---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I remember coming up in the business and…"
description: "\"I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the grind turned some executives into grizzled cynics. And I vowed to never become that guy. I have..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg"
---

#  I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the…

![“I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the grind turned some executives into grizzled cynics. And I vowed to never become that guy. I have always believed it's incumbent upon network brass to bring a wide-eyed optimism to the chairs they rent. Talent deserves that. And frankly, the…” quote by Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg)

> “I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the grind turned some executives into grizzled cynics. And I vowed to never become that guy. I have always believed it's incumbent upon network brass to bring a wide-eyed optimism to the chairs they rent. Talent deserves that. And frankly, the jobs are just no fun otherwise.”

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

## About This Quote

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

Leaders should maintain optimism and protect talent from cynicism, fostering a positive culture for better outcomes.

**In simple terms:** Stay optimistic and support your team.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate optimism in leadership.

Themes

leadership optimism culture talent management

Mood

inspirational reflective

Type

leadership culture

When to use this quote

- executive meetings
- team building
- performance management

Key Concepts

organizational behavior employee morale

Questions to Reflect On

- How do you balance optimism with critical feedback?
- What practices keep talent engaged?

A Different Perspective

Optimism can be seen as naive if not balanced with reality.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cynics/) [Executives Grizzled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives-grizzled-2242345/) [Frankly Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frankly-jobs-2242343/) [Fun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fun/) [Grizzled Cynics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grizzled-cynics-2242342/) [Network Brass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/network-brass-2242344/) [Optimism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/optimism/) [Seeing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seeing/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/)

## Related quotes

> [Cynicism masquerades as wisdom, but it is the farthest thing from it. Because cynics don’t learn anything. Because cynicism is a self-imposed blindness, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/cynicism-masquerades-as-wisdom-but-it-is-the-farthest-thing-from-it/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [Cynics are - beneath it all - only idealists with awkwardly high standards.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alain-de-botton/cynics-are-beneath-it-all-only-idealists-with-awkwardly-high-standards/)

[Alain de Botton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alain-de-botton/)

> [“Never surrender your hopes and dreams to the fateful limitations others have placed on their own lives. The vision of your true destiny does…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthon-st-maarten/never-surrender-your-hopes-and-dreams-to-the-fateful-limitations/)

[Anthon St. Maarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthon-st-maarten/)

> [“Once upon a time, we were cynics facing the world alone. Our story changed into two warrior cynics facing the world together. Now, we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/monica-murphy/once-upon-a-time-we-were-cynics-facing-the-world-alone-our-story/)

[Monica Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/monica-murphy/)

> [Intellectuals are cynical and cynics have never built a cathedral.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-a-kissinger/intellectuals-are-cynical-and-cynics-have-never-built-a-cathedral/)

[Henry A. Kissinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-a-kissinger/)

> [Cynics know the answers without having penetrated deeply enough to know the questions. When challenged by mysterious truths, they marshall 'facts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/cynics-know-the-answers-without-having-penetrated-deeply-enough-to/)

[Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/)

> [Remember, you cannot be both young and wise. Young people who pretend to be wise to the ways of the world are mostly cynics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-colbert/remember-you-cannot-be-both-young-and-wise-young-people-who-pretend/)

[Stephen Colbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-colbert/)

> [“After I charge their brains with my own brand of skeptical electricity, I unleash them—the New Cynics—upon a world that is slowly and happily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristopher-jansma/after-i-charge-their-brains-with-my-own-brand-of-skeptical/)

[Kristopher Jansma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristopher-jansma/)

> [“The Cynics emphasized that true happiness is not found in external advantages such as material luxury, political power, or good health. True happiness lies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/the-cynics-emphasized-that-true-happiness-is-not-found-in-external/)

[Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/)

> [Cynics criticize and winners analyze.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-kiyosaki/cynics-criticize-and-winners-analyze/)

[Robert Kiyosaki](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-kiyosaki/)

> [The cynics are right nine times out of ten.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-l-mencken/the-cynics-are-right-nine-times-out-of-ten/)

[H. L. Mencken](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-l-mencken/)

> [Cynicism was a school in Greece - the Cynics. Diogenes is a famous Cynic. There was a strong belief in nihilism and narcissism. Those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/cynicism-was-a-school-in-greece-the-cynics-diogenes-is-a-famous-cynic/)

[Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/)

