--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: While in my late teens and in my 20s, I…" description: "\"While in my late teens and in my 20s, I worked seven days a week, 20 hours a day. I worked my tail off.\" — John Catsimatidis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-catsimatidis-11421_day_while-in-my-late-teens-and-in-my-20s-i-w_1229027.jpg" --- # While in my late teens and in my 20s, I worked seven days… ![“While in my late teens and in my 20s, I worked seven days a week, 20 hours a day. I worked my tail off.” quote by John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-catsimatidis-11421_day_while-in-my-late-teens-and-in-my-20s-i-w_1229027.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-catsimatidis-11421_day_while-in-my-late-teens-and-in-my-20s-i-w_1229027.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e82/john-catsimatidis-11421_day_while-in-my-late-teens-and-in-my-20s-i-w_1229027.jpg) > “While in my late teens and in my 20s, I worked seven days a week, 20 hours a day. I worked my tail off.” [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) ## 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 and long hours in youth can build experience but risk burnout and neglect of life balance. **In simple terms:** Working nonstop builds skill but harms health. Key Takeaway Balance effort with rest. Themes hard work burnout career development Mood determined reflective Type advice personal development When to use this quote - early career - entrepreneurship - skill acquisition Key Concepts time management sustainable productivity Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure productive effort versus harmful overwork? - What boundaries protect your well‑being? A Different Perspective Excessive work can lead to health issues and missed personal growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Seven days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seven-days/) [Teens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/teens/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [I've never worked with a tail, that I can remember. 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I have a much more balanced life now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/in-my-20s-i-worked-very-very-hard-i-have-a-much-more-balanced-life-now/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [In my 20s I worked out like a machine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christina-anstead/in-my-20s-i-worked-out-like-a-machine/) [Christina Anstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christina-anstead/) > [The first day I worked with Brian Johnston was very daunting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-agnew/the-first-day-i-worked-with-brian-johnston-was-very-daunting/) [Jonathan Agnew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-agnew/) > [“If my husband tells me one more time that he needs to rest because he “worked all day,” I will throw all of his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-medina/if-my-husband-tells-me-one-more-time-that-he-needs-to-rest-because-he/) [John Medina](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-medina/) > [My mom would get up every day at 4 A.M. and worked two jobs. I always felt I was the poorest kid on the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jorge-masvidal/my-mom-would-get-up-every-day-at-4-a-m-and-worked-two-jobs-i-always/) [Jorge Masvidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jorge-masvidal/) > [I do try to live every day as if it were my last, and it has worked for me so far.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maeve-binchy/i-do-try-to-live-every-day-as-if-it-were-my-last-and-it-has-worked/) [Maeve Binchy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maeve-binchy/) > [I worked seven years in territories in Japan and Puerto Rico and worked my way up to the main events on those cards, then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-jarrett/i-worked-seven-years-in-territories-in-japan-and-puerto-rico-and/) [Jeff Jarrett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-jarrett/) > [My father worked three jobs, my mother worked two, seven days a week sometimes. 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I worked mornings and afternoons, resuming…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/antonella-gambotto-burke/for-years-i-worked-seven-day-weeks-through-birthdays-and-most-public/) [Antonella Gambotto-Burke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/antonella-gambotto-burke/) > [Then I left school at 16 and worked in Perth Repertory Theatre, which was quite nearby where I lived. And I worked there for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewan-mcgregor/then-i-left-school-at-16-and-worked-in-perth-repertory-theatre-which/) [Ewan McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewan-mcgregor/) > [If small businesspeople say they made it on their own, all they are saying is that nobody else worked seven days a week in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-ryan/if-small-businesspeople-say-they-made-it-on-their-own-all-they-are/) [Paul Ryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-ryan/) ## More by John Catsimatidis > [I was a Mitt Romney Republican because he was pro-business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-was-a-mitt-romney-republican-because-he-was-pro-business/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [Grocery stores can't afford to pay $80 a square foot. At that rate, we are going out of business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/grocery-stores-can-t-afford-to-pay-80-a-square-foot-at-that-rate-we/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [I'm not ashamed of being successful. You know, they criticized Romney for being ashamed of it. I think we've got to inspire our kids…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-m-not-ashamed-of-being-successful-you-know-they-criticized-romney/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [We are teaching kids to fail. We need to teach our kids to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/we-are-teaching-kids-to-fail-we-need-to-teach-our-kids-to-succeed/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [New York never felt the recession. New York never felt a depression.