--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If my career isn't going that well, I'd…" description: "\"If my career isn't going that well, I'd rather it flounder than desperately trying to show up on red carpets: 'I'm for hire! Remember me!'\" — James McAvoy" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/james-mcavoy-4316_career_if-my-career-isn-t-going-that-well-i-d-r_1320101.jpg" --- # If my career isn't going that well, I'd rather it flounder… ![“If my career isn't going that well, I'd rather it flounder than desperately trying to show up on red carpets: 'I'm for hire! Remember me!'” quote by James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/james-mcavoy-4316_career_if-my-career-isn-t-going-that-well-i-d-r_1320101.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/james-mcavoy-4316_career_if-my-career-isn-t-going-that-well-i-d-r_1320101.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/662/james-mcavoy-4316_career_if-my-career-isn-t-going-that-well-i-d-r_1320101.jpg) > “If my career isn't going that well, I'd rather it flounder than desperately trying to show up on red carpets: 'I'm for hire! Remember me!'” [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers a struggling career over a desperate, inauthentic pursuit of fame. **In simple terms:** Better to be genuine than chase fame. Key Takeaway Prioritize authenticity over superficial success. Themes career authenticity fame self‑worth Mood thoughtful determined Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - job search - creative projects - networking - personal branding Key Concepts existentialism industry pressure Questions to Reflect On - Is it healthier to accept modest success? - When does perseverance become self‑destruction? A Different Perspective The quote may romanticize struggle, ignoring financial realities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Isn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-isn-307817/) [Desperately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperately/) [Desperately Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desperately-trying-575197/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Hire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire/) [Hire Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hire-remember-4396620/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [Rather](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/rather/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Remember](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember/) [Remember me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/remember-me/) [Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/show/) [Than](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/than/) [Trying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/trying/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Well](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/well/) ## Related quotes > [I say to those people who are desperately trying to get healthy, in those moments where you feel like you can't go any further,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mo-nique/i-say-to-those-people-who-are-desperately-trying-to-get-healthy-in/) [Mo'Nique](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mo-nique/) > [When I speak of drama, I'm really referring to just 'desperately trying not to be ordinary'. Trying to get something that has a little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-verbinski/when-i-speak-of-drama-i-m-really-referring-to-just-desperately-trying/) [Gore Verbinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-verbinski/) > [An image has stuck for most of my career and it isn't flattering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-fowler/an-image-has-stuck-for-most-of-my-career-and-it-isn-t-flattering/) [Robbie Fowler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-fowler/) > [If my career isn't moving ahead I may consider TV.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/payal-rohatgi/if-my-career-isn-t-moving-ahead-i-may-consider-tv/) [Payal Rohatgi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/payal-rohatgi/) > [The career isn't guaranteed for as long as you might want to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-ferguson/the-career-isn-t-guaranteed-for-as-long-as-you-might-want-to-play/) [Nick Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-ferguson/) > [I love to have my own story, my own path, and forge ahead because my career isn't going to be like anyone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-rippon/i-love-to-have-my-own-story-my-own-path-and-forge-ahead-because-my/) [Adam Rippon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-rippon/) > [We are a democratic, egalitarian people who spend our days desperately trying to climb over each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-a-democratic-egalitarian-people-who-spend-our-days-desperately/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Because at the end of the day that’s what we’re all trying to do: fit in, one way or another, desperately trying to pretend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tabitha-suzuma/because-at-the-end-of-the-day-that-s-what-we-re-all-trying-to-do-fit/) [Tabitha Suzuma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tabitha-suzuma/) > [There are people who are out to take advantage of others and some who are merely putting in their time. But most of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-livermore/there-are-people-who-are-out-to-take-advantage-of-others-and-some-who/) [David Livermore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-livermore/) > [We don't think of ourselves as being perfectionists, really. To us it's more about desperately trying to have it sound more or less OK.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-fagen/we-don-t-think-of-ourselves-as-being-perfectionists-really-to-us-it-s/) [Donald Fagen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-fagen/) > [“For the last time,” she said urgently, almost desperately, as if trying to talk herself into believing it. “It’s never going to happen again.