--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Be happy with what you have while working…" description: "\"Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.\" — H. Jackson Brown, Jr" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_happiness_be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-workin_656982.png" --- # Be happy with what you have while working for what you want. ![“Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.” quote by H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_happiness_be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-workin_656982.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_happiness_be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-workin_656982.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bf9/h-jackson-brown-jr-1456_happiness_be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-workin_656982.png) > “Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.” [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Find contentment in current possessions while actively pursuing future aspirations. **In simple terms:** Be happy now, work for tomorrow. Key Takeaway Balance gratitude with ambition. Themes contentment ambition growth Mood optimistic motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - financial planning Key Concepts goal setting mindset Questions to Reflect On - What are you grateful for today? - What steps will you take toward your goals? A Different Perspective Focusing on wants may breed complacency. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Happiness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) [Happy Working](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy-working/) [Life lesson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life-lesson/) [What you want](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/what-you-want/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Be happy with what you have while working for what you want. Remember, a happy and successful life begins with God & ends for God.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/azgraybebly-josland/be-happy-with-what-you-have-while-working-for-what-you-want-remember/) Azgraybebly Josland > [I'm happy to be working with all women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-bareilles/i-m-happy-to-be-working-with-all-women/) [Sara Bareilles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-bareilles/) > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [When I'm not working, I would kill to have some sort of creative outlet other than, say, a coloring book. And when I'm working,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angie-harmon/when-i-m-not-working-i-would-kill-to-have-some-sort-of-creative/) [Angie Harmon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angie-harmon/) > [I don't travel for fun, because I travel so much with my work; when I'm not working, I mostly want to stay home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shannon/i-don-t-travel-for-fun-because-i-travel-so-much-with-my-work-when-i-m/) [Michael Shannon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shannon/) > [When I'm working, I want to be the best. But when I'm out, I don't want to watch games. I don't want to talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-vela/when-i-m-working-i-want-to-be-the-best-but-when-i-m-out-i-don-t-want/) [Carlos Vela](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-vela/) > [I was very inspired by working women, and also women who aren't working yet! I want them to have shoes that feel luxurious and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zendaya/i-was-very-inspired-by-working-women-and-also-women-who-aren-t/) [Zendaya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zendaya/) > [I was 21 and thinking, 'When this 'Head Of The Class' boat ride ends, I don't want to fade off into the sunset. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-schneider/i-was-21-and-thinking-when-this-head-of-the-class-boat-ride-ends-i/) [Dan Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-schneider/) > [I want to pay my mortgage and go on vacation, so I love working. I want to be able to do independent projects as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spencer-grammer/i-want-to-pay-my-mortgage-and-go-on-vacation-so-i-love-working-i-want/) [Spencer Grammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spencer-grammer/) > [I set the bar high because I don't want to do just any other show just to keep working. I want to do something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/i-set-the-bar-high-because-i-don-t-want-to-do-just-any-other-show/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [If you go around the kitchen and ask my employees what they want to be doing in three to five years, most of them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-trotter/if-you-go-around-the-kitchen-and-ask-my-employees-what-they-want-to/) [Charlie Trotter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-trotter/) > [But the working I would always want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-cooper/but-the-working-i-would-always-want-to-do/) [Jackie Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-cooper/) > [Working because you want to, not because you have to is financial freedom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-robbins/working-because-you-want-to-not-because-you-have-to-is-financial/) [Tony Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-robbins/) > [I would love for Radiohead to give me a call and say, 'Hey, kid, we wanna see what it's like working with you. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-perry/i-would-love-for-radiohead-to-give-me-a-call-and-say-hey-kid-we-wanna/) [Linda Perry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-perry/) > [I can't sit still and see another man slaving and working. I want to get up and superintend, and walk round with my hands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerome-k-jerome/i-can-t-sit-still-and-see-another-man-slaving-and-working-i-want-to/) [Jerome K. Jerome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerome-k-jerome/) ## More by H. Jackson Brown, Jr > [Hire people more for their judgment than for their talents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/hire-people-more-for-their-judgment-than-for-their-talents/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [We're constantly striving for success, fame and comfort when all we really need to be happy is someone or some thing to be enthusiastic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/we-re-constantly-striving-for-success-fame-and-comfort-when-all-we/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Develop a sense of urgency in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/develop-a-sense-of-urgency-in-your-life/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Give children toys that are powered by their imagination, not by batteries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/give-children-toys-that-are-powered-by-their-imagination-not-by/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Dont say you dont have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/dont-say-you-dont-have-enough-time-you-have-exactly-the-same-number/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Put a love note in his shaving kit before he leaves on a business trip.