--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you get to a point where you're…" description: "\"When you get to a point where you're successful enough that you can say, 'I don't have to take any job anymore,' and you're still good at what you do, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg" --- # When you get to a point where you're successful enough… ![“When you get to a point where you're successful enough that you can say, 'I don't have to take any job anymore,' and you're still good at what you do, how do you decide what work to take on? I think the answer is that you pursue what you enjoy. In my case, it's variety.” quote by Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg) > “When you get to a point where you're successful enough that you can say, 'I don't have to take any job anymore,' and you're still good at what you do, how do you decide what work to take on? I think the answer is that you pursue what you enjoy. In my case, it's variety.” [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. When financial security allows choice, one should pursue work that brings joy and variety, aligning career with personal passion. **In simple terms:** Choose work you love when you can. Key Takeaway Prioritize enjoyment and diversity in work. Themes career fulfillment choice passion Mood inspirational thoughtful Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - freelancing - consulting - teaching - artistic projects - volunteer work Key Concepts self‑actualization work‑life balance creativity Questions to Reflect On - What criteria help you evaluate enjoyable work? - How do you balance passion with practical needs? A Different Perspective Financial stability may be uncertain; passion alone may not sustain livelihood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide/) [Decide Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decide-work-996690/) [Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enjoy/) [Enough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enough/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Good Decide](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-decide-996691/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Pursue Enjoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pursue-enjoy-996692/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-think-379651/) ## Related quotes > [Altuve is just so good at that. He can decide halfway to the plate where he's going to place the ball. I've never seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gerrit-cole/altuve-is-just-so-good-at-that-he-can-decide-halfway-to-the-plate/) [Gerrit Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gerrit-cole/) > [The great and the good will decide what is good for us and make sure that we get what is good for us, good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-farage/the-great-and-the-good-will-decide-what-is-good-for-us-and-make-sure/) [Nigel Farage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-farage/) > [This life is what you make it. No matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes, it's a universal truth. But the good part…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-life-is-what-you-make-it-no-matter-what-you-re-going-to-mess-up-4/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let us not decide what is good, but let it be considered good not to decide it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/let-us-not-decide-what-is-good-but-let-it-be-considered-good-not-to/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [Sometimes people leave you halfway through the wood. Others may decieve you - you decide what's good. You decide alone, but no one is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-people-leave-you-halfway-through-the-wood-others-may/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [Sometimes people leave you Halfway through the wood Others may decieve you You decide what's good You decide alone But no one is alone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-sondheim/sometimes-people-leave-you-halfway-through-the-wood-others-may-2/) [Stephen Sondheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-sondheim/) > [I've decided I can't really control people's perceptions of me. All I can do is decide on what I work on and how hard…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-franco/i-ve-decided-i-can-t-really-control-people-s-perceptions-of-me-all-i/) [James Franco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-franco/) > [“But in the end, it isn’t up to the writer to decide how his or her work will be used.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicole-krauss/but-in-the-end-it-isn-t-up-to-the-writer-to-decide-how-his-or-her/) [Nicole Krauss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicole-krauss/) > [Once you decide to work for yourself, you never go back to work for somebody else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-sugar/once-you-decide-to-work-for-yourself-you-never-go-back-to-work-for/) [Alan Sugar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-sugar/) > [“You may work with 100% capacity every day and may not be seen by anybody for recommendation. This does not mean you should give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/you-may-work-with-100-capacity-every-day-and-may-not-be-seen-by/) [Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/) > [We have different personalities and different skills and the kind of things that we do, we can do together that neither of us can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/guy-burgess/we-have-different-personalities-and-different-skills-and-the-kind-of/) [Guy Burgess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/guy-burgess/) > [Marriage is not easy. You have to decide to work. That's what it really comes down to: two people deciding to stay together or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/darius-rucker/marriage-is-not-easy-you-have-to-decide-to-work-that-s-what-it-really/) [Darius Rucker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/darius-rucker/) > [There are actors who aren't on the cover of magazines but still decide what work they want and when they want it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-kranz/there-are-actors-who-aren-t-on-the-cover-of-magazines-but-still/) [Fran Kranz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-kranz/) > [I find that getting something on the screen as soon as possible really helps focus the problem for me. It helps me decide what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-zawinski/i-find-that-getting-something-on-the-screen-as-soon-as-possible/) [Jamie Zawinski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-zawinski/) > [Women who want to work should be given the choice to do that. If you decide to work even after getting married, then men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arjun-kapoor/women-who-want-to-work-should-be-given-the-choice-to-do-that-if-you/) [Arjun Kapoor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arjun-kapoor/) ## More by Martin Short > [I was a huge fan of Steve Martin, as everyone I knew in comedy was.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-was-a-huge-fan-of-steve-martin-as-everyone-i-knew-in-comedy-was/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [The mark of the man is how he responds to situations. You're not going to avoid tough times. We're all over the barrel some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/the-mark-of-the-man-is-how-he-responds-to-situations-you-re-not-going/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I'm an actor who loves doing comedy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-m-an-actor-who-loves-doing-comedy/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [If you have wonderful moments, don't second-guess them, just enjoy them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/if-you-have-wonderful-moments-don-t-second-guess-them-just-enjoy-them/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Sometimes people get passionate about the obscure jokes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/sometimes-people-get-passionate-about-the-obscure-jokes/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Comedy is a weird thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/comedy-is-a-weird-thing/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [My job is not to analyze my career. But I am proud of the amount of work I've done and the amount of commitment…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/my-job-is-not-to-analyze-my-career-but-i-am-proud-of-the-amount-of/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Someone once asked me what was the weirdest question I was ever asked. And I was stymied.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/someone-once-asked-me-what-was-the-weirdest-question-i-was-ever-asked/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [A musical is only as good as its director. The same can also be said for the CIA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/a-musical-is-only-as-good-as-its-director-the-same-can-also-be-said/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Why does 'I Love Lucy' still make people laugh? Because she's a specific character who has real reactions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/why-does-i-love-lucy-still-make-people-laugh-because-she-s-a-specific/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I have sometimes imagined my own death and brought myself to tears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-have-sometimes-imagined-my-own-death-and-brought-myself-to-tears/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [There was an era when people would turn on their radio and hear a radio drama. Now, you could be as scared by that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/there-was-an-era-when-people-would-turn-on-their-radio-and-hear-a/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [Trump is Trump. Some people find him hilarious. I don't find it hilarious, but you can't say it's dull. There's nothing credible about Donald…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/trump-is-trump-some-people-find-him-hilarious-i-don-t-find-it/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [I'm totally aware of how lucky I am. I have health, family, children. I do work that gives me total joy and allows me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/i-m-totally-aware-of-how-lucky-i-am-i-have-health-family-children-i/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) > [One of my great influences was Don Knotts as Barney Fife.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/one-of-my-great-influences-was-don-knotts-as-barney-fife/) [Martin Short](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) [Explore all 69 Martin Short quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/) ## 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](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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 get to a point where you're successful enough that you can say, 'I don't have to take any job anymore,' and you're still good at what you do, how do you decide what work to take on? I think the answer is that you pursue what you enjoy. In my case, it's variety.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Short" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-successful-enough-that-you-can/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-successful-enough-that-you-can/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/2b0/martin-short-9945_career_when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-suc_2494292.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you get to a point where you're successful enough that you can say, 'I don't have to take any job…” — Martin Short", "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": "Martin Short", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-short/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you get to a point...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-successful-enough-that-you-can/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-short/when-you-get-to-a-point-where-you-re-successful-enough-that-you-can/#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 } } ] } ```