--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was raised in the environment where it…" description: "\"I was raised in the environment where it really wasn't about sittin' around dreaming all the time, it was about practicing and workin' really hard and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/harry-connick-jr-3461_be-prepared_i-was-raised-in-the-environment-where-it_1717031.png" --- # I was raised in the environment where it really wasn't… ![“I was raised in the environment where it really wasn't about sittin' around dreaming all the time, it was about practicing and workin' really hard and if a dream ever came to you, you'd be prepared for that opportunity.” quote by Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/harry-connick-jr-3461_be-prepared_i-was-raised-in-the-environment-where-it_1717031.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/harry-connick-jr-3461_be-prepared_i-was-raised-in-the-environment-where-it_1717031.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a85/harry-connick-jr-3461_be-prepared_i-was-raised-in-the-environment-where-it_1717031.png) > “I was raised in the environment where it really wasn't about sittin' around dreaming all the time, it was about practicing and workin' really hard and if a dream ever came to you, you'd be prepared for that opportunity.” [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work prepares you to seize unexpected opportunities when dreams appear. **In simple terms:** Hard work read you for sudden chances. Key Takeaway Work hard, stay ready. Themes hard work opportunity preparation dreams Mood optimistic pragmatic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job hunting - entrepreneurship - creative pursuits Key Concepts growth mindset resilience career development Questions to Reflect On - How do you stay prepared for unexpected chances? - What role does luck play? A Different Perspective Hard work alone may not guarantee opportunity without networking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dream/) [Dreaming](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreaming/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Environment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/environment/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“I sleep hard; I dream harder!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bamford/i-sleep-hard-i-dream-harder/) [Maria Bamford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bamford/) > [It's hard to dream when you're deep inside of one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mac-miller/it-s-hard-to-dream-when-you-re-deep-inside-of-one/) [Mac Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mac-miller/) > [You never get the role you have worked so hard for, but the dream role, the one who gives you joy, money and maybe…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-wincott/you-never-get-the-role-you-have-worked-so-hard-for-but-the-dream-role/) [Michael Wincott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-wincott/) > [I never learned how to make music, play an instrument, then a lot of people told me things like "you will never succeed" and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilou/i-never-learned-how-to-make-music-play-an-instrument-then-a-lot-of/) [Marilou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilou/) > [You work hard. You have a dream. You don't give up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mikey-garcia/you-work-hard-you-have-a-dream-you-don-t-give-up/) [Mikey Garcia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mikey-garcia/) > [We have to work hard and not dream too much, because if we dream too much, we can fall down very quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toby-alderweireld/we-have-to-work-hard-and-not-dream-too-much-because-if-we-dream-too/) [Toby Alderweireld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toby-alderweireld/) > [Always I was dreaming of a record contract. From 10 to 13, it was all I could think of. I worked hard for this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shakira/always-i-was-dreaming-of-a-record-contract-from-10-to-13-it-was-all-i/) [Shakira](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shakira/) > [But I don't begrudge anybody, because I know how hard it is to have that dream and to make it happen, whether or not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-burnett/but-i-don-t-begrudge-anybody-because-i-know-how-hard-it-is-to-have/) [Carol Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-burnett/) > [Better to have spent a life reaching for a dream that never came true, than to have slept through a life that never had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-pickreign/better-to-have-spent-a-life-reaching-for-a-dream-that-never-came-true/) Samantha Pickreign > [All we lived for was playing and being out on the road. That was our dream, and it came true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gary-rossington/all-we-lived-for-was-playing-and-being-out-on-the-road-that-was-our/) [Gary Rossington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gary-rossington/) > [Dan Rather had to move over a few inches to make room for me. It was my dream job. And my dream came true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/connie-chung/dan-rather-had-to-move-over-a-few-inches-to-make-room-for-me-it-was/) [Connie Chung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/connie-chung/) > [Southern California, where the American Dream came too true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-ferlinghetti/southern-california-where-the-american-dream-came-too-true/) [Lawrence Ferlinghetti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-ferlinghetti/) > [Everyone dreams of playing Wimbledon and winning it. I am glad this dream came true for me so fast in my career. It feels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sania-mirza/everyone-dreams-of-playing-wimbledon-and-winning-it-i-am-glad-this/) [Sania Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sania-mirza/) > [When I was 16 I was fortunate enough to get Cosby and move to New York and shift my whole life. that had been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lisa-bonet/when-i-was-16-i-was-fortunate-enough-to-get-cosby-and-move-to-new/) [Lisa Bonet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lisa-bonet/) > [I had a dream. And it came true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-hathaway/i-had-a-dream-and-it-came-true/) [Anne Hathaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-hathaway/) ## More by Harry Connick, Jr > [The two are unrelated. I'm not into turtles or space stuff.