--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: At a certain time in your career you…" description: "\"At a certain time in your career you can't share your time with anyone else. You have to be completely selfish - so that you can write your music.\" — E..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/eddie-rabbitt-5552_career_at-a-certain-time-in-your-career-you-can_1975336.jpg" --- # At a certain time in your career you can't share your time… ![“At a certain time in your career you can't share your time with anyone else. You have to be completely selfish - so that you can write your music.” quote by Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/eddie-rabbitt-5552_career_at-a-certain-time-in-your-career-you-can_1975336.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/eddie-rabbitt-5552_career_at-a-certain-time-in-your-career-you-can_1975336.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ec/eddie-rabbitt-5552_career_at-a-certain-time-in-your-career-you-can_1975336.jpg) > “At a certain time in your career you can't share your time with anyone else. You have to be completely selfish - so that you can write your music.” [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early in a career, one must focus exclusively on personal work, prioritizing self‑interest to create. **In simple terms:** Early career demands selfish focus to produce art. Key Takeaway Prioritize personal creation now. Themes career selfishness focus Mood determined introspective Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - songwriting - entrepreneurship - solo projects Key Concepts creative autonomy artistic development Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices are worth making for art? - How to balance self‑focus with collaboration? A Different Perspective Selfishness may harm relationships. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [In terms of whether I use humor to allow me or my readers to come up for air, I don't think I put that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-olivas/in-terms-of-whether-i-use-humor-to-allow-me-or-my-readers-to-come-up/) [Daniel Olivas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-olivas/) > [It's very selfish when I write. I'm not aware, ever, of writing for another person; I'm not even really aware of writing for myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tanith-lee/it-s-very-selfish-when-i-write-i-m-not-aware-ever-of-writing-for/) [Tanith Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tanith-lee/) > [“You’re unbelievable and completely selfish, Liam. This is not how I raised you.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-mclaughlin/you-re-unbelievable-and-completely-selfish-liam-this-is-not-how-i/) [Heidi McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-mclaughlin/) > [“Slowly, he raised himself onto his elbows. “If I could afford to be completely selfish, I wouldn’t let you go after the king. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elly-blake/slowly-he-raised-himself-onto-his-elbows-if-i-could-afford-to-be/) [Elly Blake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elly-blake/) > [My life, in some ways, has been a half-measure. I didn't commit myself all the way to my marriage and family, because I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alec-baldwin/my-life-in-some-ways-has-been-a-half-measure-i-didn-t-commit-myself/) [Alec Baldwin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alec-baldwin/) > [Time is precious, never waste or share your time with someone who refuses to appreciate you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/time-is-precious-never-waste-or-share-your-time-with-someone-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you travel around to the other side of the world, and you really only know your teammates, it's good to have someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ricky-rubio/when-you-travel-around-to-the-other-side-of-the-world-and-you-really/) [Ricky Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ricky-rubio/) > [The truth is, I'd like to be closer to my kids. I'd like to share more with them. But that's not what this time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-corrigan/the-truth-is-i-d-like-to-be-closer-to-my-kids-i-d-like-to-share-more/) [Kelly Corrigan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-corrigan/) > [Are you balanced? Do you share your time, your energy, your life, as much with yourself as you do with those around you?. .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melody-beattie/are-you-balanced-do-you-share-your-time-your-energy-your-life-as-much/) [Melody Beattie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melody-beattie/) > [Share love. Share time. Share friendship. Just share. Put some love into everything you do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yehuda-berg/share-love-share-time-share-friendship-just-share-put-some-love-into/) [Yehuda Berg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yehuda-berg/) > [There are many who would take my time. I shun them. There are some who share my time. I am entertained by them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-szandor-lavey/there-are-many-who-would-take-my-time-i-shun-them-there-are-some-who/) [Anton Szandor LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-szandor-lavey/) > [There are many who would like my time. I shun them. There are some who share my time. I am entertained by them. There…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anton-lavey/there-are-many-who-would-like-my-time-i-shun-them-there-are-some-who/) [Anton LaVey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anton-lavey/) > [“Offer to help your friends and family with child care, pet sitting, or taking care of their garden. Each time we share our time…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-strobel/offer-to-help-your-friends-and-family-with-child-care-pet-sitting-or/) [Tammy Strobel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-strobel/) > [“There are friends, but they are people to spend time with, not people to share time with.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-levithan/there-are-friends-but-they-are-people-to-spend-time-with-not-people-2/) [David Levithan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-levithan/) > [I write music I like to write and that I'm comfortable with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-write-music-i-like-to-write-and-that-i-m-comfortable-with/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) ## More by Eddie Rabbitt > [I gave up some of my celebrity to be with my children for 14 years, but it's been fine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-gave-up-some-of-my-celebrity-to-be-with-my-children-for-14-years/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [The 'in your face' MTV attitude is a global problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/the-in-your-face-mtv-attitude-is-a-global-problem/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [I try to give back some of the good fortune that I've received.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-try-to-give-back-some-of-the-good-fortune-that-i-ve-received/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [Jeannle and I lost a son, Tlmmy, in 1985 to a liver transplant operation, if we can do some good, we want to do so.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/jeannle-and-i-lost-a-son-tlmmy-in-1985-to-a-liver-transplant/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [My father played fiddle and the accordion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/my-father-played-fiddle-and-the-accordion/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [I never went to parties for the same reason I never went to clubs, because I had worked so many clubs with a band…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-never-went-to-parties-for-the-same-reason-i-never-went-to-clubs/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [I like to mix things up and try to get the most out of what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-like-to-mix-things-up-and-try-to-get-the-most-out-of-what-i-do/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [I cant live in a 'world without love.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-cant-live-in-a-world-without-love/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [A lot of people kind of perceive me as some kind of pop act because in the early '80s 'I Love A Rainy Night'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/a-lot-of-people-kind-of-perceive-me-as-some-kind-of-pop-act-because/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [Sometimes the lyrics just fall out of my mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/sometimes-the-lyrics-just-fall-out-of-my-mouth/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [We were one of the hottest bands in Jersey, but I was burning up because I knew I'd never be a star in Newark.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/we-were-one-of-the-hottest-bands-in-jersey-but-i-was-burning-up/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [They've always had a hard time categorizing me, it seems, even though most of my stuff is country of one kind or another -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/they-ve-always-had-a-hard-time-categorizing-me-it-seems-even-though/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [I've been doing country music for a while, and people ask me, 'What's a kid from New Jersey doing singing country music?' I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/i-ve-been-doing-country-music-for-a-while-and-people-ask-me-what-s-a/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [The name is Irish-Gaelic. In old Ireland, the Rabbitts were counselors to the chiefs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/the-name-is-irish-gaelic-in-old-ireland-the-rabbitts-were-counselors/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) > [Not everybody that loves country music is 'sitting on a bar stool/feelin' like a durn fool.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eddie-rabbitt/not-everybody-that-loves-country-music-is-sitting-on-a-bar-stool/) [Eddie Rabbitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) [Explore all 100 Eddie Rabbitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eddie-rabbitt/) ## 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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