--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started 'Storyline' after I'd…" description: "\"I started 'Storyline' after I'd accomplished all my goals and still wasn't happy. I'd become a 'New York Times' bestselling author, which was my goal f..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/donald-miller-607_accomplished_i-started-storyline-after-i-d-accomplish_1721434.png" --- # I started 'Storyline' after I'd accomplished all my goals… ![“I started 'Storyline' after I'd accomplished all my goals and still wasn't happy. I'd become a 'New York Times' bestselling author, which was my goal from high school, and yet I was less happy after accomplishing my goals than I was before.” quote by Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/donald-miller-607_accomplished_i-started-storyline-after-i-d-accomplish_1721434.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/donald-miller-607_accomplished_i-started-storyline-after-i-d-accomplish_1721434.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3d9/donald-miller-607_accomplished_i-started-storyline-after-i-d-accomplish_1721434.png) > “I started 'Storyline' after I'd accomplished all my goals and still wasn't happy. I'd become a 'New York Times' bestselling author, which was my goal from high school, and yet I was less happy after accomplishing my goals than I was before.” [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Achieving external success doesn't guarantee internal fulfillment; happiness often depends on purpose beyond goals. **In simple terms:** Success alone may not bring happiness. Key Takeaway Seek purpose beyond achievement. Themes fulfillment purpose success happiness Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career milestones - creative projects - personal growth - post‑achievement reflection Key Concepts Existentialism psychology Questions to Reflect On - What deeper purpose can you pursue? - How do you define fulfillment beyond goals? A Different Perspective Happiness also requires meaning, not just achievement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) [Accomplishing Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplishing-goals/) [Author Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/author-goal-1343224/) [Goal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goal/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Wasn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-wasn-1343226/) [High school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-school/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [New york times](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york-times/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Started Storyline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/started-storyline-1343223/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Storyline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyline/) [Storyline Accomplished](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storyline-accomplished-1343225/) [Writer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writer/) ## Related quotes > [It wasn't until I was at 39 that I joined my first real hockey team. Which was great. I scored a couple of goals…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aden-young/it-wasn-t-until-i-was-at-39-that-i-joined-my-first-real-hockey-team/) [Aden Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aden-young/) > [I was only interested in scoring goals. I wasn't interested in anything else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-lineker/i-was-only-interested-in-scoring-goals-i-wasn-t-interested-in/) [Gary Lineker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-lineker/) > [I think about what I've accomplished and my career. I care about how many wins I have and whether I'm accomplishing my goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paula-creamer/i-think-about-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-my-career-i-care-about-how/) [Paula Creamer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paula-creamer/) > [Inspiration is basically just saying how I accomplished my goals or how I am accomplishing my goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lil-tjay/inspiration-is-basically-just-saying-how-i-accomplished-my-goals-or/) [Lil Tjay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lil-tjay/) > [Like anything, you just need to stay true to who you are and hope that social constructs don't get in the way of accomplishing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinashe/like-anything-you-just-need-to-stay-true-to-who-you-are-and-hope-that/) [Tinashe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinashe/) > [My expectations-which I extended whenever I came close to accomplishing my goals-made it impossible ever to feel satisfied with my success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellyn-stern/my-expectations-which-i-extended-whenever-i-came-close-to/) [Ellyn Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellyn-stern/) > [I like order, structure, and accomplishing goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-paysinger/i-like-order-structure-and-accomplishing-goals/) [Spencer Paysinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-paysinger/) > [A real woman makes her own decisions in life. Shes responsible, and doesnt follow but she leads. Shes always about accomplishing goals, and she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-burden/a-real-woman-makes-her-own-decisions-in-life-shes-responsible-and/) [Bryan Burden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-burden/) > [“Busyness is a great enemy of relationships. We become preoccupied with making a living, doing our work, paying bills, and accomplishing goals as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-warren/busyness-is-a-great-enemy-of-relationships-we-become-preoccupied-with/) [Rick Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-warren/) > [“Remember too that business entrepreneurs can be iconoclasts, hermits, and even cranks. Steve Jobs, founder of Apple, reportedly wasn’t Mr. Warm-and-Fuzzy in person. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pamela-price/remember-too-that-business-entrepreneurs-can-be-iconoclasts-hermits/) [Pamela Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pamela-price/) > [Winning is not about how many medals you get-it's about accomplishing goals and just being the best you can be!