--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not an executive. I can do it, I have…" description: "\"I'm not an executive. I can do it, I have the mind for it, but there's a life that you have to lead, and you have to give up your creative freedom. Tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/krs-one-2404_can-do_i-m-not-an-executive-i-can-do-it-i-have_353207.png" --- # I'm not an executive. I can do it, I have the mind for it… ![“I'm not an executive. I can do it, I have the mind for it, but there's a life that you have to lead, and you have to give up your creative freedom. That's what I don't want to give up.” quote by KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/krs-one-2404_can-do_i-m-not-an-executive-i-can-do-it-i-have_353207.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/krs-one-2404_can-do_i-m-not-an-executive-i-can-do-it-i-have_353207.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6af/krs-one-2404_can-do_i-m-not-an-executive-i-can-do-it-i-have_353207.png) > “I'm not an executive. I can do it, I have the mind for it, but there's a life that you have to lead, and you have to give up your creative freedom. That's what I don't want to give up.” [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative freedom is a core value; sacrificing it for conventional roles can cause personal conflict. **In simple terms:** Don’t give up creativity for a job. Key Takeaway Protect your creative identity. Themes creativity career personal values Mood thoughtful determined Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - career choices - artistic projects - entrepreneurship - job negotiations Key Concepts self‑actualization authenticity Questions to Reflect On - What aspects of your work fuel your creativity? - Can you integrate art into your role? A Different Perspective Sometimes practical needs require compromise. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Creative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative/) [Creative freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-freedom/) [Executive](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executive/) [Executives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/executives/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-up/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Psychology](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/psychology/) ## Related quotes > [Don't wait around for others to experience life with you. Take the lead, go out, and get the most out of life. Eventually you'll…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/don-t-wait-around-for-others-to-experience-life-with-you-take-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Life will lead you, where you need to be, or you need to men up and lead it where you want it to go.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-michele/life-will-lead-you-where-you-need-to-be-or-you-need-to-men-up-and/) Ryan Michele > [Everything that I've done in my life was to lead me to my work with the animals.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tippi-hedren/everything-that-i-ve-done-in-my-life-was-to-lead-me-to-my-work-with/) [Tippi Hedren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tippi-hedren/) > [Lead the life that will make you kindly and friendly to everyone about you, and you will be surprised what a happy life you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-m-schwab/lead-the-life-that-will-make-you-kindly-and-friendly-to-everyone/) [Charles M. Schwab](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-m-schwab/) > [People will talk about YOU when they envy you and the life you lead. YOU don't affect their life, so don't let them affect…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-will-talk-about-you-when-they-envy-you-and-the-life-you-lead/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“True religion is not just in the creed you profess, but its also in the life you lead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-j-keaton/true-religion-is-not-just-in-the-creed-you-profess-but-its-also-in/) Carrie J. Keaton > [To never forget that the most important thing in life is the quality of life we lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-hsieh/to-never-forget-that-the-most-important-thing-in-life-is-the-quality/) [Tony Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-hsieh/) > [“Let the demand of life, lead you into the abundant supplies of life”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/let-the-demand-of-life-lead-you-into-the-abundant-supplies-of-life/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [I walk down the street and people don't go, 'My God, there he is.' I lead as normal a life as you can lead…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graydon-carter/i-walk-down-the-street-and-people-don-t-go-my-god-there-he-is-i-lead/) [Graydon Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graydon-carter/) > [“the choices we make dictate the life we lead”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-de-vito/the-choices-we-make-dictate-the-life-we-lead/) Danny De Vito > [The day-to-day life we lead has nothing to do with enlightenment. It is just around the corner, and we don't see it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-day-to-day-life-we-lead-has-nothing-to-do-with-enlightenment-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [Your education is a dress rehearsal for a life that is yours to lead.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/your-education-is-a-dress-rehearsal-for-a-life-that-is-yours-to-lead/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [It’s not about the dress you wear, but it’s about the life you lead in the dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-vreeland/it-s-not-about-the-dress-you-wear-but-it-s-about-the-life-you-lead-in/) [Diana Vreeland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-vreeland/) > [“Anywhere you can lead your life, you can lead a good one.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcus-aurelius/anywhere-you-can-lead-your-life-you-can-lead-a-good-one/) [Marcus Aurelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcus-aurelius/) > [You cannot be a follower all your life, sometimes you have to lead the way and show your God given brilliance. Paul Shongwe.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-shongwe/you-cannot-be-a-follower-all-your-life-sometimes-you-have-to-lead-the/) Paul Shongwe ## More by KRS-One > [If you don't know hip-hop, at least a little bit of it, you can't even call yourself an American.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-you-don-t-know-hip-hop-at-least-a-little-bit-of-it-you-can-t-even/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [It's not about a salary, it's all about reality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-about-a-salary-it-s-all-about-reality/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [It's not that you don't make any money doing conscious rap music. You make a lot of money doing this, but if you're greedy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/it-s-not-that-you-don-t-make-any-money-doing-conscious-rap-music-you/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [Hip-hop is not about crime. Hip-hop is not about being a gangster.