---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've just been lucky to work on things…"
description: "\"I've just been lucky to work on things that I felt would be cool to see. It's not that I had a strategy or anything.\" — J. J. Abrams"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg"
---

#  I've just been lucky to work on things that I felt would…

![“I've just been lucky to work on things that I felt would be cool to see. It's not that I had a strategy or anything.” quote by J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg)

> “I've just been lucky to work on things that I felt would be cool to see. It's not that I had a strategy or anything.”

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success can arise from serendipity and passion rather than rigid planning, suggesting openness to unexpected opportunities.

**In simple terms:** Luck and passion can lead to cool projects without a strict plan.

Key Takeaway

Embrace curiosity and be open to chance.

Themes

creativity career development serendipity

Mood

inspirational optimistic

Type

motivational career

When to use this quote

- film industry
- start‑up ventures
- creative collaborations
- personal projects

Key Concepts

innovation flexibility

Questions to Reflect On

- How can you balance spontaneity with direction?
- What habits foster creative opportunities?

A Different Perspective

Relying solely on luck may lead to inconsistency.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Being cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-cool/) [Cool Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cool-strategy-2322712/) [Felt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt/) [Felt Cool](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/felt-cool-1836802/) [Just Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/just-lucky/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) [Lucky Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky-work/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) [Would be](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/would-be/)

## Related quotes

> [Awkwardness gives me great comfort. I've never been cool, but I've felt cool. I've been in the cool place, but I wasn't really cool…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-jacobs/awkwardness-gives-me-great-comfort-i-ve-never-been-cool-but-i-ve-felt/)

[Marc Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-jacobs/)

> [“what do you want?” I was trying so hard to stay calm, and failing miserably. Rrrrrrip. I felt cool air on my navel.  “To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jasinda-wilder/what-do-you-want-i-was-trying-so-hard-to-stay-calm-and-failing/)

[Jasinda Wilder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jasinda-wilder/)

> [“I dropped to my knees beside him, touching his cheek.It was felt cool and clammy under my hand. "This is...what I get...for coming early,"…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-hawkins/i-dropped-to-my-knees-beside-him-touching-his-cheek-it-was-felt-cool/)

[Rachel Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-hawkins/)

> [“The fever, I realized, had gone. Beneath my feet, the hardwood floor felt cool on my feet, the air gentle against my itching legs.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glen-hirshberg/the-fever-i-realized-had-gone-beneath-my-feet-the-hardwood-floor-felt/)

[Glen Hirshberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glen-hirshberg/)

> [When I was working on pictures with my father, there were a couple leading ladies to whom I wish I'd expressed how I felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-i-was-working-on-pictures-with-my-father-there-were-a-couple/)

[Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/)

> [I felt that it was cool to even get to the point where I was able to audition on the actual 'SNL' stage. Looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vanessa-bayer/i-felt-that-it-was-cool-to-even-get-to-the-point-where-i-was-able-to/)

[Vanessa Bayer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vanessa-bayer/)

> [“There was a roar from the shadow-tiger mask around the Harley, and Murphy swept up alongside the boat. I leapt down onto the back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-butcher/there-was-a-roar-from-the-shadow-tiger-mask-around-the-harley-and/)

[Jim Butcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-butcher/)

> [I never felt cool growing up. I was a bit of an outsider, but I discovered theatre very early on, which got me through.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-mccormack/i-never-felt-cool-growing-up-i-was-a-bit-of-an-outsider-but-i/)

[Eric McCormack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-mccormack/)

> [I managed to slip two children out in the middle of my career and have been lucky with all the work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-bond/i-managed-to-slip-two-children-out-in-the-middle-of-my-career-and/)

[Samantha Bond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-bond/)

> [All my life, I've been lucky to work in social justice, starting as a labor organizer working with low-wage working women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cecile-richards/all-my-life-i-ve-been-lucky-to-work-in-social-justice-starting-as-a/)

[Cecile Richards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cecile-richards/)

> [I started out old, but I have to say that I've been very lucky to work consistently since I started. I've really never been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-fuller/i-started-out-old-but-i-have-to-say-that-i-ve-been-very-lucky-to-work/)

[Kurt Fuller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-fuller/)

> [I've been lucky to work consistently on women who I think are interesting, fleshed out, and strong and active participants in their destiny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mackenzie-davis/i-ve-been-lucky-to-work-consistently-on-women-who-i-think-are/)

[Mackenzie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mackenzie-davis/)

> [I was lucky to go to work every day for 50 years, to a job that I loved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pat-gillick/i-was-lucky-to-go-to-work-every-day-for-50-years-to-a-job-that-i-loved/)

[Pat Gillick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pat-gillick/)

> [I was lucky enough to work a little bit with Steven Spielberg.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clark-gregg/i-was-lucky-enough-to-work-a-little-bit-with-steven-spielberg/)

[Clark Gregg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clark-gregg/)

> [You know, I've kind of been lucky enough to always work with established actors or big names or people that are really popular or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amber-heard/you-know-i-ve-kind-of-been-lucky-enough-to-always-work-with/)

[Amber Heard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amber-heard/)

