--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I was just excited to have challenging…" description: "\"I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.\" — Katherine Johnson" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg" --- # I was just excited to have challenging work to do and… ![“I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.” quote by Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg) > “I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.” [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Excitement arises from challenging work and intelligent colleagues. **In simple terms:** Challenging work and smart peers excite. Key Takeaway Seek challenging environments with talented people. Themes career excitement collaboration intellectual growth Mood optimistic inspirational Type career motivational When to use this quote - job selection - professional networking - skill development Key Concepts career development team dynamics motivation Questions to Reflect On - What challenges energize you? - How do you find inspiring colleagues? A Different Perspective Not all workplaces offer such conditions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Challenging work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging-work/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart/) [Smart people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smart-people/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work smart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-smart/) ## Related quotes > [I'm excited by challenging myself physically and mentally every day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-vancamp/i-m-excited-by-challenging-myself-physically-and-mentally-every-day/) [Emily VanCamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-vancamp/) > [I'm smart enough to know to work with smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/idina-menzel/i-m-smart-enough-to-know-to-work-with-smart-people/) [Idina Menzel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/idina-menzel/) > [I'm the CEO. My job is to get out of the way. I work with smart people and trust they can accomplish their goals.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-fairclough/i-m-the-ceo-my-job-is-to-get-out-of-the-way-i-work-with-smart-people/) [John Fairclough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-fairclough/) > [“Those who work hard, work alone. Those who work smart, work as a team.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/utibe-samuel-mbom/those-who-work-hard-work-alone-those-who-work-smart-work-as-a-team/) [Utibe Samuel Mbom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/utibe-samuel-mbom/) > [What an amazing opportunity to do something like direct a movie and step out of your creative comfort zone and yet do something that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/georgina-chapman/what-an-amazing-opportunity-to-do-something-like-direct-a-movie-and/) [Georgina Chapman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/georgina-chapman/) > [I can't tell you how proud I am of all the Total Divas and just how excited I am about how well the show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikki-bella/i-can-t-tell-you-how-proud-i-am-of-all-the-total-divas-and-just-how/) [Nikki Bella](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikki-bella/) > [I'm just excited that the fans are going to get their money's worth, and you can't say that a lot of the times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andre-ward/i-m-just-excited-that-the-fans-are-going-to-get-their-money-s-worth/) [Andre Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andre-ward/) > [I'm just excited to give the kids what they want, keep on turning the looks and slaying the day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aquaria/i-m-just-excited-to-give-the-kids-what-they-want-keep-on-turning-the/) [Aquaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aquaria/) > [I get just as excited about building a birdhouse as when providing strategic counsel to a client.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-l-peters/i-get-just-as-excited-about-building-a-birdhouse-as-when-providing/) Robert L. Peters > [When I came back to the UFC, I was just excited.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robbie-lawler/when-i-came-back-to-the-ufc-i-was-just-excited/) [Robbie Lawler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robbie-lawler/) > [ I'm just so excited. We all are. We've been waiting for this \[the gold medal\] for years now and it's finally here. This meant… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kobe-bryant/i-m-just-so-excited-we-all-are-we-ve-been-waiting-for-this-the-gold/) [Kobe Bryant](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kobe-bryant/) > [I liked working with smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-liked-working-with-smart-people/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [The point about sales is relevant because it suggests there are cultures out there that are supporting and consuming, on a vast scale, challenging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/the-point-about-sales-is-relevant-because-it-suggests-there-are/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [“When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-we-strike-a-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an-activity-and-our/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) ## More by Katherine Johnson > [Girls are capable of doing everything men are capable of doing. Sometimes they have more imagination than men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/girls-are-capable-of-doing-everything-men-are-capable-of-doing/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Take all the courses in your curriculum. Do the research. Ask questions. Find someone doing what you are interested in! Be curious!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/take-all-the-courses-in-your-curriculum-do-the-research-ask-questions/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [In math, you're either right or you're wrong.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/in-math-you-re-either-right-or-you-re-wrong/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I found what I was looking for at Langley. This was what a research mathematician did. I went to work every day for 33…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-found-what-i-was-looking-for-at-langley-this-was-what-a-research/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Men don't pay attention to small things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/men-don-t-pay-attention-to-small-things/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Like what you do, and then you will do your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/like-what-you-do-and-then-you-will-do-your-best/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I like to learn. That's an art and a science.