--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I truly believe that I make my path and I…" description: "\"I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or the end of my career, [is] because of me. Of cours..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/j-cole-2-3527_balls_i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and_225546.jpg" --- # I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course… ![“I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or the end of my career, [is] because of me. Of course, you get help along the way, and cosigns and management and opportunities and things like that but overall, the ball is in your court basically.” quote by J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/j-cole-2-3527_balls_i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and_225546.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/j-cole-2-3527_balls_i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and_225546.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/585/j-cole-2-3527_balls_i-truly-believe-that-i-make-my-path-and_225546.jpg) > “I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or the end of my career, \[is\] because of me. Of course, you get help along the way, and cosigns and management and opportunities and things like that but overall, the ball is in your court basically.” [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Personal responsibility drives one's career outcomes, despite external support and opportunities. **In simple terms:** You control your destiny despite help. Key Takeaway Own your choices and actions. Themes responsibility career self-determination Mood motivational determined Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - Job searching - career planning - entrepreneurship - skill development Key Concepts Agency personal growth Questions to Reflect On - What steps can you take to increase your agency? - How do you balance help with personal accountability? A Different Perspective External factors still heavily influence success. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Court](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/court/) [End of the day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/end-of-the-day/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Opportunity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/opportunity/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) ## Related quotes > [We rise to a challenge and set a course. We take a decision. You put your mind to something. Just deciding to do it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/we-rise-to-a-challenge-and-set-a-course-we-take-a-decision-you-put/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [People ask me what was the one thing, if you could pick one thing, that most set you on your course. It would probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ketanji-brown-jackson/people-ask-me-what-was-the-one-thing-if-you-could-pick-one-thing-that/) [Ketanji Brown Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ketanji-brown-jackson/) > [“She set the course of his life with just a smile.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-moore/she-set-the-course-of-his-life-with-just-a-smile/) [Christopher Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-moore/) > [I stay patient. I don't go out there and try to set a course record. That's probably one of my strengths and one reason…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annika-sorenstam/i-stay-patient-i-don-t-go-out-there-and-try-to-set-a-course-record/) [Annika Sorenstam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annika-sorenstam/) > [We need to learn to set our course by the stars, not by the light of every passing ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley-2/we-need-to-learn-to-set-our-course-by-the-stars-not-by-the-light-of/) Omar N Bradley > [“Driving the train doesn't set its course. The real job is laying the track.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ed-catmull/driving-the-train-doesn-t-set-its-course-the-real-job-is-laying-the/) [Ed Catmull](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ed-catmull/) > [I set my own course through the ocean of life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-lockwood-huie/i-set-my-own-course-through-the-ocean-of-life/) [Jonathan Lockwood Huie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-lockwood-huie/) > [Anytime you're trying to set a course, there's gonna be decisions made, and you have to weigh all options, and then in the end…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-leach/anytime-you-re-trying-to-set-a-course-there-s-gonna-be-decisions-made/) [Mike Leach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-leach/) > [We must stop setting our sights by the light of each passing ship; instead we must set our course by the stars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-c-marshall/we-must-stop-setting-our-sights-by-the-light-of-each-passing-ship/) [George C. Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-c-marshall/) > [But it ain't our feelings we have to steer by through life--no, no, we'd make shipwreck mighty often if we did that. There's only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/but-it-ain-t-our-feelings-we-have-to-steer-by-through-life-no-no-we-d/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Free people will set the course of history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-people-will-set-the-course-of-history/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [“I would set my course that instant not for the nearest but the farthest star.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/webb-chiles/i-would-set-my-course-that-instant-not-for-the-nearest-but-the/) Webb Chiles > [Set your course by the stars, not by the lights of every passing ship.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omar-n-bradley/set-your-course-by-the-stars-not-by-the-lights-of-every-passing-ship/) [Omar N. Bradley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omar-n-bradley/) > [I don't want them to have to be the one to come tell me, 'Hey, you performing at the top of your sport is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-mir/i-don-t-want-them-to-have-to-be-the-one-to-come-tell-me-hey-you/) [Frank Mir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-mir/) > [I'm telling you that India is that way, now set my course.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-columbus/i-m-telling-you-that-india-is-that-way-now-set-my-course/) [Christopher Columbus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-columbus/) ## More by J. Cole > [The same ones you love will bring you pain.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/the-same-ones-you-love-will-bring-you-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [It's the way I enjoy making art - I like sitting down and making five beats; I enjoy that process. I can go two…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/it-s-the-way-i-enjoy-making-art-i-like-sitting-down-and-making-five/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Producing all my own songs and refusing to go to the hot producer. That's the biggest risk I've taken so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/producing-all-my-own-songs-and-refusing-to-go-to-the-hot-producer/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Sold my soul to Satan. I've been dancing with the devil. So when you get to hell you can say you know me. I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/sold-my-soul-to-satan-i-ve-been-dancing-with-the-devil-so-when-you/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [My parents were divorced by the time I was even conscious - like, I don't remember them ever being together.