--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I made about fifty-four dollars a week…" description: "\"I made about fifty-four dollars a week and spent it on two flying lessons every week at the age of sixteen and was able to get a license then pretty ea..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/kevin-a-ford-28402_able_i-made-about-fifty-four-dollars-a-week-a_3211403.jpg" --- # I made about fifty-four dollars a week and spent it on two… ![“I made about fifty-four dollars a week and spent it on two flying lessons every week at the age of sixteen and was able to get a license then pretty early and knew that that's what I wanted to do, some kind of a career in aviation. I did know about space flight, but at that point, it was still…” quote by Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/kevin-a-ford-28402_able_i-made-about-fifty-four-dollars-a-week-a_3211403.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/kevin-a-ford-28402_able_i-made-about-fifty-four-dollars-a-week-a_3211403.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9f1/kevin-a-ford-28402_able_i-made-about-fifty-four-dollars-a-week-a_3211403.jpg) > “I made about fifty-four dollars a week and spent it on two flying lessons every week at the age of sixteen and was able to get a license then pretty early and knew that that's what I wanted to do, some kind of a career in aviation. I did know about space flight, but at that point, it was still pretty far out there.” [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A teenager saved money for flying lessons, earned a pilot’s license early, and set a clear career goal in aviation despite distant space ambitions. **In simple terms:** He invested in his passion early and pursued a focused career path. Key Takeaway Invest early, pursue passion. Themes career planning passion financial discipline Mood determined optimistic Type personal narrative motivational When to use this quote - personal finance - career development - education - skill acquisition Key Concepts aviation goal setting early investment Questions to Reflect On - What passion could you fund now? - How does early specialization affect future options? A Different Perspective Early focus may limit broader exploration later. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Aviation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aviation/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Dollars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dollars/) [Flying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/flying/) [Lessons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lessons/) [Plane](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plane/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Week](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/week/) ## Related quotes > [Had I not become a professional golfer, I think I would have pursued some type of career in aviation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-palmer/had-i-not-become-a-professional-golfer-i-think-i-would-have-pursued/) [Arnold Palmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-palmer/) > [The only thing I would change is during the summer - when I was working my summer job, if I was smart, I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bo-jackson/the-only-thing-i-would-change-is-during-the-summer-when-i-was-working/) [Bo Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bo-jackson/) > [“Flying lessons? That's not very wifely.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-baker/flying-lessons-that-s-not-very-wifely/) [Ellen Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-baker/) > [I longed to fly. I was paid in flying lessons and, by the time I was 13, I'd logged 100 hours at the controls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kent-mccord/i-longed-to-fly-i-was-paid-in-flying-lessons-and-by-the-time-i-was-13/) [Kent McCord](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kent-mccord/) > [I love directing; it felt right to me when I did 'Flying Lessons'. It's something I will do again. Really, you can always be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derek-magyar/i-love-directing-it-felt-right-to-me-when-i-did-flying-lessons-it-s/) [Derek Magyar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derek-magyar/) > [In most states you can get a driver's license when you're sixteen years old, which made a lot of sense to me when I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phyllis-diller/in-most-states-you-can-get-a-driver-s-license-when-you-re-sixteen/) [Phyllis Diller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phyllis-diller/) > [“As long as I keep moving, I should be OK. As long as I keep the notebook with me, I should stay alive. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-m-goeglein/as-long-as-i-keep-moving-i-should-be-ok-as-long-as-i-keep-the/) [T.M. Goeglein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-m-goeglein/) > [“You think I’m sixteen, so I don’t know what love is, right?” She shakes her head, sad smile on again. “Sometimes I wonder if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swati-avasthi/you-think-i-m-sixteen-so-i-don-t-know-what-love-is-right-she-shakes/) [Swati Avasthi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swati-avasthi/) > [ Got in the studio at sixteen, \[and\] that's when I felt like I wanted to make this a career. I had a passion for… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kendrick-lamar/got-in-the-studio-at-sixteen-and-that-s-when-i-felt-like-i-wanted-to/) [Kendrick Lamar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kendrick-lamar/) > [Naturally I feel no shame in writing these things because of the time which separates the moment when they are written--when only I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-ernaux/naturally-i-feel-no-shame-in-writing-these-things-because-of-the-time/) [Annie Ernaux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-ernaux/) > [Claire Cleary: Don't you think that's really soon? Secretary Cleary: Well, you know Gloria, she's impetuous. Has to have what she wants, when she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wedding-crashers/claire-cleary-don-t-you-think-that-s-really-soon-secretary-cleary/) Wedding Crashers > [I got signed with the songwriting deal when I was sixteen and they were really great - my publishers, who to this day are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lights/i-got-signed-with-the-songwriting-deal-when-i-was-sixteen-and-they/) [Lights](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lights/) > [It took me sixteen years to write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/junot-diaz/it-took-me-sixteen-years-to-write/) [Junot