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-kwan/winning-is-not-about-how-many-medals-you-get-it-s-about-accomplishing/) [Michelle Kwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-kwan/) > [Whether or not you value my advice, I hope you continue to fight the good fight and move towards accomplishing your goals. My goal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/whether-or-not-you-value-my-advice-i-hope-you-continue-to-fight-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your age is just a number. It should never hinder you from accomplishing your goals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/your-age-is-just-a-number-it-should-never-hinder-you-from/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I've been managing myself for some time now, and after accomplishing many goals here in Brazil, I knew it was time to make new…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anitta/i-ve-been-managing-myself-for-some-time-now-and-after-accomplishing/) [Anitta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anitta/) > [The self-confidence one builds from achieving difficult things and accomplishing goals is the most beautiful thing of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madonna-ciccone/the-self-confidence-one-builds-from-achieving-difficult-things-and/) [Madonna Ciccone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madonna-ciccone/) ## More by Donald Miller > [There's no authoritarian structure at Reed College, but the education is conservative. So what you have is a lot of students who are very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-no-authoritarian-structure-at-reed-college-but-the-education/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I think each of us can, through our writing, discover our super power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-think-each-of-us-can-through-our-writing-discover-our-super-power/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [If you don't feel free and be yourself, you can't connect. Find people who accept your quirks. They'll heal your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/if-you-don-t-feel-free-and-be-yourself-you-can-t-connect-find-people/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [And so I have come to understand that strength, inner strength, comes from receiving love as much as it comes from giving it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-so-i-have-come-to-understand-that-strength-inner-strength-comes/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“Humans, as a species, are constantly, and in every way, comparing themselves to one another, which, given the brief nature of their existence, seems…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/humans-as-a-species-are-constantly-and-in-every-way-comparing/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“alone, lonely, and loneliness are three of the most powerful words in the English language... Those words say that we are human; they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/alone-lonely-and-loneliness-are-three-of-the-most-powerful-words-in/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“It isn't about what you don't get done; it's about what you do get done.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/it-isn-t-about-what-you-don-t-get-done-it-s-about-what-you-do-get-done/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“Most Christians have enormous respect for the space and freedom of others, it is only that they have found a joy in Jesus they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/most-christians-have-enormous-respect-for-the-space-and-freedom-of/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“The soul needs to interact with other people to be healthy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-soul-needs-to-interact-with-other-people-to-be-healthy/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Don't let go of your strength or your beauty. It was given to you by God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/don-t-let-go-of-your-strength-or-your-beauty-it-was-given-to-you-by/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [There's a lot of letters, and a lot of people come say "hi" at book signings, but I'm amazed at how normal everybody is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/there-s-a-lot-of-letters-and-a-lot-of-people-come-say-hi-at-book/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [I am something of a recluse by nature. I am that cordless screwdriver that has to charge for twenty hours to earn ten minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/i-am-something-of-a-recluse-by-nature-i-am-that-cordless-screwdriver/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [The most important thing that happens within Christian spirituality is when a person falls in love with Jesus.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/the-most-important-thing-that-happens-within-christian-spirituality/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [Every day you live is a page. Every year, a chapter. Your life, a book. What is it about?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/every-day-you-live-is-a-page-every-year-a-chapter-your-life-a-book/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [“And that’s the first time I realized that the idea a character is what he does makes as much sense in life as it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/and-that-s-the-first-time-i-realized-that-the-idea-a-character-is/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) [Explore all 448 Donald Miller quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. Salinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-d-salinger-2/) > [ \[U\]nless oppressed groups stick together, and on alliances of self interest rather than do-goodism; nothing can be accomplished in the long run to dismantle… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shulamith-firestone/u-nless-oppressed-groups-stick-together-and-on-alliances-of-self/) [Shulamith Firestone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shulamith-firestone/) > [Alas, you don't need monsters for monstrous deeds to be accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zygmunt-bauman/alas-you-don-t-need-monsters-for-monstrous-deeds-to-be-accomplished/) [Zygmunt Bauman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zygmunt-bauman/) > [Like all writers, he measured the achievements of others by what they had accomplished, asking of them that they measure him by what he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-luis-borges/like-all-writers-he-measured-the-achievements-of-others-by-what-they/) [Jorge Luis Borges](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-luis-borges/) > [I'm proud of what I've accomplished and that is empowering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/violet-chachki/i-m-proud-of-what-i-ve-accomplished-and-that-is-empowering/) [Violet Chachki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/violet-chachki/) > [We do not know today whether we are busy or idle. In times when we thought ourselves indolent, we have afterwards discovered that much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/we-do-not-know-today-whether-we-are-busy-or-idle-in-times-when-we/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [I don't know Beyoncé, but I have the impression that she's sincere, that she really is a feminist and wanted to put the word…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gloria-steinem/i-don-t-know-beyonc-but-i-have-the-impression-that-she-s-sincere-that/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gloria-steinem/) > [The gain in self-confidence of having accomplished a tiresome labour is immense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-bennett/the-gain-in-self-confidence-of-having-accomplished-a-tiresome-labour/) [Arnold Bennett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-bennett/) > [With Epcot Center, the Disney corporation has accomplished something I didn't think possible in today's world. They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) [Amy Ridenour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-ridenour/) > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) [Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/accomplished/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started 'Storyline' after I'd accomplished all my goals and still wasn't happy. 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