--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I first got to L.A., I was…" description: "\"When I first got to L.A., I was stretching $20 a week, waiting tables, and I did that for about six months. I didn't mind it at all, I was really happy..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/jennifer-carpenter-14910_aggressive_when-i-first-got-to-l-a-i-was-stretching_359995.png" --- # When I first got to L.A., I was stretching $20 a week… ![“When I first got to L.A., I was stretching $20 a week, waiting tables, and I did that for about six months. I didn't mind it at all, I was really happy for that experience, but it made me really get aggressive about what I want. I've been doing this since I was eight, and never considered doing…” quote by Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/jennifer-carpenter-14910_aggressive_when-i-first-got-to-l-a-i-was-stretching_359995.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/jennifer-carpenter-14910_aggressive_when-i-first-got-to-l-a-i-was-stretching_359995.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/648/jennifer-carpenter-14910_aggressive_when-i-first-got-to-l-a-i-was-stretching_359995.png) > “When I first got to L.A., I was stretching $20 a week, waiting tables, and I did that for about six months. I didn't mind it at all, I was really happy for that experience, but it made me really get aggressive about what I want. I've been doing this since I was eight, and never considered doing anything else, so I really had to kick it into gear.” [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early hardship fueled ambition, turning modest earnings into drive for success. **In simple terms:** Hardship sparked determination. Key Takeaway Leverage adversity for growth. Themes ambition hardship growth career resilience Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - starting a new job - budgeting on a low income - career pivot - entrepreneurial launch Key Concepts Motivation goal setting self‑discipline Questions to Reflect On - What drives you when resources are scarce? - How can you turn discomfort into motivation? A Different Perspective Success may require more than determination; external opportunities matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Kicks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kicks/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Really happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-happy/) [Stretching](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stretching/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [I've got a stretching program that's specific to my body, to keep my lower back mobile and my shoulders strong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garrett-mcnamara/i-ve-got-a-stretching-program-that-s-specific-to-my-body-to-keep-my/) [Garrett McNamara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garrett-mcnamara/) > [Inside me there are two people. One is a very aggressive - I want to win; I won the Premier League, but now I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claudio-ranieri/inside-me-there-are-two-people-one-is-a-very-aggressive-i-want-to-win/) [Claudio Ranieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claudio-ranieri/) > [The vocals are aggressive not because I want to create an evil voice or anything like that, but because when I sing about angry…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-cavalera/the-vocals-are-aggressive-not-because-i-want-to-create-an-evil-voice/) [Max Cavalera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-cavalera/) > [Maybe when it comes to my music, or my performances, I'm a little more aggressive because I want everything to be perfect. But not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tinie-tempah/maybe-when-it-comes-to-my-music-or-my-performances-i-m-a-little-more/) [Tinie Tempah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tinie-tempah/) > [I think very frequently, musicians become a victim of every song they sing. I like all kinds of recreation. It's aggressive. I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-lee-roth/i-think-very-frequently-musicians-become-a-victim-of-every-song-they/) [David Lee Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-lee-roth/) > [The thing that I come across is that people think that I might actually be super aggressive, want-to-fight type in real life. The irony…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-bell/the-thing-that-i-come-across-is-that-people-think-that-i-might/) [Zoe Bell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-bell/) > [Wrestlers in the U.S.A. are very aggressive. All they want to do is attack, but they'll make mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kurt-angle/wrestlers-in-the-u-s-a-are-very-aggressive-all-they-want-to-do-is/) [Kurt Angle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kurt-angle/) > [When I was 16 or 17, when I started, I never even considered not doing a project. I just wanted to work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/penelope-cruz/when-i-was-16-or-17-when-i-started-i-never-even-considered-not-doing/) [Penelope Cruz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/penelope-cruz/) > [I briefly considered doing Edgar Allan Poe and just swearing a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-richter/i-briefly-considered-doing-edgar-allan-poe-and-just-swearing-a-lot/) [Andy Richter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-richter/) > [Nothing that I've turned down do I feel like I should have done. Because I've generated everything I've done, I've never really considered doing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noah-baumbach/nothing-that-i-ve-turned-down-do-i-feel-like-i-should-have-done/) [Noah Baumbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noah-baumbach/) > [I don't know if I'm really going to do it. But I've considered doing one fight and then getting out with my hands clean.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jordan-burroughs/i-don-t-know-if-i-m-really-going-to-do-it-but-i-ve-considered-doing/) [Jordan Burroughs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jordan-burroughs/) > [Almost considered doing something with my life, but thenI sat down and logged into Facebook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/almost-considered-doing-something-with-my-life-but-theni-sat-down-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Almost considered doing something with my life, but then I sat down and logged into Facebook...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-mccarty/almost-considered-doing-something-with-my-life-but-then-i-sat-down/) [Kevin McCarty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-mccarty/) > [I started out very commercially, and I never even considered doing runway shows, as I never thought I'd ever be able to afford them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-owens/i-started-out-very-commercially-and-i-never-even-considered-doing/) [Rick Owens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-owens/) > [“It occurs to me that there are many things in life that I’ve never considered doing, Raymond. I suppose I hadn’t realized that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-honeyman/it-occurs-to-me-that-there-are-many-things-in-life-that-i-ve-never/) [Gail Honeyman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-honeyman/) ## More by Jennifer Carpenter > [I never thought that I would be so attracted to television, but I don't think gigs like 'Dexter' come along too often.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-never-thought-that-i-would-be-so-attracted-to-television-but-i-don/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [I wanted to play this role because I thought the story was so incredible and so fascinating that it's almost unbelievable, which is exactly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-wanted-to-play-this-role-because-i-thought-the-story-was-so/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [I went out with the mayor. I'm adult, and that was my decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-went-out-with-the-mayor-i-m-adult-and-that-was-my-decision/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [At a very young age I was predicting outcomes, trying to take all the information and find the best route to wherever I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/at-a-very-young-age-i-was-predicting-outcomes-trying-to-take-all-the/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [Oh my god! I just heard myself say, 'I don't know of I should tweet that.' I've become THAT guy!