--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father, Phillip Gilmore, was very…" description: "\"My father, Phillip Gilmore, was very talented. He was getting seriously into dancing. He was on 'Soul Train' and won $2,500. But the Bay Area was too s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_my-father-phillip-gilmore-was-very-talen_1404141.jpg" --- # My father, Phillip Gilmore, was very talented. He was… ![“My father, Phillip Gilmore, was very talented. He was getting seriously into dancing. He was on 'Soul Train' and won $2,500. But the Bay Area was too small for him. I don't think he had the space to do what he needed to do.” quote by Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_my-father-phillip-gilmore-was-very-talen_1404141.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_my-father-phillip-gilmore-was-very-talen_1404141.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6e4/mahershala-ali-6687_bay-area_my-father-phillip-gilmore-was-very-talen_1404141.jpg) > “My father, Phillip Gilmore, was very talented. He was getting seriously into dancing. He was on 'Soul Train' and won $2,500. But the Bay Area was too small for him. I don't think he had the space to do what he needed to do.” [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Talent can be stifled by limited environments; seeking broader horizons is essential for growth. **In simple terms:** Small places limit talent. Key Takeaway Seek larger platforms. Themes career talent environment Mood determined hopeful Type motivational practical When to use this quote - career planning - relocation - artistic development - networking Key Concepts creative restriction opportunity cost Questions to Reflect On - How can you expand your creative space? - What risks are worth taking for growth? A Different Perspective Moving may involve personal sacrifice. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Bay area](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bay-area/) [Dance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dance/) [Dancing Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dancing-soul-2695879/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Gilmore Talented](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gilmore-talented-4929366/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Seriously](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seriously/) [Soul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul/) [Soul train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/soul-train/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Talented Getting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talented-getting-4929367/) [Train](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/train/) ## Related quotes > [My dad moved to New York after he won "Soul Train" and the car and got settled in out there and was able to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-dad-moved-to-new-york-after-he-won-soul-train-and-the-car-and-got/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Oh yeah, dancing's part of my soul. I enjoy it, it makes people happy, and it makes me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/oh-yeah-dancing-s-part-of-my-soul-i-enjoy-it-it-makes-people-happy/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [When one bell is rung, by the sound of that one bell other bells will also vibrate. So it is with the dancing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hazrat-inayat-khan/when-one-bell-is-rung-by-the-sound-of-that-one-bell-other-bells-will/) [Hazrat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hazrat-inayat-khan/) > [“Laughter is the sound of the soul dancing. My soul probably looks like Fred Astaire.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/laughter-is-the-sound-of-the-soul-dancing-my-soul-probably-looks-like/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [Dancing's part of my soul. I enjoy it, it makes people happy, and it makes me happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-travolta/dancing-s-part-of-my-soul-i-enjoy-it-it-makes-people-happy-and-it/) [John Travolta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-travolta/) > [“I was dancing for my soul and for the soul of my tribe. I was dancing for what we Indians used to be and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherman-alexie/i-was-dancing-for-my-soul-and-for-the-soul-of-my-tribe-i-was-dancing/) [Sherman Alexie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherman-alexie/) > [When it finally came my way and doors opened up for me to do it and to be on stage, it felt like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/when-it-finally-came-my-way-and-doors-opened-up-for-me-to-do-it-and/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [As a kid, my dad would take me to see indie films when I would visit him in New York. Films that I just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/as-a-kid-my-dad-would-take-me-to-see-indie-films-when-i-would-visit/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I did see the Soul Train picture. That was interesting. I've heard all the jokes. I had it coming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-did-see-the-soul-train-picture-that-was-interesting-i-ve-heard-all/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [I figured as long as the music stayed hot and important and good, that there would always be a reason for 'Soul Train.