--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Well, really the way worked was that I…" description: "\"Well, really the way worked was that I had probably built fifty robots before Mystery Science Theater, and I had sold them in a store in Minneapolis in..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg" --- # Well, really the way worked was that I had probably built… ![“Well, really the way worked was that I had probably built fifty robots before Mystery Science Theater, and I had sold them in a store in Minneapolis in a store called Props, which was kind of a high end gift shop.” quote by Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg) > “Well, really the way worked was that I had probably built fifty robots before Mystery Science Theater, and I had sold them in a store in Minneapolis in a store called Props, which was kind of a high end gift shop.” [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Building many robots before a TV show demonstrates entrepreneurial spirit and creative reuse of skills. **In simple terms:** Creating and selling robots showed early innovation. Key Takeaway Leverage past projects for new opportunities. Themes creativity entrepreneurship innovation Mood inspired curious Type anecdotal motivational When to use this quote - craft fairs - online marketplaces - tech workshops - consulting Key Concepts robotics DIY career pivots Questions to Reflect On - What niche can you target? - How to scale hobby projects? A Different Perspective Market demand may be niche. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Gift](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gift/) [Mystery](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mystery/) [Robotics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robotics/) [Robots](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/robots/) [Science](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/science/) [Theater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theater/) ## Related quotes > [A lot of the shows that really become hit shows are often demonstrated, like Mystery Science Theater.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/a-lot-of-the-shows-that-really-become-hit-shows-are-often/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Mystery Science Theater is really a postmodern show, it's really derived of many influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/mystery-science-theater-is-really-a-postmodern-show-it-s-really/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Those who delight in bad movies and enjoy producing their own unfilmed versions of Mystery Science Theater 3000 may gain a measure of semi-masochistic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-berardinelli/those-who-delight-in-bad-movies-and-enjoy-producing-their-own/) [James Berardinelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-berardinelli/) > [I grew up on a very specific diet of certain weird movies. Of course, being black, there are more black movies in there. I'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-vaughn/i-grew-up-on-a-very-specific-diet-of-certain-weird-movies-of-course/) [Baron Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-vaughn/) > [I was in the middle of filming Season 3 of 'Grace and Frankie.' Then the writing process for 'Mystery Science Theater 3000' was happening…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-vaughn/i-was-in-the-middle-of-filming-season-3-of-grace-and-frankie-then-the/) [Baron Vaughn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-vaughn/) > [“The Carpenter Shop”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-berry/the-carpenter-shop/) [Wendell Berry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-berry/) > [I absolutely love to shop!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eva-marcille/i-absolutely-love-to-shop/) [Eva Marcille](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eva-marcille/) > [People laughed at me for setting up a surf shop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hobart-alter/people-laughed-at-me-for-setting-up-a-surf-shop/) [Hobart Alter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hobart-alter/) > [If you go into a bank or a shop and you want them to believe that you're going to shoot them, that's an acting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-mullan/if-you-go-into-a-bank-or-a-shop-and-you-want-them-to-believe-that-you/) [Peter Mullan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-mullan/) > [Even when I lost my job at CBS News, I set up shop in my youngest daughter's bedroom and started Brainstormin' Productions and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-storm/even-when-i-lost-my-job-at-cbs-news-i-set-up-shop-in-my-youngest/) [Hannah Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-storm/) > [As a kid, I would always shop for my back-to-school clothes at department stores. I lived in a small town, and department stores were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/britt-robertson/as-a-kid-i-would-always-shop-for-my-back-to-school-clothes-at/) [Britt Robertson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/britt-robertson/) > [Visiting any shop for the first time is exciting. There's always that buzz as you push open the door; that hope; that belief -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophie-kinsella/visiting-any-shop-for-the-first-time-is-exciting-there-s-always-that/) [Sophie Kinsella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophie-kinsella/) > [I remember World War II when there were very few books, very little paper available. For me to walk into a shop or look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doris-lessing/i-remember-world-war-ii-when-there-were-very-few-books-very-little/) [Doris Lessing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doris-lessing/) > [To the millions of Americans whove attempted to use HealthCare.gov to shop and enroll in health-care coverage, I want to apologize to you that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-tavenner/to-the-millions-of-americans-whove-attempted-to-use-healthcare-gov-to/) Marilyn Tavenner > [Keep your shop, and your shop will keep you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-turner/keep-your-shop-and-your-shop-will-keep-you/) William Turner ## More by Joel Hodgson > [Well, we had more money and more time the first season than we did at TV 23.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/well-we-had-more-money-and-more-time-the-first-season-than-we-did-at/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [When we did the pilot, I sort of pictured this guy pirating a signal and then this story unfolding of him building this satellite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/when-we-did-the-pilot-i-sort-of-pictured-this-guy-pirating-a-signal/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Mystery Science Theater is really a postmodern show, it's really derived of many influences.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/mystery-science-theater-is-really-a-postmodern-show-it-s-really/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [The first twenty shows at TV 23 were really a workshop.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/the-first-twenty-shows-at-tv-23-were-really-a-workshop/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Then a friend of Jim's suggested we make a theme song to explain the story, and this is where the Mads came from. Josh…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/then-a-friend-of-jim-s-suggested-we-make-a-theme-song-to-explain-the/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [The internet is a total inversion of television. It's the opposite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/the-internet-is-a-total-inversion-of-television-it-s-the-opposite/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Gypsy was the name my brother gave a pet turtle he had. I always thought it was so peculiar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/gypsy-was-the-name-my-brother-gave-a-pet-turtle-he-had-i-always/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [But if you think you aren't creative that's cool, too. I think being around people who aren't creative is kind of refreshing and nice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/but-if-you-think-you-aren-t-creative-that-s-cool-too-i-think-being/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [If you notice any of the press from when I was with the show, I would always deny it being the year 3000.