---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If it was really successful, it was a…"
description: "\"If it was really successful, it was a life calling, a career I was excited about doing, so I didn't think the overall risk was anywhere near as high as..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg"
---

#  If it was really successful, it was a life calling, a…

![“If it was really successful, it was a life calling, a career I was excited about doing, so I didn't think the overall risk was anywhere near as high as what the reward was.” quote by John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg)

> “If it was really successful, it was a life calling, a career I was excited about doing, so I didn't think the overall risk was anywhere near as high as what the reward was.”

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Success feels like a calling, making risk seem lower than reward.

**In simple terms:** Success feels like a calling, lowering perceived risk.

Key Takeaway

Recognize passion to reframe risk.

Themes

career success risk perception

Mood

optimistic reflective

Type

motivational advice

When to use this quote

- career decisions
- investment choices
- entrepreneurship

Key Concepts

motivation cognitive bias

Questions to Reflect On

- How does passion influence your risk assessment?
- When might optimism blind you to real dangers?

A Different Perspective

Risk perception can be distorted by enthusiasm.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-excited-5685232/) [Excited](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excited/) [High](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high/) [High Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/high-reward-279206/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Really Successful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/really-successful-809847/) [Reward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reward/) [Risk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk/) [Risk Near](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/risk-near-5685233/) [Successful life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/successful-life/)

## Related quotes

> [To have all of these jumps in my arsenal is very beneficial. I can always alter my program so I can either play it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nathan-chen/to-have-all-of-these-jumps-in-my-arsenal-is-very-beneficial-i-can/)

[Nathan Chen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nathan-chen/)

> [Being an entrepreneur is not for the faint of heart. It is a high-risk, high-reward proposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-c-bogle/being-an-entrepreneur-is-not-for-the-faint-of-heart-it-is-a-high-risk/)

[John C. Bogle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-c-bogle/)

> [“You are only free when you realize you belong no place - you belong every place - no place at all. The price is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-are-only-free-when-you-realize-you-belong-no-place-you-belong/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [If the risk is high, the reward is high... Why not roll the dice?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tyron-woodley/if-the-risk-is-high-the-reward-is-high-why-not-roll-the-dice/)

[Tyron Woodley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tyron-woodley/)

> [For good or for bad, I'm a risk taker. I like high-stakes, high-reward type situations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-avenatti/for-good-or-for-bad-i-m-a-risk-taker-i-like-high-stakes-high-reward/)

[Michael Avenatti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-avenatti/)

> [That's why guys in MMA call each other out most of the time. High reward and low risk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barnett/that-s-why-guys-in-mma-call-each-other-out-most-of-the-time-high/)

[Josh Barnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barnett/)

> [You only are free when you realize you belong no place - you belong every place - no place at all. The price is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maya-angelou/you-only-are-free-when-you-realize-you-belong-no-place-you-belong-2/)

[Maya Angelou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maya-angelou/)

> [I wanted to become good at golf because I saw a lot of really successful people being good at it - and I planned…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hellmuth/i-wanted-to-become-good-at-golf-because-i-saw-a-lot-of-really/)

[Phil Hellmuth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-hellmuth/)

> [I've worked with the company - James Dean Events - on several occasions and their festivals have always been really successful and well run.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chesney-hawkes/i-ve-worked-with-the-company-james-dean-events-on-several-occasions/)

[Chesney Hawkes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chesney-hawkes/)

> [I wrote a graphic novel that came out in 2011 called 'Everlast.' We had a really successful run with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chad-michael-murray/i-wrote-a-graphic-novel-that-came-out-in-2011-called-everlast-we-had/)

[Chad Michael Murray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chad-michael-murray/)

> [People have not really noticed community colleges, but they are where students really become successful.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/people-have-not-really-noticed-community-colleges-but-they-are-where/)

[Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/)

> [When I first read about Superstore,' I just knew that it would be a really successful show.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/when-i-first-read-about-superstore-i-just-knew-that-it-would-be-a/)

[Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/)

> [The one that achieved the greatest amount of success is the Eagles. And because it was really successful, it was a lot more fun.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-walsh/the-one-that-achieved-the-greatest-amount-of-success-is-the-eagles/)

[Joe Walsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-walsh/)