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/my-parents-were-divorced-by-the-time-i-was-even-conscious-like-i-don/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You hate it before you played it. I already forgave ya.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-hate-it-before-you-played-it-i-already-forgave-ya/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Yeah school girl, cool girl. Your dress is sexy and your momma is a cougar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/yeah-school-girl-cool-girl-your-dress-is-sexy-and-your-momma-is-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When I first started rapping, when I switched my style to more like a punch line style - this is when I'm like 13…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-first-started-rapping-when-i-switched-my-style-to-more-like-a/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I'm not gonna be bad at anything, and I want to actually be the best at anything I'm doing. So if I'm playing basketball,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-m-not-gonna-be-bad-at-anything-and-i-want-to-actually-be-the-best/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [We got dreams and we got the right to chase 'em, Look at the nation, that's a crooked smile braces couldn't even straighten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/we-got-dreams-and-we-got-the-right-to-chase-em-look-at-the-nation/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [I seen a baby cry seconds later he laughs... the beauty of life, the pain never lasts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/i-seen-a-baby-cry-seconds-later-he-laughs-the-beauty-of-life-the-pain/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [If I'm a character, it's a biographical movie. My character is as close to me as possible. As close to being myself as possible.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/if-i-m-a-character-it-s-a-biographical-movie-my-character-is-as-close/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [You can't take yourself too seriously. Like, yeah, I'm doin' all that, but still I don't feel like I've done anything, really. I feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/you-can-t-take-yourself-too-seriously-like-yeah-i-m-doin-all-that-but/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [When you're headlining, people are paying to come see you specifically. It's a different kind of pressure, because you've got to deliver. You've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-you-re-headlining-people-are-paying-to-come-see-you-specifically/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [In this life ain't no happy endings; Only pure beginnings followed by years of sinning and fake repentance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/in-this-life-ain-t-no-happy-endings-only-pure-beginnings-followed-by/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) [Explore all 128 J. Cole quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) ## More Balls quotes > [It's a lot harder to play football when you haven't got the ball.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-gray/it-s-a-lot-harder-to-play-football-when-you-haven-t-got-the-ball/) [Andy Gray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-gray/) > [Once you pull the trigger, you've got to throw balls aggressively and with conviction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-smith/once-you-pull-the-trigger-you-ve-got-to-throw-balls-aggressively-and/) [Alex Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-smith/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [Play small ball. Get back to basics. I would say that you need to be a conservative, but you need to maintain your independent…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrea-tantaros/play-small-ball-get-back-to-basics-i-would-say-that-you-need-to-be-a/) [Andrea Tantaros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrea-tantaros/) > [Donald Trump is a different ball of wax. I've been trying to say for I don't know how many months now that the traditional…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rush-limbaugh/donald-trump-is-a-different-ball-of-wax-i-ve-been-trying-to-say-for-i/) [Rush Limbaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rush-limbaugh/) > [Well, you can certainly teach free-throwing. And you can teach the boys to pass at angles and run in curves. - University of Kansas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darryl-dawkins/well-you-can-certainly-teach-free-throwing-and-you-can-teach-the-boys/) [Darryl Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darryl-dawkins/) > [Maybe bring in sponge balls to learn the technique and gain that experience of actually challenging for a header.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-mason/maybe-bring-in-sponge-balls-to-learn-the-technique-and-gain-that/) [Ryan Mason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-mason/) > [I like René Descartes' theory about a ball of wax. You can change its form from solid to liquid, but it's still the same…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emmy-rossum/i-like-ren-descartes-theory-about-a-ball-of-wax-you-can-change-its/) [Emmy Rossum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emmy-rossum/) > [It wasn't really touching to be young; it was touching not to be young, because you had less of life left. Touching to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-macaulay/it-wasn-t-really-touching-to-be-young-it-was-touching-not-to-be-young/) [Rose Macaulay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-macaulay/) > [This ball was so crowded that it took me - a trained professional journalist with vast experience in this area - forty five minutes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/this-ball-was-so-crowded-that-it-took-me-a-trained-professional/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) > [Common sense is the guy who tells you that you ought to have had your brakes relined last week before you smashed a front…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raymond-chandler/common-sense-is-the-guy-who-tells-you-that-you-ought-to-have-had-your/) [Raymond Chandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raymond-chandler/) > [Throwing a ball is not natural, whether it's overhand or underhand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-finch/throwing-a-ball-is-not-natural-whether-it-s-overhand-or-underhand/) [Jennie Finch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-finch/) > [I don't feel like I have to live up to anything because I've proven that I can play. 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But you throw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-glanville/you-run-the-football-for-toughness-you-run-the-ball-to-tell-your/) Jerry Glanville Browse all 3,005 Balls quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I truly believe that I make my path and I set my course, and where I land, at the end of the day, or the end of my career, [is] because of me. Of course, you get help along the way, and cosigns and management and opportunities and things like that but overall, the ball is in your court basically.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "J. 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