--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I got my start by giving myself a start." description: "\"I got my start by giving myself a start.\" — Madam C. J. Walker" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/madam-c-j-walker-18546_giving_i-got-my-start-by-giving-myself-a-start_2952098.png" --- # I got my start by giving myself a start. ![“I got my start by giving myself a start.” quote by Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/madam-c-j-walker-18546_giving_i-got-my-start-by-giving-myself-a-start_2952098.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/madam-c-j-walker-18546_giving_i-got-my-start-by-giving-myself-a-start_2952098.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/9fa/madam-c-j-walker-18546_giving_i-got-my-start-by-giving-myself-a-start_2952098.png) > “I got my start by giving myself a start.” [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes self‑initiative, noting that personal progress begins with self‑started effort **In simple terms:** Self‑started effort leads to success Key Takeaway Take initiative to create your own opportunities Themes self‑empowerment entrepreneurship motivation growth Mood motivational inspirational Type entrepreneurial historical When to use this quote - career building - entrepreneurial ventures - self‑improvement - leadership - historical inspiration Key Concepts business personal development Questions to Reflect On - What first step can you take toward your goal? - How can you sustain momentum after the initial push? A Different Perspective Self‑initiative may face systemic barriers; external support can be crucial ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Giving Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving-start-940631/) [Got Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/got-start-387326/) [Motivational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivational/) [Start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start/) [Start Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/start-giving-352994/) ## Related quotes > [I totally owe Eminem for giving me my start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trisha-paytas/i-totally-owe-eminem-for-giving-me-my-start/) [Trisha Paytas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trisha-paytas/) > [I liked starting. I liked matching up with the best of the best players who got the start. Taking on that challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-ingles/i-liked-starting-i-liked-matching-up-with-the-best-of-the-best/) [Joe Ingles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-ingles/) > [I got to start limiting the hits I take on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-allen/i-got-to-start-limiting-the-hits-i-take-on-myself/) [Josh Allen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-allen/) > [“When you quilting up a life, you sometimes got to start with any piece you can get your hands on.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-odell/when-you-quilting-up-a-life-you-sometimes-got-to-start-with-any-piece/) [Jonathan Odell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-odell/) > [I got my start in silent radio.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-monkhouse/i-got-my-start-in-silent-radio/) [Bob Monkhouse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-monkhouse/) > [Checkers is where I got my start, and now I've got a meal deal with my name on it. Life comes with ups and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/glorilla/checkers-is-where-i-got-my-start-and-now-i-ve-got-a-meal-deal-with-my/) [GloRilla](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/glorilla/) > [I'm just this kid from Toronto who got his start.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hayden-christensen/i-m-just-this-kid-from-toronto-who-got-his-start/) [Hayden Christensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hayden-christensen/) > [I've stayed put in the neighborhood where I first got my start and will never forget the people that believed in me and gave…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cory-booker/i-ve-stayed-put-in-the-neighborhood-where-i-first-got-my-start-and/) [Cory Booker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cory-booker/) > [I think the first thing is that if you're going to make a game which is accessible and which draws people in, you've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-molyneux/i-think-the-first-thing-is-that-if-you-re-going-to-make-a-game-which/) [Peter Molyneux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-molyneux/) > [“Aye, aye, it must be so. I've oversailed him. How, got the start? Aye, he's chasing ME now; not I, HIM--that's bad”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herman-melville/aye-aye-it-must-be-so-i-ve-oversailed-him-how-got-the-start-aye-he-s/) [Herman Melville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herman-melville/) > [I got my start as a journalist, talking to actual market participants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lina-khan/i-got-my-start-as-a-journalist-talking-to-actual-market-participants/) [Lina Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lina-khan/) > [I've got to start eating at home more..](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeffrey-dahmer/i-ve-got-to-start-eating-at-home-more/) [Jeffrey Dahmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeffrey-dahmer/) > [I love TeenVogue! I got my start there!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-port/i-love-teenvogue-i-got-my-start-there/) [Whitney Port](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-port/) > [Everyone who got where he is had to start where he was](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-who-got-where-he-is-had-to-start-where-he-was/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Singing is really where I got my start in church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-gokey/singing-is-really-where-i-got-my-start-in-church/) [Danny Gokey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-gokey/) ## More by Madam C. J. Walker > [In a dream, a big black man appeared to me and told me what to mix up for my hair. I made up my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/in-a-dream-a-big-black-man-appeared-to-me-and-told-me-what-to-mix-up/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I am not merely satisfied in making money for myself, for I am endeavoring to provide employment for hundreds of women of my race.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-am-not-merely-satisfied-in-making-money-for-myself-for-i-am/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [The girls and women of our race must not be afraid to take hold of business endeavor and, by patient industry, close economy, determined…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/the-girls-and-women-of-our-race-must-not-be-afraid-to-take-hold-of/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I am a woman who came from the cotton fields of the South. From there I was promoted to the washtub. From there I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-am-a-woman-who-came-from-the-cotton-fields-of-the-south-from-there/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [IT'S PRETTY HARD for the Lord TO GUIDE YOU IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE UP YOUR MIND WHICH WAY TO GO.