--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no handbook about how a career…" description: "\"There is no handbook about how a career is going to go.\" — Gary Cole" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg" --- # There is no handbook about how a career is going to go. ![“There is no handbook about how a career is going to go.” quote by Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg) > “There is no handbook about how a career is going to go.” [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Career paths are unpredictable; there is no universal guide, only personal navigation. **In simple terms:** Careers are unpredictable; you must chart your own course. Key Takeaway Embrace uncertainty and adapt your career strategy. Themes career uncertainty self‑direction growth learning Mood curious motivated Type practical inspirational When to use this quote - job searching - skill building - networking - mentorship Key Concepts career development personal agency risk management Questions to Reflect On - How do you create your own career roadmap? - What resources help navigate uncertainty? A Different Perspective Lack of guidance can cause anxiety and indecision. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-going/) [Careers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/careers/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Handbook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handbook/) [Handbook Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handbook-career-3231250/) ## Related quotes > [I reckon it's more of an external perspective that on some level you really can control and dictate how your career's going to go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-pearce/i-reckon-it-s-more-of-an-external-perspective-that-on-some-level-you/) [Guy Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-pearce/) > [We live in Los Angeles, where you are expected to move every two to four years, so people can see how well your career…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rita-rudner/we-live-in-los-angeles-where-you-are-expected-to-move-every-two-to/) [Rita Rudner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rita-rudner/) > [Makeup is where my career is going, but I would love to also indulge in music. It's still one of my absolute favorite things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-charles/makeup-is-where-my-career-is-going-but-i-would-love-to-also-indulge/) [James Charles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-charles/) > [“That is a definite no-no in the Good Father Handbook.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-jones/that-is-a-definite-no-no-in-the-good-father-handbook/) [Carrie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-jones/) > [“The key to revising is to let the writing get 'cold' between revisions; a time lapse between readings enables you to read the draft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-b-may-and-gordon-s-may/the-key-to-revising-is-to-let-the-writing-get-cold-between-revisions/) [Claire B. May and Gordon S. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-b-may-and-gordon-s-may/) > [“If you need a handbook for praise and worship, read Psalms.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-george/if-you-need-a-handbook-for-praise-and-worship-read-psalms/) [Jim George](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-george/) > [There is no handbook on life. There is no written rule as to who you have to be. JUST DO IT. If it turns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nishan-panwar/there-is-no-handbook-on-life-there-is-no-written-rule-as-to-who-you/) [Nishan Panwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nishan-panwar/) > [And what I've come to learn is that it's the manufacturer's handbook, is what I call it. It teaches us how to run our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-broun/and-what-i-ve-come-to-learn-is-that-it-s-the-manufacturer-s-handbook/) [Paul Broun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-broun/) > [“Any difficult task seems easier if you break it down into manageable steps.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-b-may-gordon-s-may/any-difficult-task-seems-easier-if-you-break-it-down-into-manageable/) [Claire B. May Gordon S. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-b-may-gordon-s-may/) > [The Book of Mormon is our handbook of instructions as we travel the pathway from bad to good to better and strive to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/the-book-of-mormon-is-our-handbook-of-instructions-as-we-travel-the/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [A black woman's handbook in this industry is, 'Whoa.' The chapter on 'Don't go there.' The chapter on 'How to say that nicely,' how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelela/a-black-woman-s-handbook-in-this-industry-is-whoa-the-chapter-on-don/) [Kelela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelela/) > [“Handbook of emotion regulation (pp. 429–445). New York, NY: Guilford Press; Moors, A., & De Houwer, J.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-e-brown/handbook-of-emotion-regulation-pp-429-445-new-york-ny-guilford-press/) [Thomas E. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-e-brown/) > [“ Foreword As a true blue Southern girl I have often wondered…if preppies could have their own handbook…why not us? And now at last,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-ford/foreword-as-a-true-blue-southern-girl-i-have-often-wondered-if/) [Deborah Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-ford/) > [“Read your paper backward , sentence by sentence, as a final proofreading step. This technique isolates each sentence and makes it easier to spot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-b-may-gordon-s-may/read-your-paper-backward-sentence-by-sentence-as-a-final-proofreading/) [Claire B. May Gordon S. May](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-b-may-gordon-s-may/) > [When you become famous, they don't give you a handbook.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cyndi-lauper/when-you-become-famous-they-don-t-give-you-a-handbook/) [Cyndi Lauper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cyndi-lauper/) ## More by Gary Cole > [It was really executed well, from the art direction to the wardrobe to everyone else. And I have to say, two really exceptional directors…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/it-was-really-executed-well-from-the-art-direction-to-the-wardrobe-to/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [The one nice thing about doing a character for a long time is, you begin to feel more comfortable, and you are thinking less…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/the-one-nice-thing-about-doing-a-character-for-a-long-time-is-you/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Christopher Walken could literally read a phone book and fill a theater, and it would be interesting to watch. I've often wanted to produce…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/christopher-walken-could-literally-read-a-phone-book-and-fill-a/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Other than advances in technology and equipment, making a movie is the same as it was when I started, at least. I don't go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/other-than-advances-in-technology-and-equipment-making-a-movie-is-the/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [A lot of actors in my age bracket look at being still standing as pretty good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/a-lot-of-actors-in-my-age-bracket-look-at-being-still-standing-as/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Clint Eastwood is a very soft-spoken, humble guy, actually, which helped put somebody like me at ease, who had never worked with somebody as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/clint-eastwood-is-a-very-soft-spoken-humble-guy-actually-which-helped/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [When you make a movie, it's up to so many things and so many people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/when-you-make-a-movie-it-s-up-to-so-many-things-and-so-many-people/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Television is a big roulette table on so many levels. That's all it is for actors.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/television-is-a-big-roulette-table-on-so-many-levels-that-s-all-it-is/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [I just don't eat too much. That's never been my problem.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-just-don-t-eat-too-much-that-s-never-been-my-problem/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [I am also a drummer of sorts. I've got an electronic set sitting in my bedroom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-am-also-a-drummer-of-sorts-i-ve-got-an-electronic-set-sitting-in-my/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [I don't think anyone sets out to do something bad, it's just that it's very difficult.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-don-t-think-anyone-sets-out-to-do-something-bad-it-s-just-that-it-s/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Improv is not something I had a lot of experience with, because for a long time, my only experience in front of a camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/improv-is-not-something-i-had-a-lot-of-experience-with-because-for-a/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [Then, at some point, you get identified with certain things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/then-at-some-point-you-get-identified-with-certain-things/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > [I still like to listen to the people that I came of age on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/i-still-like-to-listen-to-the-people-that-i-came-of-age-on/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) > ['Office Space' I loved doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/office-space-i-loved-doing/) [Gary Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) [Explore all 70 Gary Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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": "There is no handbook about how a career is going to go.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Gary Cole" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career-is-going-to-go/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career-is-going-to-go/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ab/gary-cole-9784_career_there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career_2769391.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“There is no handbook about how a career is going to go.” — Gary Cole", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Gary Cole", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-cole/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "There is no handbook about how...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career-is-going-to-go/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-cole/there-is-no-handbook-about-how-a-career-is-going-to-go/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```