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-shalvis/for-the-last-time-she-said-urgently-almost-desperately-as-if-trying/) [Jill Shalvis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-shalvis/) > [My parents were desperately trying to become documented citizens of this country and tried very hard to get there, but to no avail.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/my-parents-were-desperately-trying-to-become-documented-citizens-of/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [My father was desperately trying to be a legal contributor to this society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diane-guerrero/my-father-was-desperately-trying-to-be-a-legal-contributor-to-this/) [Diane Guerrero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diane-guerrero/) > [Right now, the Anglo people are desperately trying to hold on to the United States, like they tried to hold on to Africa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-james-olmos/right-now-the-anglo-people-are-desperately-trying-to-hold-on-to-the/) [Edward James Olmos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-james-olmos/) > [I have had no control over my life. I have lived in a complete bubble. They found me and picked me for the part.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-watson/i-have-had-no-control-over-my-life-i-have-lived-in-a-complete-bubble/) [Emma Watson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-watson/) ## More by James McAvoy > [I like cooking, but I don't think I could be a chef. Everyone from the ground up does terrible hours, whether you've just walked…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-like-cooking-but-i-don-t-think-i-could-be-a-chef-everyone-from-the/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [Shooting films in Britain is always difficult, because we've never got enough money to make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/shooting-films-in-britain-is-always-difficult-because-we-ve-never-got/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I'd like to keep work work and life life. It means you've got your life to come back to, somewhere to come home to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-d-like-to-keep-work-work-and-life-life-it-means-you-ve-got-your/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I like playing sport, and I like doing physical stuff. I like hiking and I like climbing and I like playing sport. I do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-like-playing-sport-and-i-like-doing-physical-stuff-i-like-hiking/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I wanted to join the navy to get some perspective on the world and explore.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-wanted-to-join-the-navy-to-get-some-perspective-on-the-world-and/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I did undergo hypnotherapy, and it didn't work! The guy couldn't put me under. I was very disappointed. I was very keen to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-did-undergo-hypnotherapy-and-it-didn-t-work-the-guy-couldn-t-put-me/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [If a scene is three pages long, quite often people break it up and do a page, say 'cut' then move on to the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/if-a-scene-is-three-pages-long-quite-often-people-break-it-up-and-do/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [In a love scene that's really advantageous because you don't have that horrible moment of: "We don't really know what we're supposed to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/in-a-love-scene-that-s-really-advantageous-because-you-don-t-have/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [That's the main thing that attracts me - characters who have big journeys. I like playing those people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/that-s-the-main-thing-that-attracts-me-characters-who-have-big/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I think fear is one of the natural states of most actors, to be honest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-think-fear-is-one-of-the-natural-states-of-most-actors-to-be-honest/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I've been in a few fights and I know what it's like to get punched in the face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-ve-been-in-a-few-fights-and-i-know-what-it-s-like-to-get-punched-in/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I learned something from a string of failed relationships. You don't see a pattern quickly. You see it over time. I learned to stop…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-learned-something-from-a-string-of-failed-relationships-you-don-t/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I don't mind playing somebody who's not likable, or makes the audience feel slightly conflicted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-don-t-mind-playing-somebody-who-s-not-likable-or-makes-the-audience/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [I've spent a long time giving people the benefit of the doubt, and I'm tired of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/i-ve-spent-a-long-time-giving-people-the-benefit-of-the-doubt-and-i-m/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) > [My favorite name of a fandom is Benedict Cumberbatch's - 'the Cumberbatches' is just the best name.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-mcavoy/my-favorite-name-of-a-fandom-is-benedict-cumberbatch-s-the/) [James McAvoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) [Explore all 112 James McAvoy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-mcavoy/) ## 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": "If my career isn't going that well, I'd rather it flounder than desperately trying to show up on red carpets: 'I'm for hire! 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