--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: An exceptional career is one that…" description: "\"An exceptional career is one that provides an opportunity to serve. It is a satisfying career in which you can't wait to get up in the morning to begin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/frances-hesselbein-8660_career_an-exceptional-career-is-one-that-provid_2986639.png" --- # An exceptional career is one that provides an opportunity… ![“An exceptional career is one that provides an opportunity to serve. It is a satisfying career in which you can't wait to get up in the morning to begin! You have a sense of purpose and mission. You know why you do what you do. It is a response to a call to serve. Once we do that, everything flows…” quote by Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/frances-hesselbein-8660_career_an-exceptional-career-is-one-that-provid_2986639.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/frances-hesselbein-8660_career_an-exceptional-career-is-one-that-provid_2986639.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/183/frances-hesselbein-8660_career_an-exceptional-career-is-one-that-provid_2986639.png) > “An exceptional career is one that provides an opportunity to serve. It is a satisfying career in which you can't wait to get up in the morning to begin! You have a sense of purpose and mission. You know why you do what you do. It is a response to a call to serve. Once we do that, everything flows positively.” [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A fulfilling career aligns with personal purpose and service, creating daily motivation. **In simple terms:** Purposeful work feels rewarding. Key Takeaway Seek roles that match your mission. Themes purpose service career satisfaction motivation Mood inspirational thoughtful Type career purpose When to use this quote - volunteering - nonprofit leadership - public service - career planning Key Concepts mission-driven work call to serve positive flow Questions to Reflect On - What does purpose look like in your job? - How can you integrate service into your work? A Different Perspective Not all careers can align with a higher purpose. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Mission](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mission/) [Morning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morning/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Purpose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/purpose/) ## Related quotes > [Young people are looking for meaning and happiness to accompany their first paycheque. Inspire Your Career provides career advice designed to help you find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-kielburger/young-people-are-looking-for-meaning-and-happiness-to-accompany-their/) [Marc Kielburger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-kielburger/) > [I don't have any complaints. I've had a satisfying career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/waheeda-rehman/i-don-t-have-any-complaints-i-ve-had-a-satisfying-career/) [Waheeda Rehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/waheeda-rehman/) > [I've done more than I thought I was ever going to do. I've had a very long and very satisfying career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-newhart/i-ve-done-more-than-i-thought-i-was-ever-going-to-do-i-ve-had-a-very/) [Bob Newhart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-newhart/) > [It seems to me, that's the only thing that ends up being really fulfilling or satisfying - your career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marnie-stern/it-seems-to-me-that-s-the-only-thing-that-ends-up-being-really/) [Marnie Stern](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marnie-stern/) > [I have had such a satisfying career; I've gotten to do so many amazing things as an artist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lari-white/i-have-had-such-a-satisfying-career-i-ve-gotten-to-do-so-many-amazing/) [Lari White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lari-white/) > [I feel like playing professional golf is an endlessly not-satisfying career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scottie-scheffler/i-feel-like-playing-professional-golf-is-an-endlessly-not-satisfying/) [Scottie Scheffler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scottie-scheffler/) > [It is a truth universally acknowledged that a thirty-something woman in possession of a satisfying career and fabulous hairdo must be in want of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shannon-hale/it-is-a-truth-universally-acknowledged-that-a-thirty-something-woman/) [Shannon Hale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shannon-hale/) > [I could do exploration in this particular career field, and it was a goal that, even if I didn't reach it, it was so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/duane-g-carey/i-could-do-exploration-in-this-particular-career-field-and-it-was-a/) [Duane G. Carey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/duane-g-carey/) > [For me politics is an opportunity to serve the country.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bappi-lahiri/for-me-politics-is-an-opportunity-to-serve-the-country/) [Bappi Lahiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bappi-lahiri/) > [“Whenever you get opportunity to serve, serve with all your heart.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/whenever-you-get-opportunity-to-serve-serve-with-all-your-heart/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [By getting an opportunity to serve society, we get a chance to repay our debt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/narendra-modi/by-getting-an-opportunity-to-serve-society-we-get-a-chance-to-repay/) [Narendra Modi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/narendra-modi/) > [For me, life is an opportunity to serve Him, and death is the privilege of getting to be with Him.