Diaz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/junot-diaz/) > [When I was a child at sixteen, I was just a child. All sixteen year-olds are just children. As much as we like them…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-abagnale/when-i-was-a-child-at-sixteen-i-was-just-a-child-all-sixteen-year/) [Frank Abagnale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-abagnale/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) ## More by Kevin A. Ford > [Well, the coolest thing I have seen so far, in terms of, like, me being an astronaut and seeing something unusual, was the rendezvous,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/well-the-coolest-thing-i-have-seen-so-far-in-terms-of-like-me-being/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I think someday, out in space, perhaps, some people might be able to grow some of their own food or hopefully on another planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-think-someday-out-in-space-perhaps-some-people-might-be-able-to/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [One of the things I do know is we know very little about our universe. Even though we think we know a lot, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/one-of-the-things-i-do-know-is-we-know-very-little-about-our-universe/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [Space station is, it really is one of the more, if not the most, impressive technological achievement of the modern day, not only in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/space-station-is-it-really-is-one-of-the-more-if-not-the-most/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [It's amazing to see the Earth in its glory down there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/it-s-amazing-to-see-the-earth-in-its-glory-down-there/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [It's much easier for me to sleep in space than it is back home. We sleep in a cabin, and you can float inside.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/it-s-much-easier-for-me-to-sleep-in-space-than-it-is-back-home-we/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [Anytime I float by a window, I can tell whether the outside is lit or if it's dark outside. When we're working it's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/anytime-i-float-by-a-window-i-can-tell-whether-the-outside-is-lit-or/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [Space is dark but, of course, when we're on the sun side of the Earth, we're in full illumination and we have all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/space-is-dark-but-of-course-when-we-re-on-the-sun-side-of-the-earth/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [My first inclination was toward flying and being a pilot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/my-first-inclination-was-toward-flying-and-being-a-pilot/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I grew up in Montpelier, Indiana. It's a little town in the northeast corner of Indiana. It's a rural community; about two thousand people,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-grew-up-in-montpelier-indiana-it-s-a-little-town-in-the-northeast/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I took a Russian class at Notre Dame. Never in my wildest dreams did I think I would fly someday in a Russian spacecraft…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-took-a-russian-class-at-notre-dame-never-in-my-wildest-dreams-did-i/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [We spend our spare time taking care of little things. I can watch a little bit of college and professional football if I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/we-spend-our-spare-time-taking-care-of-little-things-i-can-watch-a/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [The ability of the humans to not only function in space but be very functional when they arrive at their destination, those are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/the-ability-of-the-humans-to-not-only-function-in-space-but-be-very/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [I think if I had to choose, I would rather have gravity instead of zero gravity. It's fun for a while, but I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/i-think-if-i-had-to-choose-i-would-rather-have-gravity-instead-of/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) > [When the guys come back in from the spacewalk, there really is a distinct smell of space; it's something I will never forget.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-a-ford/when-the-guys-come-back-in-from-the-spacewalk-there-really-is-a/) [Kevin A. Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-a-ford/) [Explore all 19 Kevin A. 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If you don't accept it and you're having a conversation with someone who does,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alice-englert/there-is-something-about-the-south-that-accepts-the-supernatural-if/) [Alice Englert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alice-englert/) > [In the '80s, the way radio was programmed, if you didn't have a hit record you weren't going to be able to make any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/huey-lewis/in-the-80s-the-way-radio-was-programmed-if-you-didn-t-have-a-hit/) [Huey Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/huey-lewis/) > [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/) > [I have that need in me, I want everyone to love me, but I'm embarrassed by that need, so I wanted to cover it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-jeselnik/i-have-that-need-in-me-i-want-everyone-to-love-me-but-i-m-embarrassed/) [Anthony Jeselnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-jeselnik/) > [Thinking about the things that happened, I don't know any other ball player would could have done what he (Jackie Robinson) did. To be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pee-wee-reese/thinking-about-the-things-that-happened-i-don-t-know-any-other-ball/) [Pee Wee Reese](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pee-wee-reese/) > [I wanted to remember in order to be able to return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anais-nin/i-wanted-to-remember-in-order-to-be-able-to-return/) [Anais Nin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anais-nin/) > [Government schools, with your tax money, now discourage the teaching of multiplication tables by rote memorization but teach reading by the 'look-and-say' method which…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-perry/government-schools-with-your-tax-money-now-discourage-the-teaching-of/) Greg Perry > [I don't know if I would qualify as mainstream. 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