## More by J. J. Abrams

> [I guess the idea of not wanting to choose to direct a film, for which I've not read a script. It's a tough decision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-guess-the-idea-of-not-wanting-to-choose-to-direct-a-film-for-which/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I do think there's something about the digital age that is increasingly dehumanising us. We're in this very weird place where we're being pulled…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-do-think-there-s-something-about-the-digital-age-that-is/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I hate to look at the stuff I've written and consider what it means or why I do it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-hate-to-look-at-the-stuff-i-ve-written-and-consider-what-it-means/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I feel like obviously the standard for what TV looks like changes all the time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-like-obviously-the-standard-for-what-tv-looks-like-changes-all/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I'd love to do a movie where the monster is human, where the issue is not otherworldly, or horror or science fiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-love-to-do-a-movie-where-the-monster-is-human-where-the-issue-is/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I feel blessed that I get to be part of entertaining people in any capacity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-feel-blessed-that-i-get-to-be-part-of-entertaining-people-in-any/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [There are always a bunch of ideas floating around and I do the best that I can to try to not do them. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/there-are-always-a-bunch-of-ideas-floating-around-and-i-do-the-best/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I love recording music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-love-recording-music/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I'd like to use IMAX. The problem with IMAX is that it's a very loud camera. It's a very unreliable camera. Only so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-d-like-to-use-imax-the-problem-with-imax-is-that-it-s-a-very-loud/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I have nothing against 3-D in theory. But I've also never run to the movies because something's in 3-D.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-have-nothing-against-3-d-in-theory-but-i-ve-also-never-run-to-the/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [But I'm grateful for everyone who would want to read a spoiler because it means that they care and want to see the movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/but-i-m-grateful-for-everyone-who-would-want-to-read-a-spoiler/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [I think that even if you're wondering if two characters are ever going to kiss, drawing out the inevitability is part of the fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-think-that-even-if-you-re-wondering-if-two-characters-are-ever/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [When I was a little kid - and even still - I loved magic tricks. When I saw how movies got made - at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/when-i-was-a-little-kid-and-even-still-i-loved-magic-tricks-when-i/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope (1977) is probably the most influential film of my generation. It's the personification of good and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/star-wars-episode-iv-a-new-hope-1977-is-probably-the-most-influential/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

> [Directing's the best part. Whenever I've directed something, there's this feeling of demand and focus that I like. And secondly, it means that you've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/directing-s-the-best-part-whenever-i-ve-directed-something-there-s/)

[J. J. Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

[Explore all 128 J. J. Abrams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/)

## More Being cool quotes

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Yes yes you can count on me - Fingers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/yes-yes-you-can-count-on-me-fingers/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/)

[Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/)

> [Come at me bro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/come-at-me-bro/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Men and women shop differently. Men know what they want before they see it. Women don't know what they want until they see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/men-and-women-shop-differently-men-know-what-they-want-before-they/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [You are the love of my twitter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/you-are-the-love-of-my-twitter/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [A girl asks you what you need. The woman knows and gives you what you want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/a-girl-asks-you-what-you-need-the-woman-knows-and-gives-you-what-you/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [We should be recklessly abandoned to Jesus, and just turn it over to Him. Through the support I think the sacrifices will be made…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stacie-orrico/we-should-be-recklessly-abandoned-to-jesus-and-just-turn-it-over-to/)

[Stacie Orrico](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stacie-orrico/)

> [Manchester has a certain reputation of being cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-lowe/manchester-has-a-certain-reputation-of-being-cool/)

[Alice Lowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-lowe/)

> [The messaging campaign that stigmatized the term feminist definitely worked on me when I was a teenager. I always believed in equality, but there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lindy-west/the-messaging-campaign-that-stigmatized-the-term-feminist-definitely/)

[Lindy West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lindy-west/)

> [Trying to be cool is the easiest path to mediocrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-crews/trying-to-be-cool-is-the-easiest-path-to-mediocrity/)

[Terry Crews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-crews/)

> [Being cool, is not trying to be cool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-cool-is-not-trying-to-be-cool/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [My friend said he didn't have time for Twitter like me, he has a job I replied shut the fuck up &amp; lend me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/my-friend-said-he-didn-t-have-time-for-twitter-like-me-he-has-a-job-i/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [I like my beer as I like my beer. Beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/i-like-my-beer-as-i-like-my-beer-beer/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

> [HUSBAND, PERFECT, is, in a man's second marriage, her first mate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikhil-saluja/husband-perfect-is-in-a-man-s-second-marriage-her-first-mate/)

[Nikhil Saluja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikhil-saluja/)

[Browse all 688 Being cool quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being-cool/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I've just been lucky to work on things that I felt would be cool to see. It's not that I had a strategy or anything.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "J. J. Abrams"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-that-i-felt-would-be-cool-to/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Being cool"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-that-i-felt-would-be-cool-to/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/031/j-j-abrams-3542_being-cool_i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-t_1837417.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I've just been lucky to work on things that I felt would be cool to see. It's not that I had a strategy or…” — J. J. Abrams",
                "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": "J. J. Abrams",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-j-abrams/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I've just been lucky to work...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-that-i-felt-would-be-cool-to/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-j-abrams/i-ve-just-been-lucky-to-work-on-things-that-i-felt-would-be-cool-to/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