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/i-figured-as-long-as-the-music-stayed-hot-and-important-and-good-that/) [Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/) > [With 'Soul Train,' it was the first time I was on television. And I just couldn't believe it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/with-soul-train-it-was-the-first-time-i-was-on-television-and-i-just/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) > [One motivation for the 'Soul Train' awards was the grumbling that all of us in the industry have heard about the way black music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-cornelius/one-motivation-for-the-soul-train-awards-was-the-grumbling-that-all/) [Don Cornelius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-cornelius/) > [I remember the first time I saw the 'Sugarhill Gang' on Soul Train. I was 11 or 12. I was like, 'What's going on?…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-z/i-remember-the-first-time-i-saw-the-sugarhill-gang-on-soul-train-i/) [Jay-Z](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-z/) > [In his laborious efforts to attain mountaintops, where the air is lighter and purer, the climber gains new strength of limb. In the endeavor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-pius-xi/in-his-laborious-efforts-to-attain-mountaintops-where-the-air-is/) [Pope Pius XI](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-pius-xi/) > [I used to get recognized quite often as being a 'Soul Train' dancer. Quite often, which was great at times but sometimes was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosie-perez/i-used-to-get-recognized-quite-often-as-being-a-soul-train-dancer/) [Rosie Perez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosie-perez/) ## More by Mahershala Ali > [ I went to a mosque in Philadelphia with \[my wife\] in December 24, 1999. And we we went to this mosque in Philly, and… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-went-to-a-mosque-in-philadelphia-with-my-wife-in-december-24-1999/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I grew up in church. My mom's a minister, and my grandmother was an ordained minister. I was always very mindful of the presence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-grew-up-in-church-my-mom-s-a-minister-and-my-grandmother-was-an/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Like so many families, we were dealing with limited means. We weren't poor at all, but we had some challenging times financially. When my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/like-so-many-families-we-were-dealing-with-limited-means-we-weren-t/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I think how strict my mother's home could be with my mom and my stepfather, there was a fluidity and freedom in my dad's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-think-how-strict-my-mother-s-home-could-be-with-my-mom-and-my/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [My mother is an ordained minister. I'm a Muslim. She didn't do backflips when I called her to tell her I converted 17 years…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-mother-is-an-ordained-minister-i-m-a-muslim-she-didn-t-do/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [My experiences growing up - my father lived in New York, so I was going out there in the summers and meeting really interesting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-experiences-growing-up-my-father-lived-in-new-york-so-i-was-going/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I'm not shy about trying to find what truth there is in any genre, whether that be an action piece, a sci-fi piece, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-m-not-shy-about-trying-to-find-what-truth-there-is-in-any-genre/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [You are an American, so you're hurt that other American citizens have been hurt, but you end up having to shoulder the shame for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/you-are-an-american-so-you-re-hurt-that-other-american-citizens-have/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [My parents were in high school when I was born. My mom was 16, my dad was 17. They were kids, at the very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/my-parents-were-in-high-school-when-i-was-born-my-mom-was-16-my-dad/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Because on that watch list, they would be like, yeah, your name - they told me like, yeah, your name matches the name of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/because-on-that-watch-list-they-would-be-like-yeah-your-name-they/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I started traveling by myself as early as 5 to see my dad. I'd go to Toronto or Los Angeles, depending on what show…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-started-traveling-by-myself-as-early-as-5-to-see-my-dad-i-d-go-to/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [One thing that the audience, and perhaps critics, aren't aware of is that, especially in a film like 'Moonlight,' you always shoot a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/one-thing-that-the-audience-and-perhaps-critics-aren-t-aware-of-is/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I think in some ways, I would go back home, and I didn't really quite fit in and couldn't - didn't have a person…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-think-in-some-ways-i-would-go-back-home-and-i-didn-t-really-quite/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [I remember clearly, when I was about 4, my Aunt Linda said, 'I'm not babysitting him no more. He's bad.' It was one of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/i-remember-clearly-when-i-was-about-4-my-aunt-linda-said-i-m-not/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) > [Theater