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/put-a-love-note-in-his-shaving-kit-before-he-leaves-on-a-business-trip/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Always have something beautiful in sight, even if it's just a daisy in a jelly glass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/always-have-something-beautiful-in-sight-even-if-it-s-just-a-daisy-in/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [You can get by on charm for about 15 minutes. After that, you better know something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/you-can-get-by-on-charm-for-about-15-minutes-after-that-you-better/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Spend your time and energy creating, not criticizing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/spend-your-time-and-energy-creating-not-criticizing/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Oh, the difference between nearly right and exactly right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/oh-the-difference-between-nearly-right-and-exactly-right/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Become the world's most thoughtful friend.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/become-the-world-s-most-thoughtful-friend/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Remember that almost everything looks better after a good night's sleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-almost-everything-looks-better-after-a-good-night-s/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Mature love is composed and sustaining; a celebration of commitment, companionship, and trust.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/mature-love-is-composed-and-sustaining-a-celebration-of-commitment/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Remember that creating a successful marriage is like farming: you have to start over again every morning.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/remember-that-creating-a-successful-marriage-is-like-farming-you-have/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) > [Be modest. A lot was accomplished before you were born.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jackson-brown-jr/be-modest-a-lot-was-accomplished-before-you-were-born/) [H. Jackson Brown, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) [Explore all 239 H. Jackson Brown, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jackson-brown-jr/) ## More Happiness quotes > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Remember that your natural state is joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/remember-that-your-natural-state-is-joy/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [Balance suggests a perfect equilibrium. There is no such thing. That is a false expectation… There are going to be priorities and dimensions of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denise-morrison/balance-suggests-a-perfect-equilibrium-there-is-no-such-thing-that-is/) [Denise Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denise-morrison/) > [“WE CAN'T ALWAYS CONTROL OUR CIRCUMSTANCES BUT WE CAN CONTROL OUR ATTITUDE. WE MUST BE MORE CONCERNED WITH WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT HAPPENS…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marvin-j-ashton/we-can-t-always-control-our-circumstances-but-we-can-control-our/) [MARVIN J. ASHTON](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marvin-j-ashton/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/) [Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/) > [Sing like no one's listening, love like you've never been hurt, dance like nobody's watching, and live like its heaven on earth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/sing-like-no-one-s-listening-love-like-you-ve-never-been-hurt-dance/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [“It was beautiful. He thought he had never seen anything so beautiful in all his life; that, having seen it, he could die content,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-grant/it-was-beautiful-he-thought-he-had-never-seen-anything-so-beautiful/) [Mira Grant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-grant/) > [The happy have whole days,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colley-cibber/the-happy-have-whole-days/) [Colley Cibber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colley-cibber/) > [I have observed this in my experience of slavery, - that whenever my condition was improved, instead of its increasing my contentment, it only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-douglass/i-have-observed-this-in-my-experience-of-slavery-that-whenever-my/) [Frederick Douglass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-douglass/) > [I've got nothing to do today but smile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-ve-got-nothing-to-do-today-but-smile/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Her dignity consists in being unknown to the world; her glory is in the esteem of her husband; her pleasures in the happiness of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-jacques-rousseau/her-dignity-consists-in-being-unknown-to-the-world-her-glory-is-in/) [Jean-Jacques Rousseau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-jacques-rousseau/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [Positive thinking evokes more energy, more initiative, more happiness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/positive-thinking-evokes-more-energy-more-initiative-more-happiness/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [When you have a choice, choose happy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pancho-barnes/when-you-have-a-choice-choose-happy/) Pancho Barnes [Browse all 40,288 Happiness quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happiness/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "H. 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