> [Cynics and critics wake us up. Kindness often covers up the truth and allows us to sleep on in our ignorance.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wilferd-peterson/cynics-and-critics-wake-us-up-kindness-often-covers-up-the-truth-and/)

[Wilferd Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wilferd-peterson/)

> [Don't let the doom criers and the cynics persuade you that the best is past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/don-t-let-the-doom-criers-and-the-cynics-persuade-you-that-the-best/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

> [The cynics in life are the people who are always trying to do things for people who don't want things done for them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marianne-moore/the-cynics-in-life-are-the-people-who-are-always-trying-to-do-things/)

[Marianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marianne-moore/)

## More by Kevin Reilly

> [I love talent because they are passionate. They can be emotional and irrational and unpredictable... and that's okay, because all we want is something…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-love-talent-because-they-are-passionate-they-can-be-emotional-and/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> ['The Walking Dead' is an extraordinary thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-walking-dead-is-an-extraordinary-thing/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [It used to be a given that the talent and the talent agencies would line up around the broadcast pitch season first and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/it-used-to-be-a-given-that-the-talent-and-the-talent-agencies-would/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [People love television; they're watching a lot of it in a lot of ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/people-love-television-they-re-watching-a-lot-of-it-in-a-lot-of-ways/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [The one thing that I'm really obsessed with is multi-camera comedy. It is a form that is unique to network television.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-one-thing-that-i-m-really-obsessed-with-is-multi-camera-comedy-it/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [Some of the greatest shows in history - 'Seinfeld,' 'Everybody Loves Raymond' and 'House' - had puny starts but the benefit of schedule protection,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/some-of-the-greatest-shows-in-history-seinfeld-everybody-loves/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [Pilots are useful. You just learn things during a pilot - the piece of casting that just wasn't right or things about the storytelling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/pilots-are-useful-you-just-learn-things-during-a-pilot-the-piece-of/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [The way television is done, you're kind of set on a certain path, and then episodic directors come in every week to try to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-way-television-is-done-you-re-kind-of-set-on-a-certain-path-and/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [The biggest move that put Fox on the map, from an entertainment perspective, was when 'The Simpsons' moved to Thursday night, and that was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/the-biggest-move-that-put-fox-on-the-map-from-an-entertainment/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [Creative content is challenging, no matter what, and animation is particularly challenging.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/creative-content-is-challenging-no-matter-what-and-animation-is/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [When you start to feel you're not coming to work with the same enthusiasm, maybe you shouldn't hang onto that job.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/when-you-start-to-feel-you-re-not-coming-to-work-with-the-same/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [I'm a believer in broadcast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-m-a-believer-in-broadcast/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> ['Fringe' has been a point of pride. I share the passion for the show that the fans have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/fringe-has-been-a-point-of-pride-i-share-the-passion-for-the-show/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [NBC, for me, is like the crazy ex-wife that I can't get away from.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/nbc-for-me-is-like-the-crazy-ex-wife-that-i-can-t-get-away-from/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

> [I still love a great pilot as much as I did the day I started at NBC.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-still-love-a-great-pilot-as-much-as-i-did-the-day-i-started-at-nbc/)

[Kevin Reilly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

[Explore all 61 Kevin Reilly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/)

## More Business quotes

> [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/)

[Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/)

> [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/)

[Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/)

> [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/)

[Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/)

> [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/)

[Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/)

> [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/)

[Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/)

> [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/)

[Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/)

> [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/)

[G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/)

> [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/)

[Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/)

> [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/)

[Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/)

> [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/)

[N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/)

> [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/)

[Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/)

> [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/)

[Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/)

> [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/)

[Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/)

> [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/)

[Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/)

[Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the grind turned some executives into grizzled cynics. And I vowed to never become that guy. I have always believed it's incumbent upon network brass to bring a wide-eyed optimism to the chairs they rent. Talent deserves that. And frankly, the jobs are just no fun otherwise.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Kevin Reilly"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and-seeing-how-the-grind-turned/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and-seeing-how-the-grind-turned/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/7e6/kevin-reilly-11200_business_i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and_1827088.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I remember coming up in the business and seeing how the grind turned some executives into grizzled cynics…” — Kevin Reilly",
                "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": "Kevin Reilly",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-reilly/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I remember coming up in the...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and-seeing-how-the-grind-turned/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-reilly/i-remember-coming-up-in-the-business-and-seeing-how-the-grind-turned/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