will cast in a more open way; Denzel Washington might play Richard III. Television and film don't really cast openly like that. The…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahershala-ali/theater-will-cast-in-a-more-open-way-denzel-washington-might-play/) [Mahershala Ali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) [Explore all 98 Mahershala Ali quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahershala-ali/) ## More Bay area quotes > [Most of the time, I get around perfectly well on my bike and public transportation, even in spite of the Bay Area's almost comically…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-hilton/most-of-the-time-i-get-around-perfectly-well-on-my-bike-and-public/) [Steve Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-hilton/) > [“For several months they'd been drifting toward political involvement, but the picture was hazy and one of the most confusing elements was their geographical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hunter-s-thompson/for-several-months-they-d-been-drifting-toward-political-involvement/) [Hunter S. Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hunter-s-thompson/) > [I like beating the Bay Area traffic by getting into the office early, plus I get at least an hour most mornings to work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baiju-bhatt/i-like-beating-the-bay-area-traffic-by-getting-into-the-office-early/) [Baiju Bhatt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baiju-bhatt/) > [The Bay Area is so beautiful, I hesitate to preach about heaven while I'm here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/billy-graham/the-bay-area-is-so-beautiful-i-hesitate-to-preach-about-heaven-while/) [Billy Graham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/billy-graham/) > [The teams in the Bay Area have created a culture of winning, but the Cubs and Metsneed to learn how to win.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-byrnes/the-teams-in-the-bay-area-have-created-a-culture-of-winning-but-the/) [Eric Byrnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-byrnes/) > [I have been interested in the dialogue of abstraction and modernist painting - and the rich history of the grid. I also think I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-beal/i-have-been-interested-in-the-dialogue-of-abstraction-and-modernist/) [Stephen Beal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-beal/) > [I'm going to go back to the Bay Area, this is my thing, and I'm just going to open my own school of baseball.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-bonds/i-m-going-to-go-back-to-the-bay-area-this-is-my-thing-and-i-m-just/) [Barry Bonds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-bonds/) > [I love the Bay Area and I'm excited to play there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-bosa/i-love-the-bay-area-and-i-m-excited-to-play-there/) [Nick Bosa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-bosa/) > [From the small town in Iowa where I grew up, to Chapel Hill where I went to college, to the Bay Area and now…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harrison-barnes/from-the-small-town-in-iowa-where-i-grew-up-to-chapel-hill-where-i/) [Harrison Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harrison-barnes/) > [Caen's San Francisco may not be the city we remember, but it is the city we want to remember.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/willie-brown/caen-s-san-francisco-may-not-be-the-city-we-remember-but-it-is-the/) [Willie Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/willie-brown/) > [I was at Stanford University up in the West Coast Bay Area, so the biggest song of my freshman year was 'I Got 5…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sterling-k-brown/i-was-at-stanford-university-up-in-the-west-coast-bay-area-so-the/) [Sterling K. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sterling-k-brown/) > [“McDonald's, meanwhile, continues busily to harass small shopkeepers and restaurateurs of Scottish descent for that nationality's uncompetitive predisposition toward the Mc prefix on its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/mcdonald-s-meanwhile-continues-busily-to-harass-small-shopkeepers-and/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [San Francisco has only one drawback—‘tis hard to leave.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rudyard-kipling/san-francisco-has-only-one-drawback-tis-hard-to-leave/) [Rudyard Kipling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rudyard-kipling/) > [Sometimes you hear about people who can't wait to leave their hometown. I did not have that feeling at all. I love San Jose,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelah-johnson/sometimes-you-hear-about-people-who-can-t-wait-to-leave-their/) [Anjelah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelah-johnson/) > [For 30 years I wrote for newspapers and magazines, wrote books on the Dallas Cowboys' dynasties of the '70s and '90s, wrote about Michael…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/skip-bayless/for-30-years-i-wrote-for-newspapers-and-magazines-wrote-books-on-the/) [Skip Bayless](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/skip-bayless/) [Browse all 167 Bay area quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/bay-area/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My father, Phillip Gilmore, was very talented. He was getting seriously into dancing. He was on 'Soul Train' and won $2,500. But the Bay Area was too small for him. 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