--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you start at the beginning of your…" description: "\"When you start at the beginning of your career [that] was really focused on your own needs and obstacles, and ultimately you realize you're not really ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg" --- # When you start at the beginning of your career \[that\] was… ![“When you start at the beginning of your career [that] was really focused on your own needs and obstacles, and ultimately you realize you're not really doing it for yourself.” quote by Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg) > “When you start at the beginning of your career \[that\] was really focused on your own needs and obstacles, and ultimately you realize you're not really doing it for yourself.” [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early career focus on personal needs shifts to realizing work serves broader purposes beyond self. **In simple terms:** People often start careers for themselves, but later see they serve others. Key Takeaway Align work with purpose beyond self. Themes career purpose self‑realization growth service Mood thoughtful inspirational analytical Type advice motivational reflective When to use this quote - career planning - mid‑career reflection - mentorship - goal setting - personal development Key Concepts Existentialism career development psychology Questions to Reflect On - When did you notice your motivations change? - How can you sustain purpose‑driven work? A Different Perspective Self‑centered motives can persist, hindering altruistic impact. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Obstacles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/obstacles/) ## Related quotes > [“Those who believe they know it all should not fret when they ultimately realize they do not, for when there is nothing left to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matt-marlin/those-who-believe-they-know-it-all-should-not-fret-when-they/) Matt Marlin > [Most people ultimately realize that they can acquire things, change their partner or other things, consume more and still it doesn't work. I'm not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isha-judd/most-people-ultimately-realize-that-they-can-acquire-things-change/) [Isha Judd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isha-judd/) > [It sounds really cheesy, but I've just really been so focused on making sure that I am nice to everyone that I work with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gigi-hadid/it-sounds-really-cheesy-but-i-ve-just-really-been-so-focused-on/) [Gigi Hadid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gigi-hadid/) > [I've really focused a lot on child welfare and dealing with child abuse issues.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-shapiro/i-ve-really-focused-a-lot-on-child-welfare-and-dealing-with-child/) [Josh Shapiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-shapiro/) > [I've really focused on my defense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juancho-hernangomez/i-ve-really-focused-on-my-defense/) [Juancho Hernangomez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juancho-hernangomez/) > [Grand Slam, every minute on court counts. You have to be really focused and show your best level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-alcaraz/grand-slam-every-minute-on-court-counts-you-have-to-be-really-focused/) [Carlos Alcaraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-alcaraz/) > [There's something about the good-hearted guy fighting the system. I just love that. That's how 'Speed' is. He's a really focused guy with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emile-hirsch/there-s-something-about-the-good-hearted-guy-fighting-the-system-i/) [Emile Hirsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emile-hirsch/) > [When you're used to having nothing, the first time you have something, you get really focused. You know if you lose it, it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-ngannou/when-you-re-used-to-having-nothing-the-first-time-you-have-something/) [Francis Ngannou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-ngannou/) > [The artists of the past who impressed me were the ones who really focused their work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-eno/the-artists-of-the-past-who-impressed-me-were-the-ones-who-really/) [Brian Eno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-eno/) > [I'm really focused on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jade-cargill/i-m-really-focused-on-myself/) [Jade Cargill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jade-cargill/) > [Defense is gonna help me in particular and help my team, so that's what I've really focused on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-adams/defense-is-gonna-help-me-in-particular-and-help-my-team-so-that-s/) [Steven Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-adams/) > [I'm really focused on my research almost 100 percent. That, and my family and kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-derisi/i-m-really-focused-on-my-research-almost-100-percent-that-and-my/) [Joseph DeRisi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-derisi/) > [If you love something, you have to stay really focused and can't let outside things distract you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victoria-justice/if-you-love-something-you-have-to-stay-really-focused-and-can-t-let/) [Victoria Justice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victoria-justice/) > [I have really focused on mindfulness. That helps me make better choices both physically, psychologically, and emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-bates/i-have-really-focused-on-mindfulness-that-helps-me-make-better/) [Kathy Bates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-bates/) > [I haven't really focused so much on getting acting work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlene-tilton/i-haven-t-really-focused-so-much-on-getting-acting-work/) [Charlene Tilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlene-tilton/) ## More by Luis Valdez > [It's absolutely essential for every generation to capture that social responsibility. Injustice grows like weeds. The injustices of the world are like weeds, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/it-s-absolutely-essential-for-every-generation-to-capture-that-social/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [The library (in the migrant community) I grew up in was my only link to the outside world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/the-library-in-the-migrant-community-i-grew-up-in-was-my-only-link-to/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [“Each second is a raw drop of blood from your brain that you must swallow drop by drop and don't even start counting or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/each-second-is-a-raw-drop-of-blood-from-your-brain-that-you-must/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [A lot of people don't realize the roots of Batman are really Latino. They don't go back to the bat god, the ones the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/a-lot-of-people-don-t-realize-the-roots-of-batman-are-really-latino/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [No Statue of Liberty ever greeted our arrival in this country...we did not, in fact, come to the United States at all. The United…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/no-statue-of-liberty-ever-greeted-our-arrival-in-this-country-we-did/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [I believe in entertainment. I love entertainment. But I love it with a purpose. I want people to come out thinking about what they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/i-believe-in-entertainment-i-love-entertainment-but-i-love-it-with-a/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [A lot of the public responses are based on the prejudices and ignorance, they've been inherited from previous generations. California has always been a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/a-lot-of-the-public-responses-are-based-on-the-prejudices-and/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [“Only this reality is real now, only this place is real, sitting in the lonely cell of your will...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/only-this-reality-is-real-now-only-this-place-is-real-sitting-in-the/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) > [It comes out of human beings, it comes from the dark side of the human being, when people don't give a hoot about other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/it-comes-out-of-human-beings-it-comes-from-the-dark-side-of-the-human/) [Luis Valdez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) [Explore all 10 Luis Valdez quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/) ## 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": "When you start at the beginning of your career [that] was really focused on your own needs and obstacles, and ultimately you realize you're not really doing it for yourself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Luis Valdez" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your-career-that-was-really/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your-career-that-was-really/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0ce/luis-valdez-41797_career_when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your_842703.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you start at the beginning of your career [that] was really focused on your own needs and obstacles…” — Luis Valdez", "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": "Luis Valdez", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-valdez/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you start at the beginning...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your-career-that-was-really/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-valdez/when-you-start-at-the-beginning-of-your-career-that-was-really/#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 } } ] } ```