--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was working at Nordstrom Rack, Borders…" description: "\"I was working at Nordstrom Rack, Borders Books, and I was cleaning yachts on the weekends for private parties and being a busboy. I had to break down t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/jo-koy-11272_being_i-was-working-at-nordstrom-rack-borders_806187.jpg" --- # I was working at Nordstrom Rack, Borders Books, and I was… ![“I was working at Nordstrom Rack, Borders Books, and I was cleaning yachts on the weekends for private parties and being a busboy. I had to break down the tables and roll the forks up in napkins. And I was still doing standup.” quote by Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/jo-koy-11272_being_i-was-working-at-nordstrom-rack-borders_806187.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/jo-koy-11272_being_i-was-working-at-nordstrom-rack-borders_806187.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b49/jo-koy-11272_being_i-was-working-at-nordstrom-rack-borders_806187.jpg) > “I was working at Nordstrom Rack, Borders Books, and I was cleaning yachts on the weekends for private parties and being a busboy. I had to break down the tables and roll the forks up in napkins. And I was still doing standup.” [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Describes humble, varied jobs and perseverance while pursuing a comedy career **In simple terms:** I worked many low‑pay jobs while doing stand‑up Key Takeaway Hard work and persistence lead to dreams Themes career humor perseverance struggle Mood determined humorous Type inspirational personal When to use this quote - service industry - night gigs - stand‑up comedy Key Concepts gig economy creative ambition Questions to Reflect On - What kept you motivated? - How do you prioritize dreams vs. survival? A Different Perspective Balancing multiple jobs can cause burnout ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Being](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) [Borders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borders/) [Weekends](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/weekends/) ## Related quotes > [Being a child of the 1970s, I remember cleaning up on the weekends. we would listen to everything from Marvin Gaye to Frankie Beverly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jalen-rose/being-a-child-of-the-1970s-i-remember-cleaning-up-on-the-weekends-we/) [Jalen Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jalen-rose/) > [I don't know if there's a strategy really so much as, like I learned doing standup and had to learn fast, you always just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mulaney/i-don-t-know-if-there-s-a-strategy-really-so-much-as-like-i-learned/) [John Mulaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mulaney/) > [When I started doing standup, it was the first time I felt comfortable with myself. I think people I went to school with were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-tomlinson/when-i-started-doing-standup-it-was-the-first-time-i-felt-comfortable/) [Taylor Tomlinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-tomlinson/) > [Genuinely love doing standup and I'm a comedian first, so for me what makes my standup special is the fact that I don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hart/genuinely-love-doing-standup-and-i-m-a-comedian-first-so-for-me-what/) [Kevin Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hart/) > [I know I'm going to be doing standup for the rest of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rock/i-know-i-m-going-to-be-doing-standup-for-the-rest-of-my-life/) [Tony Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rock/) > [When you're doing standup, it's just you. It's your written jokes. You perform it however your personality is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-rock/when-you-re-doing-standup-it-s-just-you-it-s-your-written-jokes-you/) [Tony Rock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-rock/) > [I enjoy doing standup, but when I'm 50, I don't know if I'll still enjoy doing standup. It might be one of those things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wyatt-cenac/i-enjoy-doing-standup-but-when-i-m-50-i-don-t-know-if-i-ll-still/) [Wyatt Cenac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wyatt-cenac/) > [When you're doing standup you're kind of doing, "Hey. I thought of this. This may be funny.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zach-galifianakis/when-you-re-doing-standup-you-re-kind-of-doing-hey-i-thought-of-this/) [Zach Galifianakis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zach-galifianakis/) > [If I could make the same amount of money doing standup it would be no contest. The problem is that if you do make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/if-i-could-make-the-same-amount-of-money-doing-standup-it-would-be-no/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [I started doing standup when I was in college, and I would incorporate a lot of characters into my act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-craig-smith/i-started-doing-standup-when-i-was-in-college-and-i-would-incorporate/) [Roger Craig Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-craig-smith/) > [I enjoy writing the same way I enjoy doing standup. Part of the challenge is being creative and making it work no matter what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-fitzsimmons/i-enjoy-writing-the-same-way-i-enjoy-doing-standup-part-of-the/) [Greg Fitzsimmons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-fitzsimmons/) > [I love to work. I love doing standup.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-love-to-work-i-love-doing-standup/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [When I quit my internship and started doing standup to pursue my dreams and do that full time - I feel like that's when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-o-yang/when-i-quit-my-internship-and-started-doing-standup-to-pursue-my/) [Jimmy O. Yang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-o-yang/) > [I am happy doing standup so I don't ever want to stop doing it. But I wouldn't mind venturing off and doing other things…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-regan/i-am-happy-doing-standup-so-i-don-t-ever-want-to-stop-doing-it-but-i/) [Brian Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-regan/) > [The experience of watching other standups is either: 1) you see your mate doing standup and it's really bad and you're heartbroken, or 2)…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/romesh-ranganathan/the-experience-of-watching-other-standups-is-either-1-you-see-your/) [Romesh Ranganathan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/romesh-ranganathan/) ## More by Jo Koy > [I was a kid, and I would watch standup comics do the 'Tonight Show,' and if Johnny Carson liked you, he'd wave you over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-was-a-kid-and-i-would-watch-standup-comics-do-the-tonight-show-and/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [It's so crazy: my mom and dad divorced when I was 11, and my fondest memories are in the Philippines and being raised by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/it-s-so-crazy-my-mom-and-dad-divorced-when-i-was-11-and-my-fondest/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [I always wanted to let people know I was Filipino, but I didn't want to go up on stage and make it so you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-always-wanted-to-let-people-know-i-was-filipino-but-i-didn-t-want/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Everything I put on stage is real; that's what my life is. My emotions - I wear them on my sleeve. I'm definitely putting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/everything-i-put-on-stage-is-real-that-s-what-my-life-is-my-emotions/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Just keep following your damn dreams, it just costs a lot of damn money. I'm broke, but I have a dream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/just-keep-following-your-damn-dreams-it-just-costs-a-lot-of-damn/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Whether it was a shoe store or working the front desk of a hotel, I was always interacting with people. I'd get that look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/whether-it-was-a-shoe-store-or-working-the-front-desk-of-a-hotel-i/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [I get the worst compliments all the time. 