--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've always been someone who has been…" description: "\"I've always been someone who has been very driven. I think my circumstances, how I grew up, hard work and work ethic are absolutely vital to any succes..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/jerry-west-7315_ethic_i-ve-always-been-someone-who-has-been-ve_2450281.jpg" --- # I've always been someone who has been very driven. I think… ![“I've always been someone who has been very driven. I think my circumstances, how I grew up, hard work and work ethic are absolutely vital to any success that people might have, regardless of what they might be doing.” quote by Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/jerry-west-7315_ethic_i-ve-always-been-someone-who-has-been-ve_2450281.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/jerry-west-7315_ethic_i-ve-always-been-someone-who-has-been-ve_2450281.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/94c/jerry-west-7315_ethic_i-ve-always-been-someone-who-has-been-ve_2450281.jpg) > “I've always been someone who has been very driven. I think my circumstances, how I grew up, hard work and work ethic are absolutely vital to any success that people might have, regardless of what they might be doing.” [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## 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, upbringing, and ethic are essential to success, regardless of field. **In simple terms:** Drive and ethic fuel success. Key Takeaway Cultivate strong work habits early. Themes determination upbringing ethic success sports Mood inspirational reflective Type motivational philosophical When to use this quote - career coaching - education - entrepreneurship Key Concepts resilience self‑discipline environmental influence Questions to Reflect On - What habits have shaped your path? - How can you mentor others with similar backgrounds? A Different Perspective Success also depends on opportunity and luck. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Success People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success-people/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work ethic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-ethic/) ## Related quotes > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [I believe that perseverance is vital to success in any endeavor, whether spiritual or temporal, large or small, public or personal. . . .…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-b-wirthlin/i-believe-that-perseverance-is-vital-to-success-in-any-endeavor/) [Joseph B. Wirthlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-b-wirthlin/) > [Correct observation followed by meticulous deduction and the precise visualization of goals is vital to the success of any enterprise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/correct-observation-followed-by-meticulous-deduction-and-the-precise/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [The opportunity to earn citizenship was vital to my success in this country, and today it is my highest honor to be able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-mayorkas/the-opportunity-to-earn-citizenship-was-vital-to-my-success-in-this/) [Alejandro Mayorkas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-mayorkas/) > [My work ethic is from sports.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/magic-johnson/my-work-ethic-is-from-sports/) [Magic Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/magic-johnson/) > [No ethic is as ethical as the work ethic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-kenneth-galbraith/no-ethic-is-as-ethical-as-the-work-ethic/) [John Kenneth Galbraith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-kenneth-galbraith/) > [I am born and raised in the Bronx. Where I grew up, it is a really working-class neighborhood and it does give you a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cara-buono/i-am-born-and-raised-in-the-bronx-where-i-grew-up-it-is-a-really/) [Cara Buono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cara-buono/) > [Our daily work ethic - that need to always do better and top our last performance - is what makes USWNT football players who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/our-daily-work-ethic-that-need-to-always-do-better-and-top-our-last/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) > [There is a heavy emphasis in Mormonism on initiative, on responsibility, on a work ethic, and on education. If you take those elements together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/there-is-a-heavy-emphasis-in-mormonism-on-initiative-on/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [In 2005, I had the great honor of playing Shailene Woodley's mother in 'Felicity: An American Girl Adventure.' I was immediately impressed by her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/in-2005-i-had-the-great-honor-of-playing-shailene-woodley-s-mother-in/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [I'm not exceptionally fast or overly powerful. But I have a good work ethic, and I make up for it by using technique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-richardson/i-m-not-exceptionally-fast-or-overly-powerful-but-i-have-a-good-work/) [Dot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-richardson/) > [What I love about the theater is the work ethic. I grew up with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/what-i-love-about-the-theater-is-the-work-ethic-i-grew-up-with-it/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) > [All My Children taught me a great work ethic; you work so hard on a soap opera! It is a good way to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-larue/all-my-children-taught-me-a-great-work-ethic-you-work-so-hard-on-a/) [Eva LaRue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-larue/) > [I don't think I've met anyone with a stronger work ethic than Ray Charles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-don-t-think-i-ve-met-anyone-with-a-stronger-work-ethic-than-ray/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) ## More by Jerry West > [As you get older, every chance to win a championship is more crucial, because you are going to have less and less of them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-you-get-older-every-chance-to-win-a-championship-is-more-crucial/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Many people, men in particular, just can't not be active. I guess our minds demand that we seek other challenges.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/many-people-men-in-particular-just-can-t-not-be-active-i-guess-our/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I've always been really nationalistic, and I had a brother killed in Korea. And I think the 'Star Spangled Banner,' even today - and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-ve-always-been-really-nationalistic-and-i-had-a-brother-killed-in/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I don't live in the past. And besides, there are too many times in my career to remember specific events, because I played so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-don-t-live-in-the-past-and-besides-there-are-too-many-times-in-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You can't ever totally know what's inside of someone else, or see the kind of will someone like Magic has. You have to rely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-can-t-ever-totally-know-what-s-inside-of-someone-else-or-see-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [“Suddenly Sue shrieked as only four-year-old girls can.