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/if-you-notice-any-of-the-press-from-when-i-was-with-the-show-i-would/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [The name Crow was inspired by a number of things. I thought it would be cool to have a robot with sort of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/the-name-crow-was-inspired-by-a-number-of-things-i-thought-it-would/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [So the actual riffing came out of us just sitting there and doing it the way I think some people think we really did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/so-the-actual-riffing-came-out-of-us-just-sitting-there-and-doing-it/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Beanie and Cecil was the first cartoon I remember watching and I think there are analogies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/beanie-and-cecil-was-the-first-cartoon-i-remember-watching-and-i/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Sometimes I go into my own little world. It's okay, they know me there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/sometimes-i-go-into-my-own-little-world-it-s-okay-they-know-me-there/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [Besides, it doesn't make any sense to have these characters living in the year 3000 when all their points of reference are from the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/besides-it-doesn-t-make-any-sense-to-have-these-characters-living-in/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) > [A lot of times when I sit down with the other comics and try to talk theory, they say I'm being too serious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/a-lot-of-times-when-i-sit-down-with-the-other-comics-and-try-to-talk/) [Joel Hodgson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) [Explore all 23 Joel Hodgson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/) ## More Before quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I want to make myself and the crowd happy by way of something different, and that makes things difficult. I'm never playing something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tiesto/i-want-to-make-myself-and-the-crowd-happy-by-way-of-something/) [Tiesto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tiesto/) > [My writing routine is: get son off to school and sit down at 8 A.M. I read what I wrote the day before, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-chevalier/my-writing-routine-is-get-son-off-to-school-and-sit-down-at-8-a-m-i/) [Tracy Chevalier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-chevalier/) > [There aren't traditions of freedom in a place like Iraq. They're going to have to come to grips with a concept that they hadn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malcolm-wallop/there-aren-t-traditions-of-freedom-in-a-place-like-iraq-they-re-going/) [Malcolm Wallop](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malcolm-wallop/) > [I don't like just traveling in for a short time. I've done that before, because sometimes you work for magazines and they have a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-sacco/i-don-t-like-just-traveling-in-for-a-short-time-i-ve-done-that-before/) [Joe Sacco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-sacco/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [My first company, Pure Software, was exciting and innovative in the first few years and bureaucratic and painful in the last few before it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reed-hastings/my-first-company-pure-software-was-exciting-and-innovative-in-the/) [Reed Hastings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reed-hastings/) > [For the Russian masses, the proletarians, knew for certain, and already saw during the war, and in part before their very eyes, that the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-gorter/for-the-russian-masses-the-proletarians-knew-for-certain-and-already/) [Herman Gorter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-gorter/) > [The Constitution is very clear on the - on the declaration of war or reacting to international crimes - crimes against nations. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-pitts/the-constitution-is-very-clear-on-the-on-the-declaration-of-war-or/) Joe Pitts > [I've been told before, and I tend to believe it, I'm not like most actresses out there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moira-kelly/i-ve-been-told-before-and-i-tend-to-believe-it-i-m-not-like-most/) [Moira Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moira-kelly/) > [Before I got addicted to comedy, I was seriously thinking about playing tennis full time. I joined the tennis team and played with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrot-top/before-i-got-addicted-to-comedy-i-was-seriously-thinking-about/) [Carrot Top](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrot-top/) > [But even before I was in the military, I was extremely jumpy when asleep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kyle/but-even-before-i-was-in-the-military-i-was-extremely-jumpy-when/) [Chris Kyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-kyle/) > [When I'm making stuff, the thing that excites me most is not the result, but the process and trying to do something I've never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/spike-jonze/when-i-m-making-stuff-the-thing-that-excites-me-most-is-not-the/) [Spike Jonze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/spike-jonze/) > [I've pulled ticks off of me before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-miller/i-ve-pulled-ticks-off-of-me-before/) [Jim Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-miller/) > [You know, before I would think, my cab driver hates me. Now I think my limo driver hates me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-romano/you-know-before-i-would-think-my-cab-driver-hates-me-now-i-think-my/) [Ray Romano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-romano/) Browse all 4,123 Before quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Well, really the way worked was that I had probably built fifty robots before Mystery Science Theater, and I had sold them in a store in Minneapolis in a store called Props, which was kind of a high end gift shop.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Joel Hodgson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-had-probably-built-fifty-robots/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Before" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-had-probably-built-fifty-robots/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3aa/joel-hodgson-25001_before_well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-ha_1464646.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Well, really the way worked was that I had probably built fifty robots before Mystery Science Theater, and I…” — Joel Hodgson", "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": "Joel Hodgson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-hodgson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Well, really the way worked was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-had-probably-built-fifty-robots/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-hodgson/well-really-the-way-worked-was-that-i-had-probably-built-fifty-robots/#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 } } ] } ```