, trying to avoid saying there was no television for black folks, which they knew was for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-m-trying-to-use-euphemisms-here-trying-to-avoid-saying-there-was-no/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [I dont know anybody who can define it. Its like trying to define hip-hop. You cant just call it black music. Maybe it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-dont-know-anybody-who-can-define-it-its-like-trying-to-define-hip/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [I always felt a love for music, but I never got my nerve up enough to try a musical instrument in school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-always-felt-a-love-for-music-but-i-never-got-my-nerve-up-enough-to/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [One motivation for the 'Soul Train' awards was the grumbling that all of us in the industry have heard about the way black music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/one-motivation-for-the-soul-train-awards-was-the-grumbling-that-all/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [My father worked real hard. I admired him. My father taught me you needed to work with your brain and not your back. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/my-father-worked-real-hard-i-admired-him-my-father-taught-me-you/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [I was never exposed to a great deal of racism, but the Chicago I grew up in was very, very segregated. If I went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-was-never-exposed-to-a-great-deal-of-racism-but-the-chicago-i-grew/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [I felt that it was my mission to see to it that black talent had an opportunity to get national television exposure.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-felt-that-it-was-my-mission-to-see-to-it-that-black-talent-had-an/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [Who's more important than Diana Ross?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/who-s-more-important-than-diana-ross/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [I figured as long as the music stayed hot and important and good, that there would always be a reason for 'Soul Train.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-figured-as-long-as-the-music-stayed-hot-and-important-and-good-that/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [There was no match for Barry White. His music is just going to live forever. It's not limited to disco or soul or hip-hop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/there-was-no-match-for-barry-white-his-music-is-just-going-to-live/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [There were individuals at the time who were on the proverbial wish list, and before we had to wait too long, they decided to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/there-were-individuals-at-the-time-who-were-on-the-proverbial-wish/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [The 'Soul Train' legacy and brand are of the utmost importance to me and to 'Soul Train's' millions of fans. After years of offers,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/the-soul-train-legacy-and-brand-are-of-the-utmost-importance-to-me/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [Soul Train' was developed as a radio show on television. It was the radio show that I always wanted and never had.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/soul-train-was-developed-as-a-radio-show-on-television-it-was-the/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [I went crazy. I was sending angry letters to every newspaper editorial board in the country. It was designed to step on Soul Train…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-went-crazy-i-was-sending-angry-letters-to-every-newspaper-editorial/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

> [A guy like me cant be doing 'love, peace and soul!' shtick for the rest of his life until people start to say whats…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/a-guy-like-me-cant-be-doing-love-peace-and-soul-shtick-for-the-rest/)

[Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

[Explore all 47 Don Cornelius quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/)

## More Clock quotes

> [Even Einstein had to rely for his time on his clock.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/even-einstein-had-to-rely-for-his-time-on-his-clock/)

[Stanislaw Jerzy Lec](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stanislaw-jerzy-lec/)

> [“Time was never neutral and often felt dangerous. We either think we have all the time in the world or time moves too fast…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-reay/time-was-never-neutral-and-often-felt-dangerous-we-either-think-we/)

[Katherine Reay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-reay/)

> [Before a clock was in the tower, Or e'er a watch was worn; I knew of night the passing hour, And prophesied the morn;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/before-a-clock-was-in-the-tower-or-e-er-a-watch-was-worn-i-knew-of/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [A clock struck out the hour of twelve, and the bird in the hedgerow was still singing as we marched out to the roadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-macgill/a-clock-struck-out-the-hour-of-twelve-and-the-bird-in-the-hedgerow/)

[Patrick MacGill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-macgill/)

> [“Time is, to put it in its most impressive and some might say poncy-sounding form, my domain. I can see things that once happened,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacqueline-rayner/time-is-to-put-it-in-its-most-impressive-and-some-might-say-poncy/)

[Jacqueline Rayner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacqueline-rayner/)

> [Time travel offends our sense of cause and effect - but maybe the universe doesn't insist on cause and effect.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-m-lerner/time-travel-offends-our-sense-of-cause-and-effect-but-maybe-the/)

[Edward M. Lerner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-m-lerner/)

> [My only aim is to clock a time that everyone remembers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hima-das/my-only-aim-is-to-clock-a-time-that-everyone-remembers/)

[Hima Das](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hima-das/)

> [Time.The greatest creator, and the worst destroyer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/levi-keely/time-the-greatest-creator-and-the-worst-destroyer/)

[Levi Keely](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/levi-keely/)

> [Steven Spielberg seems to have wanted to be a director from 13. He put his dog in a certain position and made him eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-brooks/steven-spielberg-seems-to-have-wanted-to-be-a-director-from-13-he-put/)

[Albert Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-brooks/)

> [No life goes past so swiftly as an eventless one, no clock spins like a clock whose days are all alike.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wallace-stegner/no-life-goes-past-so-swiftly-as-an-eventless-one-no-clock-spins-like/)

[Wallace Stegner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wallace-stegner/)

> [Those who stop marketing to save money are like those who stop a clock to save time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-ford/those-who-stop-marketing-to-save-money-are-like-those-who-stop-a/)

[Henry Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-ford/)

> [Time is the nervous system of narration, whether factual or fictive. If it gets confused some of the minutiae of human nature are certain…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glenway-wescott/time-is-the-nervous-system-of-narration-whether-factual-or-fictive-if/)

[Glenway Wescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glenway-wescott/)

> [I don't know if it's just me or everyone, but the whole vibe with skiing is not so much thriving on competition against others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/picabo-street/i-don-t-know-if-it-s-just-me-or-everyone-but-the-whole-vibe-with/)

[Picabo Street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/picabo-street/)

> [Time goes on, even when yer not looking.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ness/time-goes-on-even-when-yer-not-looking/)

[Patrick Ness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ness/)

> [CLOCK, n. A machine of great moral value to man, allaying his concern for the future by reminding him what a lot of time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ambrose-bierce/clock-n-a-machine-of-great-moral-value-to-man-allaying-his-concern/)

[Ambrose Bierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ambrose-bierce/)

[Browse all 2,738 Clock quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clock/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "When I have a job to do, time means nothing. I lose patience with people who work on a clock.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Don Cornelius"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothing-i-lose-patience-with/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Clock"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothing-i-lose-patience-with/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf8/don-cornelius-14201_clock_when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothi_2095433.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“When I have a job to do, time means nothing. I lose patience with people who work on a clock.” — Don Cornelius",
                "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": "Don Cornelius",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "When I have a job to...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothing-i-lose-patience-with/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/when-i-have-a-job-to-do-time-means-nothing-i-lose-patience-with/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