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/the-two-are-unrelated-i-m-not-into-turtles-or-space-stuff/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [ I'm a big fan of \[Frank\] Sinatra, he was the best at what he did. The last thing I do is model my career… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-m-a-big-fan-of-frank-sinatra-he-was-the-best-at-what-he-did-the/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I practice and work hard at my music, but I'm not saving lives here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-practice-and-work-hard-at-my-music-but-i-m-not-saving-lives-here/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Many people in and out of showbiz live their lives in different ways. I try to be the best I can be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/many-people-in-and-out-of-showbiz-live-their-lives-in-different-ways/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [ \[When asked how he's keeping his 12-year marriage to wife Jill fresh\] Hookers, drugs. We're playing the field right now. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/when-asked-how-he-s-keeping-his-12-year-marriage-to-wife-jill-fresh/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [If your record doesn't sell that well, man, who cares? All the satisfaction I need... comes when I step out onstage and see the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/if-your-record-doesn-t-sell-that-well-man-who-cares-all-the/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I'm sure that there are reasonable people that had some reasonable projections about the future of New Orleans, but none of those could include…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-m-sure-that-there-are-reasonable-people-that-had-some-reasonable/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Well, I'm an optimist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/well-i-m-an-optimist/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I do the things I like to do. It's sort of a bigger version of having more than one hobby.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-do-the-things-i-like-to-do-it-s-sort-of-a-bigger-version-of-having/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I've spent hours playing video games.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-ve-spent-hours-playing-video-games/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [ \[My mother is\] a half-Chinese, half-Jamaican woman, who grew up the ninth of nine kids, getting a law degree from Harvard. Academically brilliant, but… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/my-mother-is-a-half-chinese-half-jamaican-woman-who-grew-up-the-ninth/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [You have to read scripts and audition and develop relationships. It takes a long time to develop a body of work but over the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/you-have-to-read-scripts-and-audition-and-develop-relationships-it/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I love my wife and I know she loves me. We're best friends. We're just lucky to have found each other. It takes a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-love-my-wife-and-i-know-she-loves-me-we-re-best-friends-we-re-just/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [Let's kick the tires and light the fires, big daddy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/let-s-kick-the-tires-and-light-the-fires-big-daddy/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) > [I say sorry to my wife about five times a day for various reasons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-connick-jr/i-say-sorry-to-my-wife-about-five-times-a-day-for-various-reasons/) [Harry Connick, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) [Explore all 130 Harry Connick, Jr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-connick-jr/) ## More Be prepared quotes > [“In your goals to go the extra mile, prepare to pay an extra cost. 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Like the driver's ed kid,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chelsea-martin/the-thing-about-writing-or-making-art-is-that-i-m-not-thinking-about/) [Chelsea Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chelsea-martin/) > [You must have goals in your life, or otherwise be prepared to be used by those who do have them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herb-brooks/you-must-have-goals-in-your-life-or-otherwise-be-prepared-to-be-used/) [Herb Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herb-brooks/) > [I never minded giving my opinions. They are just opinions, and I had studied music and I had strong feelings. I was happy for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wynton-marsalis/i-never-minded-giving-my-opinions-they-are-just-opinions-and-i-had/) [Wynton Marsalis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wynton-marsalis/) > [To me, man means awareness of death. I am not saying become afraid of death; that is not awareness. Just be aware of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/to-me-man-means-awareness-of-death-i-am-not-saying-become-afraid-of/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Don't yield to that alluring witch, laziness, or else be prepared to surrender all that you have won in your better moments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/horace/don-t-yield-to-that-alluring-witch-laziness-or-else-be-prepared-to/) [Horace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/horace/) > [Another mistake a director can make is not to be prepared, so you get there on the day to shoot the scene, and they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-macy/another-mistake-a-director-can-make-is-not-to-be-prepared-so-you-get/) [William H. Macy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-macy/) > [Old Flossie settle down on the other side of What-the-Dickens and dragged some handiwork out of a sack. She armed herself with two thorns…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gregory-maguire/old-flossie-settle-down-on-the-other-side-of-what-the-dickens-and/) [Gregory Maguire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gregory-maguire/) > [Good preparation is key for me. Nowadays everyone is an actor slash writer, slash this, slash that, its cool; and you can only go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jaime-zevallos/good-preparation-is-key-for-me-nowadays-everyone-is-an-actor-slash/) [Jaime Zevallos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jaime-zevallos/) > [Cruel and paradoxical though it undoubtedly is, the record shows that yje most succesful 20th century monarchs have been those who were not actually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-cannadine/cruel-and-paradoxical-though-it-undoubtedly-is-the-record-shows-that/) [David Cannadine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-cannadine/) > [One can understand the politics of that at this moment. 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