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/hip-hop-is-not-about-crime-hip-hop-is-not-about-being-a-gangster/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I break an emcee off proper Yo don't check me, Ask your Moms and Pops, Yo they respect me, But here you stand, tryin'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-break-an-emcee-off-proper-yo-don-t-check-me-ask-your-moms-and-pops/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I mistakably paid respect and condolences to the wrong Beastie Boy member King Ad-Rock when it should have been MCA. In light of this,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-mistakably-paid-respect-and-condolences-to-the-wrong-beastie-boy/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [Maybe I'm the prophet of hip hop for real. Maybe I do come with some kind of divine principle behind me, because I know…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/maybe-i-m-the-prophet-of-hip-hop-for-real-maybe-i-do-come-with-some/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [“The God of your understanding, has chosen you and you've agreed To be here in this space and time to do something, that only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/the-god-of-your-understanding-has-chosen-you-and-you-ve-agreed-to-be/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [There is no forgiveness, justice, or healing on any level when hate is involved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/there-is-no-forgiveness-justice-or-healing-on-any-level-when-hate-is/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I've enjoyed much success. The IRS is always at my door, constantly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-ve-enjoyed-much-success-the-irs-is-always-at-my-door-constantly/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [When rap music needed to have a teacher, I became it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/when-rap-music-needed-to-have-a-teacher-i-became-it/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [You know something, it's best no to have what you need because then, you start looking for what you need and make it what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/you-know-something-it-s-best-no-to-have-what-you-need-because-then/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I used to let the olde english 8- suds bubble in the last car of the Franklin Avenue shuttle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-used-to-let-the-olde-english-8-suds-bubble-in-the-last-car-of-the/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [I honestly now know that I'm the physical embodiment of hip-hop on earth. That's my only purpose here on earth is to keep the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/i-honestly-now-know-that-i-m-the-physical-embodiment-of-hip-hop-on/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) > [If I were to critique myself - step out of KRS objectively and look at him - I would say that KRS has introduced…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/krs-one/if-i-were-to-critique-myself-step-out-of-krs-objectively-and-look-at/) [KRS-One](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) [Explore all 168 KRS-One quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/krs-one/) ## More Can do quotes > [Changes before your eyes, things you can do and things you can't. My attitude is always let it keep rolling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terrence-malick/changes-before-your-eyes-things-you-can-do-and-things-you-can-t-my/) [Terrence Malick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terrence-malick/) > [The happy medium is television. And if you find a good suitor, you can do it for years. With movies, you roll the dice.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-campbell/the-happy-medium-is-television-and-if-you-find-a-good-suitor-you-can/) [Bruce Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-campbell/) > [If I had a million dollars, I just wouldn't just completely set back. I'd have to get out there and show my face to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/muddy-waters/if-i-had-a-million-dollars-i-just-wouldn-t-just-completely-set-back-i/) [Muddy Waters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/muddy-waters/) > [Anybody can be Prince Charming one day a year, with the dinner and the flowers and all that. But you know what impresses me?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-howard/anybody-can-be-prince-charming-one-day-a-year-with-the-dinner-and-the/) [Ryan Howard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-howard/) > [And if the mind thinks with a believing attitude one can do amazing things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/and-if-the-mind-thinks-with-a-believing-attitude-one-can-do-amazing/) [Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/) > [The amount of things you can do with a kettlebell is unsurpassed by any other training equipment - dumbbells, resistance machines, free weights.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laird-hamilton/the-amount-of-things-you-can-do-with-a-kettlebell-is-unsurpassed-by/) [Laird Hamilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laird-hamilton/) > [It's nice when you've done enough movies that you can do your own anthology.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lithgow/it-s-nice-when-you-ve-done-enough-movies-that-you-can-do-your-own/) [John Lithgow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lithgow/) > [If people don't have their own vision, all they can do is 'sign-up' for someone else's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-senge/if-people-don-t-have-their-own-vision-all-they-can-do-is-sign-up-for/) [Peter Senge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-senge/) > [The one thing that flies in the face of all human history and experience, is that the government can do a superior job than…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cook/the-one-thing-that-flies-in-the-face-of-all-human-history-and/) [James Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cook/) > [...what I can do is offer myself, wholehearted and present, to walk with the people I love through the fear and the mess. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shauna-niequist/what-i-can-do-is-offer-myself-wholehearted-and-present-to-walk-with/) [Shauna Niequist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shauna-niequist/) > [Whether that's speaking up in your job or asking for a promotion or saying, 'I think I can do that.' Using your voice in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-shriver/whether-that-s-speaking-up-in-your-job-or-asking-for-a-promotion-or/) [Maria Shriver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-shriver/) > [The average ordinary citizen can do a lot of different things when it comes to the climate crisis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-bender/the-average-ordinary-citizen-can-do-a-lot-of-different-things-when-it/) [Lawrence Bender](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-bender/) > [A professional is a man who can do his job when he doesn't feel like it. An amateur is a man who can't do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-agate/a-professional-is-a-man-who-can-do-his-job-when-he-doesn-t-feel-like/) [James Agate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-agate/) > [The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, as it pleases him, for he can do all things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/the-lord-gives-and-the-lord-takes-away-as-it-pleases-him-for-he-can/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [I'm not an educated man. I only know what I'm told, and I'm not told that much; I have no frame of reference for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maynard-james-keenan/i-m-not-an-educated-man-i-only-know-what-i-m-told-and-i-m-not-told/) [Maynard James Keenan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maynard-james-keenan/) Browse all 5,673 Can do quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not an executive. 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