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/suddenly-sue-shrieked-as-only-four-year-old-girls-can/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [The support this city and our fans have shown the Grizzlies made my decision to stay in Memphis an easy one. Memphis deserves a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/the-support-this-city-and-our-fans-have-shown-the-grizzlies-made-my/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [I always wanted the ball in my hands with a game on the line, as I think any real competitor does.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/i-always-wanted-the-ball-in-my-hands-with-a-game-on-the-line-as-i/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Some guys lay their fannies out there every night - they play the game at such a high level, and they give so much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/some-guys-lay-their-fannies-out-there-every-night-they-play-the-game/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You need to possess more than a little nastiness to play basketball at the highest level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-need-to-possess-more-than-a-little-nastiness-to-play-basketball/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [Personalities seem in many cases to dominate the lucrative endorsement market. But that doesn't upset me. What upsets me is when not enough attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/personalities-seem-in-many-cases-to-dominate-the-lucrative/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [You get so addicted to winning that you don't want that feeling to stop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/you-get-so-addicted-to-winning-that-you-don-t-want-that-feeling-to/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [We talk about players of yesteryear, guys who could play or couldn't play, and I think it's ridiculous to try to even compare people...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/we-talk-about-players-of-yesteryear-guys-who-could-play-or-couldn-t/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [As a player all you can do is play within yourself, even in the context of a team sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/as-a-player-all-you-can-do-is-play-within-yourself-even-in-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) > [There's been so many unbelievable players in Los Angeles, maybe the best of the best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jerry-west/there-s-been-so-many-unbelievable-players-in-los-angeles-maybe-the/) [Jerry West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) [Explore all 92 Jerry West quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jerry-west/) ## More Ethic quotes > [I think I am against stereotype. Generally, Asian guys are more quiet - they study and have a good work ethic. Generally, I have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bobby-lee/i-think-i-am-against-stereotype-generally-asian-guys-are-more-quiet/) [Bobby Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bobby-lee/) > [I don't think I've met anyone with a stronger work ethic than Ray Charles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/i-don-t-think-i-ve-met-anyone-with-a-stronger-work-ethic-than-ray/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [All My Children taught me a great work ethic; you work so hard on a soap opera! It is a good way to start…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-larue/all-my-children-taught-me-a-great-work-ethic-you-work-so-hard-on-a/) [Eva LaRue](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-larue/) > [The 'key-log' which must be moved to release the evolutionary process for an ethic is simply this: quit thinking about decent land-use as solely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/land-ethic/the-key-log-which-must-be-moved-to-release-the-evolutionary-process/) Land ethic > [What I love about the theater is the work ethic. I grew up with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marlo-thomas/what-i-love-about-the-theater-is-the-work-ethic-i-grew-up-with-it/) [Marlo Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marlo-thomas/) > [I understood early on that I was not the best-looking girl in the room. But I knew my advantage was a hard work ethic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/erin-o-connor/i-understood-early-on-that-i-was-not-the-best-looking-girl-in-the/) [Erin O'Connor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/erin-o-connor/) > [There is an ancient Indian saying: "We do not inherit the earth from our ancestors; we borrow it from our children." If we use…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-schroeder/there-is-an-ancient-indian-saying-we-do-not-inherit-the-earth-from/) [Patricia Schroeder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-schroeder/) > [The moralist of sheer work and obedience can be an ethic that, unwilling to face a despair of its ends, glorifies its means](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-moralist-of-sheer-work-and-obedience-can-be-an-ethic-that/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The ethic behind songs of conscience doesn't change, even though the issues are altered from generation to generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-yarrow/the-ethic-behind-songs-of-conscience-doesn-t-change-even-though-the/) [Peter Yarrow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-yarrow/) > [I'm not exceptionally fast or overly powerful. But I have a good work ethic, and I make up for it by using technique and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dot-richardson/i-m-not-exceptionally-fast-or-overly-powerful-but-i-have-a-good-work/) [Dot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dot-richardson/) > [In 2005, I had the great honor of playing Shailene Woodley's mother in 'Felicity: An American Girl Adventure.' I was immediately impressed by her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcia-gay-harden/in-2005-i-had-the-great-honor-of-playing-shailene-woodley-s-mother-in/) [Marcia Gay Harden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcia-gay-harden/) > [Humanity is part of nature, a species that evolved among other species. The more closely we identify ourselves with the rest of life, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/humanity-is-part-of-nature-a-species-that-evolved-among-other-species/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The ethic of autonomy is based on the idea that people are, first and foremost, autonomous individuals with wants, needs, and preferences. People should…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-haidt/the-ethic-of-autonomy-is-based-on-the-idea-that-people-are-first-and/) [Jonathan Haidt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-haidt/) > [There is a heavy emphasis in Mormonism on initiative, on responsibility, on a work ethic, and on education. If you take those elements together…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-covey/there-is-a-heavy-emphasis-in-mormonism-on-initiative-on/) [Stephen Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-covey/) > [Our daily work ethic - that need to always do better and top our last performance - is what makes USWNT football players who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ali-krieger/our-daily-work-ethic-that-need-to-always-do-better-and-top-our-last/) [Ali Krieger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ali-krieger/) Browse all 297 Ethic quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I've always been someone who has been very driven. 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