> [Before it happened to me, I'd look at other people who had become really successful and think, 'What a dream. That must be absolutely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/passenger/before-it-happened-to-me-i-d-look-at-other-people-who-had-become/)

[Passenger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/passenger/)

> [Think of all the really successful men and women you know. Do you know a single one who didn't learn very young the trick…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/storm-jameson/think-of-all-the-really-successful-men-and-women-you-know-do-you-know/)

[Storm Jameson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/storm-jameson/)

## More by John Hickenlooper

> [Especially during the first nine months, there was so much going on with trying to hire 55 people to run the city, it was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/especially-during-the-first-nine-months-there-was-so-much-going-on/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [There's nothing wrong with the Democratic Party that talks more about - and more loudly about - jobs, and cutting red tape, and bureaucracy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/there-s-nothing-wrong-with-the-democratic-party-that-talks-more-about/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [One's ability to enter into thousands of lawsuits as a tool for success, or to use bankruptcy to avoid paying your former employees and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/one-s-ability-to-enter-into-thousands-of-lawsuits-as-a-tool-for/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [I could easily say that, for quite a long time before I became mayor, I had obeyed all laws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/i-could-easily-say-that-for-quite-a-long-time-before-i-became-mayor-i/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [We have tax revenue that's going to allow us to look in a much more comprehensive way at intervening in addiction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/we-have-tax-revenue-that-s-going-to-allow-us-to-look-in-a-much-more/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [Some day, someone will do something wrong and there will be a scandal to report in the paper. When that happens, we will address…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/some-day-someone-will-do-something-wrong-and-there-will-be-a-scandal/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [Wellington Webb was one of the most significant mayors of the latter half of the 20th century. His natural political instincts are almost unrivaled.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/wellington-webb-was-one-of-the-most-significant-mayors-of-the-latter/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [On Mother's Day, we take a moment to stop and honor our mothers for all they do. It has been my privilege to know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/on-mother-s-day-we-take-a-moment-to-stop-and-honor-our-mothers-for/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [We don't want the federal government coming in and telling us how to do our environmental remediation or how we're going to do our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/we-don-t-want-the-federal-government-coming-in-and-telling-us-how-to/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [I think a couple things, I mean, you know, the tragic death of Matthew Shepard occurred in Wyoming. Colorado and Wyoming are very similar.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/i-think-a-couple-things-i-mean-you-know-the-tragic-death-of-matthew/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [The Affordable Care Act was passed in large part because of recognition that our nation's health care system is not working. The act is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/the-affordable-care-act-was-passed-in-large-part-because-of/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [We need a comprehensive focus on infrastructure that supports not just transportation but also broadband, education, healthcare, and our environment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/we-need-a-comprehensive-focus-on-infrastructure-that-supports-not/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [People don't realize that almost two-thirds of the population in the United States lives in a state where either medical or recreational marijuana are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/people-don-t-realize-that-almost-two-thirds-of-the-population-in-the/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [I started out here in Colorado as a geologist. During a downturn, everyone in our company got laid off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/i-started-out-here-in-colorado-as-a-geologist-during-a-downturn/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

> [This is a generous country that realizes people want to work hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/this-is-a-generous-country-that-realizes-people-want-to-work-hard/)

[John Hickenlooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

[Explore all 168 John Hickenlooper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/)

## More Career quotes

> [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/)

[Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/)

> [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/)

[Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/)

> [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/)

> [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/)

[Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/)

> [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/)

[Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/)

> [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/)

[Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/)

> [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/)

[Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/)

> [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/)

[Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/)

> [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/)

[Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/)

> [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/)

[John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/)

> [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/)

[Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/)

> [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/)

[Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/)

> [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/)

[Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/)

> [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/)

[Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/)

[Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If it was really successful, it was a life calling, a career I was excited about doing, so I didn't think the overall risk was anywhere near as high as what the reward was.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "John Hickenlooper"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-life-calling-a-career-i-was/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Career"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-life-calling-a-career-i-was/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fc4/john-hickenlooper-2400_career_if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-lif_1531817.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If it was really successful, it was a life calling, a career I was excited about doing, so I didn't think…” — John Hickenlooper",
                "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": "John Hickenlooper",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hickenlooper/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If it was really successful, it...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-life-calling-a-career-i-was/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hickenlooper/if-it-was-really-successful-it-was-a-life-calling-a-career-i-was/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
