--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I tell young people all the time because…" description: "\"I tell young people all the time because they think I'm an overnight success I've been doing this for over 20 years! And that means inspiring and motiv..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/eric-thomas-1758_inspiring_i-tell-young-people-all-the-time-because_3031103.png" --- # I tell young people all the time because they think I'm an… ![“I tell young people all the time because they think I'm an overnight success I've been doing this for over 20 years! And that means inspiring and motivating people.” quote by Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/eric-thomas-1758_inspiring_i-tell-young-people-all-the-time-because_3031103.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/eric-thomas-1758_inspiring_i-tell-young-people-all-the-time-because_3031103.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a09/eric-thomas-1758_inspiring_i-tell-young-people-all-the-time-because_3031103.png) > “I tell young people all the time because they think I'm an overnight success I've been doing this for over 20 years! And that means inspiring and motivating people.” [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Success is built over decades, not overnight; sharing that journey inspires others. **In simple terms:** Success takes time; share it. Key Takeaway Emphasize long‑term effort. Themes perseverance inspiration experience Mood energetic hopeful Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - coaching - public speaking - social media Key Concepts mentorship goal setting career development Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure real progress? - What stories motivate you? A Different Perspective Instant fame can mislead expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Inspiring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [Overnight success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/overnight-success/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Thinking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thinking/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Young people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-people/) [Youth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/youth/) ## Related quotes > [It's so funny, this thing of 'overnight success.' I've been doing this for 20 years, but yes, sure, it happened overnight!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brett-goldstein/it-s-so-funny-this-thing-of-overnight-success-i-ve-been-doing-this/) [Brett Goldstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brett-goldstein/) > [There is power in helping people get excited about what they do and inspiring and motivating them to unleash their full potential.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/there-is-power-in-helping-people-get-excited-about-what-they-do-and/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“A positive attitude will help you be more inspiring and motivating to others.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-c-young/a-positive-attitude-will-help-you-be-more-inspiring-and-motivating-to/) [Susan C. Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-c-young/) > [I have written a new book called 'The Golden Motorcycle Gang.' The premise of the book is taken from actual events in my life.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-canfield/i-have-written-a-new-book-called-the-golden-motorcycle-gang-the/) [Jack Canfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-canfield/) > [For people to even be interested and to reach out and say "I can't wait for you to come out with something", it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiffany-villarreal/for-people-to-even-be-interested-and-to-reach-out-and-say-i-can-t/) [Tiffany Villarreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiffany-villarreal/) > [In rock music, you have a big success before you turn 30, then there is sort of a decay. Then there is the reunion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludovico-einaudi/in-rock-music-you-have-a-big-success-before-you-turn-30-then-there-is/) [Ludovico Einaudi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludovico-einaudi/) > [I love working out. I mean, I've been doing it for about 20 years every day of my entire life. So I enjoy working out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-lochte/i-love-working-out-i-mean-i-ve-been-doing-it-for-about-20-years-every/) [Ryan Lochte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-lochte/) > [Being a solo artist is what I do. It's what I've been doing for the last 20 years and a bit before then.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-gilmour/being-a-solo-artist-is-what-i-do-it-s-what-i-ve-been-doing-for-the/) [David Gilmour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-gilmour/) > [Even when I was working in 30 films a year I was doing 20 plays a month.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/y-g-mahendran/even-when-i-was-working-in-30-films-a-year-i-was-doing-20-plays-a/) [Y. G. Mahendran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/y-g-mahendran/) > [I'm not complaining about doing 20-hour days. It's a joy to be able to work on yet another film.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-claude-van-damme/i-m-not-complaining-about-doing-20-hour-days-it-s-a-joy-to-be-able-to/) [Jean-Claude Van Damme](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-claude-van-damme/) > [I have zero strategy for my career - like, zero. I could get as much satisfaction about doing a $20,000 shot film the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neill-blomkamp/i-have-zero-strategy-for-my-career-like-zero-i-could-get-as-much/) [Neill Blomkamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neill-blomkamp/) > [In England, I've done a whole bunch of stuff where I just make a complete ass of myself. I've been doing it for 20…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-coogan/in-england-i-ve-done-a-whole-bunch-of-stuff-where-i-just-make-a/) [Steve Coogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-coogan/) > [I don't believe in doing 20 films a years and being on number one, number five or anything that kind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/soha-ali-khan/i-don-t-believe-in-doing-20-films-a-years-and-being-on-number-one/) [Soha Ali Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/soha-ali-khan/) > [Never wanted to do anything else than acting ever in my life. But I'm 20, and there's so many possibilities. It would be insane…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shia-labeouf/never-wanted-to-do-anything-else-than-acting-ever-in-my-life-but-i-m/) [Shia LaBeouf](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shia-labeouf/) > [I have odometer readings, kids; all sorts of measurements of what I've been doing for the last 20 years. I get it. I get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dar-williams/i-have-odometer-readings-kids-all-sorts-of-measurements-of-what-i-ve/) [Dar Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dar-williams/) ## More by Eric Thomas > [Your relationships will either make you or break you and there is no such thing as a neutral relationship. People either inspire you to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/your-relationships-will-either-make-you-or-break-you-and-there-is-no/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [At some point in life you have to face your fears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/at-some-point-in-life-you-have-to-face-your-fears/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [When you're great! You attract great! When you're average! You attract average!