--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish…" description: "\"Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish I will have had a fantastic career. But you do sit there sometimes and think, 'could I have gone higher? Could..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/jonjo-shelvey-17529_career_don-t-get-me-wrong-by-the-time-i-finish_1997794.jpg" --- # Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish I will have had a… ![“Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish I will have had a fantastic career. But you do sit there sometimes and think, 'could I have gone higher? Could I have been playing in the Champions League?'” quote by Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/jonjo-shelvey-17529_career_don-t-get-me-wrong-by-the-time-i-finish_1997794.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/jonjo-shelvey-17529_career_don-t-get-me-wrong-by-the-time-i-finish_1997794.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98f/jonjo-shelvey-17529_career_don-t-get-me-wrong-by-the-time-i-finish_1997794.jpg) > “Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish I will have had a fantastic career. But you do sit there sometimes and think, 'could I have gone higher? Could I have been playing in the Champions League?'” [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Ambition can coexist with contentment, yet doubts about missed opportunities linger. **In simple terms:** You can be happy but still wonder about higher goals. Key Takeaway Balance ambition with gratitude. Themes ambition career reflection regret Mood reflective motivational Type personal inspirational When to use this quote - post‑career planning - mentorship - personal development Key Concepts sports psychology goal setting self‑assessment Questions to Reflect On - Do you value current achievements over imagined ones? - How can athletes manage post‑career identity? A Different Perspective Focusing on past “what‑ifs” can cause dissatisfaction. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Football](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/football/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [Even if I don't reach all my goals, I've gone higher than I would have if I hadn't set any.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danielle-fotopoulos/even-if-i-don-t-reach-all-my-goals-i-ve-gone-higher-than-i-would-have/) Danielle Fotopoulos > [I have had a fantastic career with United, and I owe it to the club, players, and fans to do everything I can to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schmeichel/i-have-had-a-fantastic-career-with-united-and-i-owe-it-to-the-club/) [Peter Schmeichel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schmeichel/) > [It's been marvellous. I've had a fantastic career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-taylor/it-s-been-marvellous-i-ve-had-a-fantastic-career/) [Phil Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-taylor/) > [I've had a fantastic career. I can sleep at night, and I'm happy with that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashlyn-harris/i-ve-had-a-fantastic-career-i-can-sleep-at-night-and-i-m-happy-with/) [Ashlyn Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashlyn-harris/) > [I've had a blessed, blessed, fantastic career. I have no regrets whatsoever in my career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-ve-had-a-blessed-blessed-fantastic-career-i-have-no-regrets/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [I've had a fantastic career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-bellew/i-ve-had-a-fantastic-career/) [Tony Bellew](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-bellew/) > [I had a fantastic career at Chelsea. I was here for almost nine years, and it was great. I have nothing negative to say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-essien/i-had-a-fantastic-career-at-chelsea-i-was-here-for-almost-nine-years/) [Michael Essien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-essien/) > [I had a fantastic career. I loved being a professional athlete.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becky-hammon/i-had-a-fantastic-career-i-loved-being-a-professional-athlete/) [Becky Hammon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becky-hammon/) > [I had a fantastic career at Manchester United.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-phelan/i-had-a-fantastic-career-at-manchester-united/) [Mike Phelan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-phelan/) > [I'm incredibly ambitious, but I feel I've got a fantastic career, and I love the anonymity. I love that no one knows who I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/essie-davis/i-m-incredibly-ambitious-but-i-feel-i-ve-got-a-fantastic-career-and-i/) [Essie Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/essie-davis/) > [Even when I was at the top, playing in the Champions League final for Liverpool and playing at the World Cup for England, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-crouch/even-when-i-was-at-the-top-playing-in-the-champions-league-final-for/) [Peter Crouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-crouch/) > [On a serious note, I've been used to playing in the Champions League for my whole career, more or less.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthijs-de-ligt/on-a-serious-note-i-ve-been-used-to-playing-in-the-champions-league/) [Matthijs de Ligt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthijs-de-ligt/) > [Playing Champions League is always different. It is the competition that everyone wants to play.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joao-felix/playing-champions-league-is-always-different-it-is-the-competition/) [Joao Felix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joao-felix/) > [You know when you have a manager that is always successful, is always in the title race and always playing in the Champions League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diego-costa/you-know-when-you-have-a-manager-that-is-always-successful-is-always/) [Diego Costa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diego-costa/) > [I think just playing in the Champions League is a big motivation. When you hear the hymn or the song of the Champions League,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willy-caballero/i-think-just-playing-in-the-champions-league-is-a-big-motivation-when/) [Willy Caballero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willy-caballero/) ## More by Jonjo Shelvey > [If I'm not playing well, or I'm trying things and they're not coming off, the one thing I will always do is work hard.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/if-i-m-not-playing-well-or-i-m-trying-things-and-they-re-not-coming/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I was at Arsenal but I didn't like the manager of the under-10s at the time so I went to West Ham where my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-was-at-arsenal-but-i-didn-t-like-the-manager-of-the-under-10s-at/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I welcome the responsibility of being a key player. I want to put on a show every week. I want to be a leader.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-welcome-the-responsibility-of-being-a-key-player-i-want-to-put-on-a/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I'd gone very quickly from playing in a park with my mates to sitting next to Wayne Rooney at dinner. It was a bit…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-d-gone-very-quickly-from-playing-in-a-park-with-my-mates-to-sitting/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I had a year out playing local football before I went to Charlton at 12. West Ham was the club I supported so it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-had-a-year-out-playing-local-football-before-i-went-to-charlton-at/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I couldn't care less what people have got to say as long as I have the backing from the people that matter - the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-couldn-t-care-less-what-people-have-got-to-say-as-long-as-i-have/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [It doesn't matter who you play against in midfield, you need to try to come out on top and more often than not when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/it-doesn-t-matter-who-you-play-against-in-midfield-you-need-to-try-to/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [My dad brought me up to respect people but if you have your opinion and feel you're in the right, not to be afraid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/my-dad-brought-me-up-to-respect-people-but-if-you-have-your-opinion/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [When you die, I think you re-live your life in a different dimension, in a different world but I don't believe in aliens.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/when-you-die-i-think-you-re-live-your-life-in-a-different-dimension/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I understand football's changing and I'm evolving with it but stats are stats. You can run 15km if you like but I'm a footballer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-understand-football-s-changing-and-i-m-evolving-with-it-but-stats/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [When I was eight or nine, we had a goal in the back yard of our council flat. We used to flip it over…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/when-i-was-eight-or-nine-we-had-a-goal-in-the-back-yard-of-our/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [The way I see it is, the better you play, the more money you're going to earn. It's like working in a car garage,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/the-way-i-see-it-is-the-better-you-play-the-more-money-you-re-going/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [It's a business and it's a short career. You need to get in, earn as much money as possible. Get out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/it-s-a-business-and-it-s-a-short-career-you-need-to-get-in-earn-as/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [When you're playing once and then not playing for six games, I don't care what any footballer says, you don't feel involved. You don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/when-you-re-playing-once-and-then-not-playing-for-six-games-i-don-t/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) > [I want to be competitive but I need to smooth some of the edges or I will be the one who suffers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonjo-shelvey/i-want-to-be-competitive-but-i-need-to-smooth-some-of-the-edges-or-i/) [Jonjo Shelvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) [Explore all 37 Jonjo Shelvey quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonjo-shelvey/) ## 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 > [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": "Don't get me wrong, by the time I finish I will have had a fantastic career. But you do sit there sometimes and think, 'could I have gone higher? 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