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/oh-my-god-i-just-heard-myself-say-i-don-t-know-of-i-should-tweet-that/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [My laundry list of wants in a partner is basically kindness. I want someone who is kind, and that's kind of where it begins…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/my-laundry-list-of-wants-in-a-partner-is-basically-kindness-i-want/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [You know what, I'm happy to say that everything outside of 'Dexter' feels like a vacation, and I don't mean to say anything negative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/you-know-what-i-m-happy-to-say-that-everything-outside-of-dexter/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [In school I was always being cast as the clown. And then I did 'The Exorcism of Emily Rose,' and once people hear you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/in-school-i-was-always-being-cast-as-the-clown-and-then-i-did-the/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [They had made a dummy and would put it in the position they needed...I would look at it and see how well I could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/they-had-made-a-dummy-and-would-put-it-in-the-position-they-needed-i/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [I believe in possibility, but I'm not sure I believe in demons.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-believe-in-possibility-but-i-m-not-sure-i-believe-in-demons/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [My DAMN Rosetta Stone got lost in the mail! Ay dios mio!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/my-damn-rosetta-stone-got-lost-in-the-mail-ay-dios-mio/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [Sometimes when I pick up a book off the shelf, when I'm buying a new book to read, I'll look at all of them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/sometimes-when-i-pick-up-a-book-off-the-shelf-when-i-m-buying-a-new/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [At a young age I always had an entrepreneurial spirit. So I'm trying to develop things on my own, too, and there are a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/at-a-young-age-i-always-had-an-entrepreneurial-spirit-so-i-m-trying/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [It's not that there are 4 guys on the corner of Melrose wearing cowboy boots and high-waisted wranglers, it's that they are comparing boots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/it-s-not-that-there-are-4-guys-on-the-corner-of-melrose-wearing/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) > [I like how my sister gets off the phone. She doesn't say goodbye. She says, 'Love you. Have fun...' FUN! what a nice thin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-carpenter/i-like-how-my-sister-gets-off-the-phone-she-doesn-t-say-goodbye-she/) [Jennifer Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) [Explore all 45 Jennifer Carpenter quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-carpenter/) ## More Aggressive quotes > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [Good girls don't hurt other people's feelings. Good girls are not overly aggressive, competitive, or boastful. Good girls please others. But what good girls…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jane-gilman/good-girls-don-t-hurt-other-people-s-feelings-good-girls-are-not/) [Susan Jane Gilman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jane-gilman/) > [It’s a shameful moment for U.S. media when it insists on being subservient to the grotesque propaganda agencies of a violent, aggressive state.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/noam-chomsky/it-s-a-shameful-moment-for-u-s-media-when-it-insists-on-being/) [Noam Chomsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/noam-chomsky/) > [“Passive...Aggressive...Pussy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-azzarello/passive-aggressive-pussy/) [Brian Azzarello](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-azzarello/) > [I'm not a fan of endless mystery in storytelling - I like to know where the mythology's going; I like to get there in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-kripke/i-m-not-a-fan-of-endless-mystery-in-storytelling-i-like-to-know-where/) [Eric Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-kripke/) > [Most conservatives - by which I mean normal people - have little conception of the aggressive and revolutionary force that confronts them. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-bethell/most-conservatives-by-which-i-mean-normal-people-have-little/) [Tom Bethell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-bethell/) > [If I serve good and play aggressive from the baseline, I can beat everyone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karolina-pliskova/if-i-serve-good-and-play-aggressive-from-the-baseline-i-can-beat/) [Karolina Pliskova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karolina-pliskova/) > [I'm just trying to be aggressive. Be aggressive with my shot. Be aggressive going to the rim.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamal-murray/i-m-just-trying-to-be-aggressive-be-aggressive-with-my-shot-be/) [Jamal Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamal-murray/) > [I see other teams playing aggressive, attacking football, they are games I switch on and watch. They are the football teams I want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angelos-postecoglou/i-see-other-teams-playing-aggressive-attacking-football-they-are/) [Angelos Postecoglou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angelos-postecoglou/) > [You cannot will yourself to be happy while believing that you have no right to happiness, or that you are unworthy of it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jane-roberts/you-cannot-will-yourself-to-be-happy-while-believing-that-you-have-no/) [Jane Roberts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jane-roberts/) > [I have definitely noticed I am very passionate. So if I'm fighting with someone I'll be SO super loud and aggressive, and make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-martinez/i-have-definitely-noticed-i-am-very-passionate-so-if-i-m-fighting/) [Melanie Martinez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-martinez/) > [ I think the president's \[Barack Obama\] position has been very clear on Syria. He wants more aggressive, he's put the Special Ops on the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juan-williams/i-think-the-president-s-barack-obama-position-has-been-very-clear-on/) [Juan Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juan-williams/) > [As Americans, we want peace - we work and sacrifice for peace. But there can be no peace if our security depends on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/as-americans-we-want-peace-we-work-and-sacrifice-for-peace-but-there/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [It is deeply concerning to learn that Linda Thomas-Greenfield repeatedly praised autocratic China's aggressive and troubling expansion into Africa during a 2019 speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-hagerty/it-is-deeply-concerning-to-learn-that-linda-thomas-greenfield/) [Bill Hagerty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-hagerty/) Browse all 1,351 Aggressive quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I first got to L.A., I was stretching $20 a week, waiting tables, and I did that for about six months. I didn't mind it at all, I was really happy for that experience, but it made me really get aggressive about what I want. 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