--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It's phenomenally important to me that…" description: "\"It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be spending years on a project, I need to be interested in the whole thing. I'm not there to be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg" --- # It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be… ![“It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be spending years on a project, I need to be interested in the whole thing. I'm not there to be on my own. And if I'm going to be with these people, I'd best be interested in their work.” quote by Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg) > “It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be spending years on a project, I need to be interested in the whole thing. I'm not there to be on my own. And if I'm going to be with these people, I'd best be interested in their work.” [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. You must be genuinely interested in both the project and the people you work with for long‑term success. **In simple terms:** Care about the work and the team. Key Takeaway Invest in shared purpose. Themes collaboration interest teamwork Mood reflective motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - long‑term projects - team meetings - cross‑functional initiatives Key Concepts engagement motivation shared vision Questions to Reflect On - How do you sustain curiosity over years? - What draws you to others’ work? A Different Perspective Interest can wane without clear personal stakes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) ## Related quotes > [They don't have the edge that I need. I'm not interested in reliving 1988.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sebastian-bach/they-don-t-have-the-edge-that-i-need-i-m-not-interested-in-reliving/) [Sebastian Bach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sebastian-bach/) > [I very rarely want to go back and fix things, because I'm much more interested in the next thing, and in taking what I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-gaiman/i-very-rarely-want-to-go-back-and-fix-things-because-i-m-much-more/) [Neil Gaiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-gaiman/) > [I thought that the behavioral and some of the profiling stuff was interesting. The thing that I was most interested in, and the thing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-fincher/i-thought-that-the-behavioral-and-some-of-the-profiling-stuff-was/) [David Fincher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-fincher/) > [What came up at age 49 is I realized that of all the things I'm interested in, the thing I'm most interested in is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yo-yo-ma/what-came-up-at-age-49-is-i-realized-that-of-all-the-things-i-m/) [Yo-Yo Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yo-yo-ma/) > [I tend to only be able to obsess about one thing at once, and become fully engaged in and only interested in that thing.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-stillman/i-tend-to-only-be-able-to-obsess-about-one-thing-at-once-and-become/) [Sarah Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-stillman/) > [“When I'm interested in a thing, I want to know about that thing. Extensively.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-mills/when-i-m-interested-in-a-thing-i-want-to-know-about-that-thing/) [Emma Mills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-mills/) > [The Yankees are only interested in one thing, and I have no idea what that is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-polonia/the-yankees-are-only-interested-in-one-thing-and-i-have-no-idea-what/) Luis Polonia > [One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. When you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-thing-life-has-taught-me-if-you-are-interested-you-never-have-to-2/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [Needing something is not the same thing as being interested in the thing itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-baxter/needing-something-is-not-the-same-thing-as-being-interested-in-the/) [Charles Baxter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-baxter/) > [“One thing life has taught me: if you are interested, you never have to look for new interests. They come to you. They will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/one-thing-life-has-taught-me-if-you-are-interested-you-never-have-to/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [When you are genuinely interested in one thing, it will always lead to something else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eleanor-roosevelt/when-you-are-genuinely-interested-in-one-thing-it-will-always-lead-to/) [Eleanor Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eleanor-roosevelt/) > [It always did bother me that the American public were more interested in me than in my work. And after all there is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/it-always-did-bother-me-that-the-american-public-were-more-interested/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [People that have been interested in our work for awhile... those are the last people you want to disappoint.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-coen/people-that-have-been-interested-in-our-work-for-awhile-those-are-the/) [Joel Coen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-coen/) > [I've found stability. I think I've become stronger and more relaxed. I'm more curious and interested in work, and there are more things I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hyun-bin/i-ve-found-stability-i-think-i-ve-become-stronger-and-more-relaxed-i/) [Hyun Bin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hyun-bin/) > [If you're not interested in your work, you're not doing it right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelly-sue-deconnick/if-you-re-not-interested-in-your-work-you-re-not-doing-it-right/) [Kelly Sue DeConnick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelly-sue-deconnick/) ## More by Mary McDonnell > [With BSG, sci-fi is the human experience taken beyond the envelope. When I first became involved with the project, I knew that I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/with-bsg-sci-fi-is-the-human-experience-taken-beyond-the-envelope/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [I do think that it's extremely important with this character show her assuming power with a great deal of grace, and find out how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/i-do-think-that-it-s-extremely-important-with-this-character-show-her/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [Ron allowed us to see right away the private piece of a person about to become very public. I suspect we're going to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/ron-allowed-us-to-see-right-away-the-private-piece-of-a-person-about/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [I love to work. I love to have complexity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/i-love-to-work-i-love-to-have-complexity/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [It is really wonderful for me to understand that there are times in life when your job, and the excellence of your job, requires…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/it-is-really-wonderful-for-me-to-understand-that-there-are-times-in/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [We never know all the facts and the more we're mindful of how we deal with people, the more opportunity we have to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/we-never-know-all-the-facts-and-the-more-we-re-mindful-of-how-we-deal/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [For me, as an actress, one of the most essential things that I need to know is what do I want for and from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/for-me-as-an-actress-one-of-the-most-essential-things-that-i-need-to/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [I love the idea of a woman being able to discover the idea of power this way, on such a scale. And I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/i-love-the-idea-of-a-woman-being-able-to-discover-the-idea-of-power/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [That moment was very important because it was political. That's what has to be done, so they struck a deal. She figures his is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/that-moment-was-very-important-because-it-was-political-that-s-what/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [It's really important for actors to feel that they're more than something for hire.