---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It doesn't matter if people are playing…"
description: "\"“It doesn't matter if people are playing jazz or writing poetry -- if they want to be successful, they need to learn how to persist and persevere, how ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/jonah-lehrer-9286_232_it-doesn-t-matter-if-people-are-playing_2075609.png"
---

#  It doesn't matter if people are playing jazz or writing…

![“It doesn't matter if people are playing jazz or writing poetry -- if they want to be successful, they need to learn how to persist and persevere, how to keep on working until the work is done. Woody Allen famously declared that &quot;eighty percent of success is showing up.&quot; NOCCA (New Orleans Center…” quote by Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/jonah-lehrer-9286_232_it-doesn-t-matter-if-people-are-playing_2075609.png)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/jonah-lehrer-9286_232_it-doesn-t-matter-if-people-are-playing_2075609.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/4cf/jonah-lehrer-9286_232_it-doesn-t-matter-if-people-are-playing_2075609.png)

> ““It doesn't matter if people are playing jazz or writing poetry -- if they want to be successful, they need to learn how to persist and persevere, how to keep on working until the work is done. Woody Allen famously declared that "eighty percent of success is showing up." NOCCA (New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts) teaches kids how to show up again and again.””

[Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/)

## About This Quote

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

Success requires consistent effort and perseverance, not just talent; showing up repeatedly is essential.

**In simple terms:** Keep showing up to succeed.

Key Takeaway

Persistently work toward goals.

Themes

persistence effort success learning discipline

Mood

motivational determined inspirational

Type

personal creative

When to use this quote

- learning an instrument
- writing poetry
- jazz improvisation
- academic projects

Key Concepts

growth mindset habit formation creative practice

Questions to Reflect On

- What habits help you keep showing up?
- How can you turn setbacks into motivation?

A Different Perspective

Talent alone is insufficient without sustained effort.

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[Art](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/art/) [Creativity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creativity/) [Grit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grit/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [New orleans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-orleans/) [Poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poetry/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) [Writing poetry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing-poetry/)

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