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/new-york-never-felt-the-recession-new-york-never-felt-a-depression/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [People tell me, 'You better lose weight if you want to run for mayor.' I said, 'I got the Chris Christie look.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/people-tell-me-you-better-lose-weight-if-you-want-to-run-for-mayor-i/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [I'm a Bill Clinton social Republican.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-m-a-bill-clinton-social-republican/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [You have to work at everything. You've got to make it work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/you-have-to-work-at-everything-you-ve-got-to-make-it-work/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [It seems everyone knows the value of a cantaloupe or a quart of milk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/it-seems-everyone-knows-the-value-of-a-cantaloupe-or-a-quart-of-milk/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [America always recovers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/america-always-recovers/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [I think the rich should pay more in taxes - I agree with that 100 percent - but everybody should feel the pain a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-think-the-rich-should-pay-more-in-taxes-i-agree-with-that-100/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [All my life, I've been winning, ok?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/all-my-life-i-ve-been-winning-ok/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [I have a love factor with the minorities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-have-a-love-factor-with-the-minorities/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [I was a Clinton Democrat for twenty years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/i-was-a-clinton-democrat-for-twenty-years/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) > [The media doesn't always reflect reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-catsimatidis/the-media-doesn-t-always-reflect-reality/) [John Catsimatidis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) [Explore all 60 John Catsimatidis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-catsimatidis/) ## More Day quotes > [On Sundays, that's my pig out day and I do the pizza and the beer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-silvstedt/on-sundays-that-s-my-pig-out-day-and-i-do-the-pizza-and-the-beer/) [Victoria Silvstedt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-silvstedt/) > [I don't drink much anymore, but when I traveled with Frank Sinatra, God rest his soul, I used to drink like I could do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-rickles/i-don-t-drink-much-anymore-but-when-i-traveled-with-frank-sinatra-god/) [Don Rickles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-rickles/) > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [I had developed a relationship with one of the anti-abortion sidewalk counselors who stood in front of my facility. We talked regularly through the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abby-johnson/i-had-developed-a-relationship-with-one-of-the-anti-abortion-sidewalk/) [Abby Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abby-johnson/) > [I loved the game so much that even though our playing field was muddy and we had many trees on it, I used to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-clemente/i-loved-the-game-so-much-that-even-though-our-playing-field-was-muddy/) [Roberto Clemente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-clemente/) > [Television, radio, social media. The 24/7 news cycle plows forward mercilessly on our desks, in our cars and in our pockets. Thousands and thousands…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-prince/television-radio-social-media-the-24-7-news-cycle-plows-forward/) [Joseph Prince](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-prince/) > [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/) > [I want to make my music and be a happy woman, a good wife, a good mom and one day hopefully have a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leann-rimes/i-want-to-make-my-music-and-be-a-happy-woman-a-good-wife-a-good-mom/) [LeAnn Rimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leann-rimes/) > [Valentine's Day: Rubbing singles' noses in their lack of a mate and the noses of couples in their lack of time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mclaughlin/valentine-s-day-rubbing-singles-noses-in-their-lack-of-a-mate-and-the/) [Emma McLaughlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mclaughlin/) > [One day I woke up and Juventus wanted me, another Manchester United and what I know is that there were approaches made. But an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/raul-jimenez/one-day-i-woke-up-and-juventus-wanted-me-another-manchester-united/) [Raul Jimenez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/raul-jimenez/) > [I think naturally I've been kind of a lead-by-doing guy. Just showing up to work every day. You never ask teammates something you wouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrell-suggs/i-think-naturally-i-ve-been-kind-of-a-lead-by-doing-guy-just-showing/) [Terrell Suggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrell-suggs/) > [For 11 straight years, I woke up pretty much every single day with nothing to do unless I created something to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-rife/for-11-straight-years-i-woke-up-pretty-much-every-single-day-with/) [Matt Rife](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matt-rife/) > [I have tremendous admiration for companies with the kind of pioneering spirit and innovation eBay has demonstrated from day one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bonnie-hammer/i-have-tremendous-admiration-for-companies-with-the-kind-of/) [Bonnie Hammer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bonnie-hammer/) > [Being under-recruited coming out of Highland, I've carried that with me. 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