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/it-s-really-important-for-actors-to-feel-that-they-re-more-than/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [The Cylons are such a frightening concept - not knowing who is real. No way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/the-cylons-are-such-a-frightening-concept-not-knowing-who-is-real-no/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [Well, I don't know what Ron has in mind, but I do know about the arc of the show. Looking at how intuitive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/well-i-don-t-know-what-ron-has-in-mind-but-i-do-know-about-the-arc-of/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [Actors are part of a certain percentage of people on this planet who have an emotional vocabulary as a primary experience. It's as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/actors-are-part-of-a-certain-percentage-of-people-on-this-planet-who/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [We have to get back to the beauty of just being alive in this present moment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/we-have-to-get-back-to-the-beauty-of-just-being-alive-in-this-present/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) > [I think that in a general sense, the idea of getting comfortable with the truth in life is uncomfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/i-think-that-in-a-general-sense-the-idea-of-getting-comfortable-with/) [Mary McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) [Explore all 16 Mary McDonnell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/) ## More Important quotes > [There is something more important than any ultimate weapon. That is the ultimate position-the position of total control over Earth that lies somewhere out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lyndon-b-johnson/there-is-something-more-important-than-any-ultimate-weapon-that-is/) [Lyndon B. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lyndon-b-johnson/) > [I wanted to write about voodoo tradition that I feel has been very important to survival of black people here: people of the African…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jesmyn-ward/i-wanted-to-write-about-voodoo-tradition-that-i-feel-has-been-very/) [Jesmyn Ward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jesmyn-ward/) > [Fiscal prudence is very important.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/smriti-irani/fiscal-prudence-is-very-important/) [Smriti Irani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/smriti-irani/) > [Regardless of the criticisms I receive from the left, the right and the middle, I think it's important to maintain a prolific writing jab,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ishmael-reed/regardless-of-the-criticisms-i-receive-from-the-left-the-right-and/) [Ishmael Reed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ishmael-reed/) > [In some circles where very heavy people think they have very heavy brains, words like "charming" and "clever" and "pretty" are all put-downs; all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-warhol/in-some-circles-where-very-heavy-people-think-they-have-very-heavy/) [Andy Warhol](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-warhol/) > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/) [John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/) > [The image of blacks usually is one of people who are suffering from hunger, unemployment, and poverty. The idea of them as agents and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/grace-lee-boggs/the-image-of-blacks-usually-is-one-of-people-who-are-suffering-from/) [Grace Lee Boggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/grace-lee-boggs/) > [If I had learned how to get along in the quotidian world while keeping up the search for the hidden realm, I might have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-woodring/if-i-had-learned-how-to-get-along-in-the-quotidian-world-while/) [Jim Woodring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-woodring/) > [Modeling is more important than the talking we do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wayne-williams/modeling-is-more-important-than-the-talking-we-do/) Wayne Williams > [There are more important things to focus on in life than how you look.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arden-cho/there-are-more-important-things-to-focus-on-in-life-than-how-you-look/) [Arden Cho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arden-cho/) > [Doing the right things is more important than doing things right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ko-wen-je/doing-the-right-things-is-more-important-than-doing-things-right/) [Ko Wen-je](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ko-wen-je/) > [To me, Caribbean food is about fresh, seasonal produce - using what's in season to create vibrant and great tasting food. The spicing is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ainsley-harriott/to-me-caribbean-food-is-about-fresh-seasonal-produce-using-what-s-in/) [Ainsley Harriott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ainsley-harriott/) > [Boys and boys' body image and clothes have become just as important an issue for boys as for girls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalind-wiseman/boys-and-boys-body-image-and-clothes-have-become-just-as-important-an/) [Rosalind Wiseman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalind-wiseman/) > [I think when you’re dying you start looking for important things in the corners. You can’t let anything that seems even semi-important pass, because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-crutcher/i-think-when-you-re-dying-you-start-looking-for-important-things-in/) [Chris Crutcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-crutcher/) Browse all 30,993 Important quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be spending years on a project, I need to be interested in the whole thing. I'm not there to be on my own. And if I'm going to be with these people, I'd best be interested in their work.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Mary McDonnell" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-if-i-m-going-to-be-spending/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Important" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-if-i-m-going-to-be-spending/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/dd0/mary-mcdonnell-31567_important_it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-i_1072299.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“It's phenomenally important to me that, if I'm going to be spending years on a project, I need to be…” — Mary McDonnell", "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": "Mary McDonnell", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-mcdonnell/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "It's phenomenally important to me that,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-if-i-m-going-to-be-spending/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-mcdonnell/it-s-phenomenally-important-to-me-that-if-i-m-going-to-be-spending/#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 } } ] } ```