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/when-you-re-great-you-attract-great-when-you-re-average-you-attract/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“It's not easy, but it's simple.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/it-s-not-easy-but-it-s-simple/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I kind of knew that there were a lot of people that didn't go to church and normally wouldn't listen to people, but they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-kind-of-knew-that-there-were-a-lot-of-people-that-didn-t-go-to/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Las Vegas doesn't allow ( tourism ) to dictate the social norms of their community. We don't have to be a boring town that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/las-vegas-doesn-t-allow-tourism-to-dictate-the-social-norms-of-their/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Where there is no struggle, there is absolutely no progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/where-there-is-no-struggle-there-is-absolutely-no-progress/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [You can change environments, but until you change yourself, nothing else will ever change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/you-can-change-environments-but-until-you-change-yourself-nothing/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [If you are going to win the fight of your life, you can't be afraid to fight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/if-you-are-going-to-win-the-fight-of-your-life-you-can-t-be-afraid-to/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Apply the ABC’s of success to your life. Ask, Believe and Claim It.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/apply-the-abc-s-of-success-to-your-life-ask-believe-and-claim-it/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [“IDENTIFY your CHALLENGE area. Describe the thoughts that you commonly have in that area. Describe the things that you commonly say concerning that area…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/identify-your-challenge-area-describe-the-thoughts-that-you-commonly/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [If you sleep,you will miss the OPPORTUNITY to be successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/if-you-sleep-you-will-miss-the-opportunity-to-be-successful/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [Sometimes it ain’t about being the most talented. Sometimes it ain’t about being the smartest. Sometimes it’s not even about working the hardest. Sometimes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/sometimes-it-ain-t-about-being-the-most-talented-sometimes-it-ain-t/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [The difference between those who succeed and fail: not taking advantage of opportunities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/the-difference-between-those-who-succeed-and-fail-not-taking/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) > [I think my greatest strengths are my hands. I am also good at getting separation from the defender and finding ways to get open.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-thomas/i-think-my-greatest-strengths-are-my-hands-i-am-also-good-at-getting/) [Eric Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) [Explore all 210 Eric Thomas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-thomas/) ## More Inspiring quotes > [It is absolutely necessary... for me to have persons that can think for me, as well as execute orders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/it-is-absolutely-necessary-for-me-to-have-persons-that-can-think-for/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [Lavish praise on people and people will flourish; criticize people and they'll shrivel up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/lavish-praise-on-people-and-people-will-flourish-criticize-people-and/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Guns have little or nothing to do with juvenile violence. The causes of youth violence are working parents who put their kids into daycare,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-delay/guns-have-little-or-nothing-to-do-with-juvenile-violence-the-causes/) [Tom DeLay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-delay/) > [If I look at the performance of another friend Sting, whenever I hear him take over a stage and share his art with millions,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philippe-petit/if-i-look-at-the-performance-of-another-friend-sting-whenever-i-hear/) [Philippe Petit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philippe-petit/) > [I do not want a kingdom, or heaven; what I want is to remove the trouble of the oppressed, the poor, and the needy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/i-do-not-want-a-kingdom-or-heaven-what-i-want-is-to-remove-the/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [We need, in a special way, to work twice as hard to help people understand that animals are fellow creatures, that we must protect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cesar-chavez/we-need-in-a-special-way-to-work-twice-as-hard-to-help-people/) [Cesar Chavez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cesar-chavez/) > [We'll never be as young as we are tonight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/we-ll-never-be-as-young-as-we-are-tonight/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [A new heart for a New Year, always!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/a-new-heart-for-a-new-year-always/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The best part of making music, for me, is collaborating and working with new people and fresh sounds and all those things that get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mariah-carey/the-best-part-of-making-music-for-me-is-collaborating-and-working/) [Mariah Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mariah-carey/) > [“Today if anything is trying to hold you back, give no attention to it. Get your hopes up, get your faith up, look up,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/today-if-anything-is-trying-to-hold-you-back-give-no-attention-to-it/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [I speak not for myself, but so those without a voice can be heard. Those who have fought for their rights. Their right to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malala-yousafzai/i-speak-not-for-myself-but-so-those-without-a-voice-can-be-heard/) [Malala Yousafzai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malala-yousafzai/) > [I promise myself that I will enjoy every minute of the day that is given me to live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-promise-myself-that-i-will-enjoy-every-minute-of-the-day-that-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The HOLY of Holiness!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-holy-of-holiness/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [You should never feel lonely, neglected, fearful, or defeated when you remember that there are the shining ones. They are watching with keen interest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flower-a-newhouse/you-should-never-feel-lonely-neglected-fearful-or-defeated-when-you/) [Flower A. Newhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flower-a-newhouse/) > [Everything that is really great and inspiring is created by the individual who can labor in freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/everything-that-is-really-great-and-inspiring-is-created-by-the/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) [Browse all 4,426 Inspiring quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiring/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I tell young people all the time because they think I'm an overnight success I've been doing this for over 20 years! 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