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehdi-dibaj/for-me-life-is-an-opportunity-to-serve-him-and-death-is-the-privilege/) [Mehdi Dibaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehdi-dibaj/) > [“The opportunity to serve is everywhere if the heart is seeking and there is a willingness to take action.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-hon/the-opportunity-to-serve-is-everywhere-if-the-heart-is-seeking-and/) [Henry Hon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-hon/) > [Let's always remember that we work for the people of Louisiana. They honored us with the opportunity to serve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bel-edwards/let-s-always-remember-that-we-work-for-the-people-of-louisiana-they/) [John Bel Edwards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bel-edwards/) > [Any opportunity to serve in the Church is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-b-wickman/any-opportunity-to-serve-in-the-church-is-a-blessing/) [Lance B. Wickman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-b-wickman/) ## More by Frances Hesselbein > [Not long after I was married, World War II began. My husband John volunteered for the Navy and was sent to Pensacola for training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/not-long-after-i-was-married-world-war-ii-began-my-husband-john/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [... I try ... to use my own voice in a way that shows caring, respect, appreciation, and patience. Your voice, your language, help…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-try-to-use-my-own-voice-in-a-way-that-shows-caring-respect/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The leader builds dispersed and diverse leadership - distributing leadership to the outermost edges of the circle to unleash the power of shared responsibility.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-builds-dispersed-and-diverse-leadership-distributing/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Leadership is not a basket of tricks or strategies or skills that you pull out. Leadership begins with the quality of the person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/leadership-is-not-a-basket-of-tricks-or-strategies-or-skills-that-you/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [If we are to remain mission focused, as we must be if we are to be relevant in an uncertain age, the abandoning those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/if-we-are-to-remain-mission-focused-as-we-must-be-if-we-are-to-be/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [It takes courage for a leader to identify and confront self-imposed barriers, to put in place the personal strategies required to unleash the energy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/it-takes-courage-for-a-leader-to-identify-and-confront-self-imposed/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [... I never look at my watch if I'm talking with someone. I think that's such an insulting gesture! It suggests you're trying to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-never-look-at-my-watch-if-i-m-talking-with-someone-i-think-that-s/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [There is just one reason that we are placed on this Earth. That reason is to love and be loved - in that order.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/there-is-just-one-reason-that-we-are-placed-on-this-earth-that-reason/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Communication is not saying something; communication is being heard,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/communication-is-not-saying-something-communication-is-being-heard/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The Millennial mindset is one on the pulse of changing technology. They multi-task and enjoy a challenge. They need projects that utilize their knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-millennial-mindset-is-one-on-the-pulse-of-changing-technology/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [People know that pursuing a mission without achieving results is dispiriting; achieving results without a mission is meaningless.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/people-know-that-pursuing-a-mission-without-achieving-results-is/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [No matter what business you're in, everyone in the organisation needs to know why](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/no-matter-what-business-you-re-in-everyone-in-the-organisation-needs/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [Key to the societal significance of tomorrow's leaders is the way they embrace the totality of leadership, not just including 'my organization' but reaching…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/key-to-the-societal-significance-of-tomorrow-s-leaders-is-the-way/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [I feel passionately about how I express myself. Language is the greatest motivating force. You can phrase something positively and inspire people to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/i-feel-passionately-about-how-i-express-myself-language-is-the/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) > [The leader beyond the millennium will not be the leader who has learned the lessons of how to do it, with ledgers of 'hows'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-hesselbein/the-leader-beyond-the-millennium-will-not-be-the-leader-who-has/) [Frances Hesselbein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) [Explore all 79 Frances Hesselbein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-hesselbein/) ## 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": "An exceptional career is one that provides an opportunity to serve. It is a satisfying career in which you can't wait to get up in the morning to begin! You have a sense of purpose and mission. You know why you do what you do. It is a response to a call to serve. 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