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/it-s-pretty-hard-for-the-lord-to-guide-you-if-you-haven-t-made-up/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [There is no royal flower strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for whatever success I have attained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/there-is-no-royal-flower-strewn-path-to-success-and-if-there-is-i/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [One night I had a dream, and in that dream a big black man appeared to me and told me what to mix up…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/one-night-i-had-a-dream-and-in-that-dream-a-big-black-man-appeared-to/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [You might say that I was the first and caused others to awaken to the sense of their duty in helping deserving causes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/you-might-say-that-i-was-the-first-and-caused-others-to-awaken-to-the/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I have made it possible for many colored women to abandon the washtub for a more pleasant and profitable occupation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-made-it-possible-for-many-colored-women-to-abandon-the-washtub/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I have always held myself out as a hair culturist. I grow hair.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-always-held-myself-out-as-a-hair-culturist-i-grow-hair/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [As I bent over the washboard and looked at my arms buried in soapsuds, I said to myself, 'What are you going to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/as-i-bent-over-the-washboard-and-looked-at-my-arms-buried-in-soapsuds/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/don-t-sit-down-and-wait-for-the-opportunities-to-come-get-up-and-make/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I have built my own factory on my own ground, 38 by 208 feet. I employ in that factory seven people, including a bookkeeper,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-have-built-my-own-factory-on-my-own-ground-38-by-208-feet-i-employ/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [I want the great masses of my people to take a greater pride in their personal appearance and to give their hair proper attention.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/i-want-the-great-masses-of-my-people-to-take-a-greater-pride-in-their/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) > [Perseverance is my motto!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madam-c-j-walker/perseverance-is-my-motto/) [Madam C. J. Walker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) [Explore all 34 Madam C. J. Walker quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madam-c-j-walker/) ## More Giving quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [The only people who think the Internet is a calamity are people whose lives have been hurt by it; the only people who insist…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-klosterman/the-only-people-who-think-the-internet-is-a-calamity-are-people-whose/) [Chuck Klosterman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-klosterman/) > [True works of art contain their own theory and give us the measurement according to which we should judge them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/true-works-of-art-contain-their-own-theory-and-give-us-the/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [Crony capitalism is essentially a condition in which... public officials are giving favours to people in the private sector in payment of political favours.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-greenspan/crony-capitalism-is-essentially-a-condition-in-which-public-officials/) [Alan Greenspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-greenspan/) > [Some people give you that motivation to work harder simply to get the hell away from wherever they are.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dane-cook/some-people-give-you-that-motivation-to-work-harder-simply-to-get-the/) [Dane Cook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dane-cook/) > [You've touched people and known it. You've touched people and never may know it. Either way, you have something to give. It is in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-schlessinger/you-ve-touched-people-and-known-it-you-ve-touched-people-and-never/) [Laura Schlessinger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-schlessinger/) > [I understand that it's the music that keeps me alive... That's my lifeblood. And to give that up for, like, the TV, the cars,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-springsteen/i-understand-that-it-s-the-music-that-keeps-me-alive-that-s-my/) [Bruce Springsteen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-springsteen/) > [I received a beautiful welcome to the world of music. I want to give something back to the younger generation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luciano-pavarotti/i-received-a-beautiful-welcome-to-the-world-of-music-i-want-to-give/) [Luciano Pavarotti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luciano-pavarotti/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) [Riffat Hassan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/riffat-hassan/) > [Grandma, please. It’s okay. Dad’s doing a great job. I give him kudos for at least being calm and rational, and not losing his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherrilyn-kenyon/grandma-please-it-s-okay-dad-s-doing-a-great-job-i-give-him-kudos-for/) [Sherrilyn Kenyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherrilyn-kenyon/) > [Most paper money initially existed as a substitute for gold. That's what gave it value. But right now what gives a currency value is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-schiff/most-paper-money-initially-existed-as-a-substitute-for-gold-that-s/) [Peter Schiff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-schiff/) > [Practically all animals which move fast in a homogeneous medium have found means of giving their body a streamlined shape, thereby reducing friction to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/konrad-lorenz/practically-all-animals-which-move-fast-in-a-homogeneous-medium-have/) [Konrad Lorenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/konrad-lorenz/) > [Give me strength to walk the soft earth, a relative to all that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/black-elk/give-me-strength-to-walk-the-soft-earth-a-relative-to-all-that-is/) [Black Elk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/black-elk/) > [I don't think my relationship with the idea of womanhood is that attached to giving birth... like, I'm fully aware that I'll never give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patti-harrison/i-don-t-think-my-relationship-with-the-idea-of-womanhood-is-that/) [Patti Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patti-harrison/) [Browse all 39,303 Giving quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I got my start by giving myself a start.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Madam C. 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