'Oh you're Asian? I love orange chicken.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-get-the-worst-compliments-all-the-time-oh-you-re-asian-i-love/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [You could have a room full of the best comedians in the world and, for some reason, Chris Farley would take the cake. He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/you-could-have-a-room-full-of-the-best-comedians-in-the-world-and-for/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [For every stand-up comedian, Just for Laughs is our Super Bowl. Every comic in the world goes to Just for Laughs in Montreal. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/for-every-stand-up-comedian-just-for-laughs-is-our-super-bowl-every/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [If I find something funny or something that kind of cracks me up, I'll get up on stage. I don't care what situation I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/if-i-find-something-funny-or-something-that-kind-of-cracks-me-up-i-ll/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Right around 11 or 12, when I saw Eddie Murphy's standup special 'Delirious,' and I taped it on a VHS tape - I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/right-around-11-or-12-when-i-saw-eddie-murphy-s-standup-special/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [I do know one thing: you Midwesterners are laughers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-do-know-one-thing-you-midwesterners-are-laughers/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Whenever I talk about my culture, I want to shine a light on it. Even though I'm having fun, I want to make sure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/whenever-i-talk-about-my-culture-i-want-to-shine-a-light-on-it-even/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [Tacoma is actually my hometown, but if you live within 40 minutes of Seattle, you say Seattle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/tacoma-is-actually-my-hometown-but-if-you-live-within-40-minutes-of/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) > [I get involved in the political, but I don't bring it to the stage because that's not my style.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jo-koy/i-get-involved-in-the-political-but-i-don-t-bring-it-to-the-stage/) [Jo Koy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) [Explore all 60 Jo Koy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jo-koy/) ## More Being quotes > [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/) > [Philosopher is a dictator who modifies accepted standards with his thoughts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ilkin-santak/philosopher-is-a-dictator-who-modifies-accepted-standards-with-his/) [Ilkin Santak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ilkin-santak/) > [There is something magical about being able to feel somebody. And that is something that has always moved me with music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-brink/there-is-something-magical-about-being-able-to-feel-somebody-and-that/) [Maria Brink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-brink/) > [I love being in Malibu. It's so cool there, and the water is just, it's nice and, and I love the beach. And I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-evancho/i-love-being-in-malibu-it-s-so-cool-there-and-the-water-is-just-it-s/) [Jackie Evancho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-evancho/) > [I talk to my mates about our kids, being too tired and being worn out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-willoughby/i-talk-to-my-mates-about-our-kids-being-too-tired-and-being-worn-out/) [Holly Willoughby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-willoughby/) > [I love to fish. I love the peacefulness of being around the water.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evonne-goolagong-cawley/i-love-to-fish-i-love-the-peacefulness-of-being-around-the-water/) [Evonne Goolagong Cawley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evonne-goolagong-cawley/) > [When you're in your twenties and starting out, the problem is that you care about being cool. Being older, I can care less about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-righton/when-you-re-in-your-twenties-and-starting-out-the-problem-is-that-you/) [James Righton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-righton/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [Being a new mother is a blessing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phaedra-parks/being-a-new-mother-is-a-blessing/) [Phaedra Parks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phaedra-parks/) > [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/) > [If we accept being talked to any kind of a way, then we are telling ourselves we are not quite worth the best. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/if-we-accept-being-talked-to-any-kind-of-a-way-then-we-are-telling/) [Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/) > [Having small children and being an investigative reporter would seem like a difficult mix, but it worked well for me. I was often working…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-abramson/having-small-children-and-being-an-investigative-reporter-would-seem/) [Jill Abramson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-abramson/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [America, you're sending girls a mixed message. On one hand, you're saying to have positive body image and love who we are; on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adora-svitak/america-you-re-sending-girls-a-mixed-message-on-one-hand-you-re/) [Adora Svitak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adora-svitak/) > [We should not live in fear, we should all enjoy being able to express our views freely and openly, challenge each other on issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tan-cheng-bock/we-should-not-live-in-fear-we-should-all-enjoy-being-able-to-express/) [Tan Cheng Bock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tan-cheng-bock/) [Browse all 18,139 Being quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/being/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was working at Nordstrom Rack, Borders Books, and I was cleaning yachts on the weekends for private parties and being a busboy. I had to break down the tables and roll the forks up in napkins. 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