--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I think everyone's got an obstacle in…" description: "\"I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that they have to challenge. I think, in a way, that pushes you to prove who you are.\" — Eliot Sumner" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/eliot-sumner-16684_career_i-think-everyone-s-got-an-obstacle-in-th_644767.jpg" --- # I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that… ![“I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that they have to challenge. I think, in a way, that pushes you to prove who you are.” quote by Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/eliot-sumner-16684_career_i-think-everyone-s-got-an-obstacle-in-th_644767.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/eliot-sumner-16684_career_i-think-everyone-s-got-an-obstacle-in-th_644767.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31a/eliot-sumner-16684_career_i-think-everyone-s-got-an-obstacle-in-th_644767.jpg) > “I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that they have to challenge. I think, in a way, that pushes you to prove who you are.” [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Obstacles in a career serve as tests that reveal personal strengths and identity when faced head‑on. **In simple terms:** Career challenges reveal who you are. Key Takeaway Embrace challenges to discover your strengths. Themes growth identity career resilience Mood determined reflective Type motivational advice When to use this quote - job interview - performance review - career transition - skill acquisition Key Concepts self‑efficacy challenge response personal development Questions to Reflect On - What obstacle has shaped your professional identity? - How do you balance challenge with self‑care? A Different Perspective Challenges can also cause burnout if not managed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) ## Related quotes > [If it fits in with my career, it will be a challenge for me to play for a MLS team. If that would be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-babel/if-it-fits-in-with-my-career-it-will-be-a-challenge-for-me-to-play/) [Ryan Babel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-babel/) > [The biggest obstacle I had in my career obviously were my injuries, but I was able to overcome them one way or another to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mauricio-rua/the-biggest-obstacle-i-had-in-my-career-obviously-were-my-injuries/) [Mauricio Rua](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mauricio-rua/) > [Our challenge is to think right in a wrong world. Our challenge is to think positive in a negative world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-maxwell/our-challenge-is-to-think-right-in-a-wrong-world-our-challenge-is-to/) [John C. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-maxwell/) > [“Art does not exist only to entertain -- but also to challenge one to think, to provoke, even to disturb, in a constant search…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbra-streisand/art-does-not-exist-only-to-entertain-but-also-to-challenge-one-to/) [Barbra Streisand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbra-streisand/) > [In that moment of challenge, you can either think of your past successes, or of your failures. The choice is yours. And you impact…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prakah-iyer/in-that-moment-of-challenge-you-can-either-think-of-your-past/) [Prakah Iyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prakah-iyer/) > [I love a challenge, and I think it's when people least expect you to do something that you often do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shayne-ward/i-love-a-challenge-and-i-think-it-s-when-people-least-expect-you-to/) [Shayne Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shayne-ward/) > [The challenge I think at first consideration is always a mixture of the creative opportunity and the finances. From the studio perspective, that's what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hutch-parker/the-challenge-i-think-at-first-consideration-is-always-a-mixture-of/) [Hutch Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hutch-parker/) > [I like a good challenge, and I always think that I perform best if challenged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roland-m-ller/i-like-a-good-challenge-and-i-always-think-that-i-perform-best-if/) [Roland Møller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roland-m-ller/) > [If God is real, why does he align perfectly with our views? We should expect God to challenge us on what we think is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/if-god-is-real-why-does-he-align-perfectly-with-our-views-we-should/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [I think that a lot of the most talented and driven people, they're not super deterred by failure. So if you put out a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-silbermann/i-think-that-a-lot-of-the-most-talented-and-driven-people-they-re-not/) [Ben Silbermann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-silbermann/) > [I suppose that one is always tempted to challenge those who think that they and they alone possess the truth or the way or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/i-suppose-that-one-is-always-tempted-to-challenge-those-who-think/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [“The challenge is that often when we think about success or think about our goals, we think it’ll be good, and there will also…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-wells/the-challenge-is-that-often-when-we-think-about-success-or-think/) [Steve Wells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-wells/) > [“I would challenge anyone here to think of a questions upon which we once had a scientific answer, however inadequate, but for which now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-harris/i-would-challenge-anyone-here-to-think-of-a-questions-upon-which-we/) [Sam Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-harris/) > [“Just as everything in my life has changed, every new morning brings with it a fresh challenge. I have to think about something other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henning-mankell/just-as-everything-in-my-life-has-changed-every-new-morning-brings/) [Henning Mankell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henning-mankell/) > [I encourage all of you to seek out teachers and mentors that challenge you to think for yourself and guide you to find your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/renee-olstead/i-encourage-all-of-you-to-seek-out-teachers-and-mentors-that/) [Renee Olstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/renee-olstead/) ## More by Eliot Sumner > [In 2009, I fractured my skull in a freak accident at an L.A. restaurant. I suffered a seizure and was rushed into hospital. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/in-2009-i-fractured-my-skull-in-a-freak-accident-at-an-l-a-restaurant/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I'm a bit of a geek when it comes to music. I like studio gear. I'm always looking it up on eBay and seeing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-m-a-bit-of-a-geek-when-it-comes-to-music-i-like-studio-gear-i-m/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I think I have a lot of energy, and most of it is quite aggressive energy. But in a positive way, I think. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-think-i-have-a-lot-of-energy-and-most-of-it-is-quite-aggressive/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I'm very much a creature of habit. I don't like to try to new things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-m-very-much-a-creature-of-habit-i-don-t-like-to-try-to-new-things/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I make my songs slightly abstract so that people can interpret them their own way. I think that's a lot more special, so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-make-my-songs-slightly-abstract-so-that-people-can-interpret-them/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [As a kid, I loved to dress up as Ian Dury and run around hitting people with drumsticks. Members of my family, neighbours, friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/as-a-kid-i-loved-to-dress-up-as-ian-dury-and-run-around-hitting/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I don't look into myself too much. I don't think I'm shy so much as a better listener than I am a speaker. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-don-t-look-into-myself-too-much-i-don-t-think-i-m-shy-so-much-as-a/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [My French is terrible, and my Spanish is even worse. I find Spanish really difficult. They speak so quickly, whereas in German, it's very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/my-french-is-terrible-and-my-spanish-is-even-worse-i-find-spanish/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [It stresses me out writing songs,; I get really super nervous and speedy. I feel like I'm possessed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/it-stresses-me-out-writing-songs-i-get-really-super-nervous-and/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I started listening to a lot of Jimi Hendrix and Neil Young when I was 8 or 9 years old - I had siblings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-started-listening-to-a-lot-of-jimi-hendrix-and-neil-young-when-i/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I like to write from a slightly sad or complicated place. But with a sense of hope and happiness at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-like-to-write-from-a-slightly-sad-or-complicated-place-but-with-a/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [I like to move around. It suits me. I grew up in Wiltshire on a farm, and that's the only place I call home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/i-like-to-move-around-it-suits-me-i-grew-up-in-wiltshire-on-a-farm/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [It's always best to challenge yourself and go to a place out of your comfort zone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/it-s-always-best-to-challenge-yourself-and-go-to-a-place-out-of-your/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [With social networks these days, everyone needs to know everything all the time. But the problem is, people are so used to short snippets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/with-social-networks-these-days-everyone-needs-to-know-everything-all/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) > [Being Sting's daughter hasn't kicked any doors open for me - he has had absolutely nothing to do with my career. It's all been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliot-sumner/being-sting-s-daughter-hasn-t-kicked-any-doors-open-for-me-he-has-had/) [Eliot Sumner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) [Explore all 39 Eliot Sumner quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliot-sumner/) ## 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. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I think everyone's got an obstacle in their career that they have to challenge. 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