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-like-to-learn-that-s-an-art-and-a-science/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [We will always have STEM with us. Some things will drop out of the public eye and will go away, but there will always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/we-will-always-have-stem-with-us-some-things-will-drop-out-of-the/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I counted everything. I counted the steps to the road, the steps up to church, the number of dishes and silverware I washed... anything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-counted-everything-i-counted-the-steps-to-the-road-the-steps-up-to/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I was excited at something new, always liked something new, but give credit to everybody who helped. I didn't do anything alone but try…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-excited-at-something-new-always-liked-something-new-but-give/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Everything was so new - the whole idea of going into space was new and daring. There were no textbooks, so we had to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/everything-was-so-new-the-whole-idea-of-going-into-space-was-new-and/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [Many professors tell you that you'd be good at this or that, but they don't always help you with that career path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/many-professors-tell-you-that-you-d-be-good-at-this-or-that-but-they/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I felt most proud on the success of the Apollo mission.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-felt-most-proud-on-the-success-of-the-apollo-mission/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [I liked working with smart people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-liked-working-with-smart-people/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) > [We needed to be assertive as women in those days - assertive and aggressive - and the degree to which we had to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/we-needed-to-be-assertive-as-women-in-those-days-assertive-and/) [Katherine Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) [Explore all 25 Katherine Johnson quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/) ## More Challenging work quotes > [“When we strike a balance between the challenge of an activity and our skill at performing it, when the rhythm of the work itself…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariel-gore/when-we-strike-a-balance-between-the-challenge-of-an-activity-and-our/) [Ariel Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariel-gore/) > [The work itself is the reward, and if I choose challenging work, it'll pay me back with interest. At least I'll be interested, even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/meryl-streep/the-work-itself-is-the-reward-and-if-i-choose-challenging-work-it-ll/) [Meryl Streep](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/meryl-streep/) > [The point about sales is relevant because it suggests there are cultures out there that are supporting and consuming, on a vast scale, challenging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-kitamura/the-point-about-sales-is-relevant-because-it-suggests-there-are/) [Katie Kitamura](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-kitamura/) > [I do admit to being challenging, but it's always for the work, it's never personal. I will walk out on a scene if it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/debra-winger/i-do-admit-to-being-challenging-but-it-s-always-for-the-work-it-s/) [Debra Winger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/debra-winger/) > [“Some of the most challenging work a suicide survivor can do is to pray. To pray fully, survivors must bring all of themselves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-ivan-smith/some-of-the-most-challenging-work-a-suicide-survivor-can-do-is-to/) Harold Ivan Smith > [Writing is challenging work because it's so easy to get consumed with how it's going, what's going to happen to it, who's going to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-dyer/writing-is-challenging-work-because-it-s-so-easy-to-get-consumed-with/) [Wayne Dyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wayne-dyer/) > [“These are what Herzberg’s research calls motivators. Motivation factors include challenging work, recognition, responsibility, and personal growth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clayton-m-christensen/these-are-what-herzberg-s-research-calls-motivators-motivation/) [Clayton M. Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clayton-m-christensen/) > [A fundamental but very challenging part of my work is moving white people from an individual understanding of racism - i.e. only some people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-diangelo/a-fundamental-but-very-challenging-part-of-my-work-is-moving-white/) [Robin DiAngelo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-diangelo/) > [Being a fan of authentic Dada, I find today's art - what I call 'Bankers' Dada' - mind-numbingly dull. The most challenging work I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-childish/being-a-fan-of-authentic-dada-i-find-today-s-art-what-i-call-bankers/) [Billy Childish](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-childish/) > [We are constituted so that simple acts of kindness, such as giving to charity or expressing gratitude, have a positive effect on our long-term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-bloom/we-are-constituted-so-that-simple-acts-of-kindness-such-as-giving-to/) [Paul Bloom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-bloom/) > [The simple idea that everyone needs a reasonable amount of challenging work in his or her life, and also a personal life, complete with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/judith-martin/the-simple-idea-that-everyone-needs-a-reasonable-amount-of/) [Judith Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/judith-martin/) > [“But moving from enabling the business to being the business is challenging work. It means changing governance models, organizational structures, delivery methodologies and hiring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-heller/but-moving-from-enabling-the-business-to-being-the-business-is/) [Martha Heller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-heller/) > [The most challenging work is producing. The physical act of getting a production up and running is extremely taxing, and you never have any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hayter/the-most-challenging-work-is-producing-the-physical-act-of-getting-a/) [David Hayter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hayter/) > [That's the kind of work I like to do: challenging work that has a message.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-victor-dixon/that-s-the-kind-of-work-i-like-to-do-challenging-work-that-has-a/) [Brandon Victor Dixon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-victor-dixon/) > [To become a hero is simple but to direct a film is far more challenging work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeetendra/to-become-a-hero-is-simple-but-to-direct-a-film-is-far-more/) [Jeetendra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeetendra/) [Browse all 33 Challenging work quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenging-work/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Katherine Johnson" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-work-to-do-and-smart-people-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Challenging work" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-work-to-do-and-smart-people-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d9e/katherine-johnson-23885_challenging-work_i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-w_1429079.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I was just excited to have challenging work to do and smart people to work with.” — Katherine Johnson", "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": "Katherine Johnson", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katherine-johnson/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I was just excited to have...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-work-to-do-and-smart-people-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katherine-johnson/i-was-just-excited-to-have-challenging-work-to-do-and-smart-people-to/#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 } } ] } ```