--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When you've accomplished a certain amount…" description: "\"When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.\" — Michael Douglas" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg" --- # When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career… ![“When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.” quote by Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg) > “When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.” [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. After reaching a certain level of success, personal ambition often recedes, giving way to other priorities or a sense of contentment. **In simple terms:** Success can mute ambition. Key Takeaway Achievement may shift focus. Themes career development motivation contentment life stages goal revaluation Mood reflective thoughtful Type philosophical advisory When to use this quote - executive leadership - mid‑career professionals - retirement planning Key Concepts self‑actualization priority shift Practical Applications - coaching transitions - career counseling Questions to Reflect On - What replaces ambition after success? - Is reduced drive a sign of fulfillment or stagnation? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ambition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambition/) [Ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ambitions/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Motivation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/motivation/) ## Related quotes > [I was always on to the next thing. I didn't celebrate all the little moments in my career that I should have done, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-haskell/i-was-always-on-to-the-next-thing-i-didn-t-celebrate-all-the-little/) [James Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-haskell/) > [I have seen too many people in my career think that there is some natural progression to life, with certain career milestones preceding whatever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ruth-porat/i-have-seen-too-many-people-in-my-career-think-that-there-is-some/) [Ruth Porat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ruth-porat/) > [I've been pretty career-focused since moving to New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-rannells/i-ve-been-pretty-career-focused-since-moving-to-new-york/) [Andrew Rannells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-rannells/) > [Fresh out of college, you tend to join a company because it's a job. But, you tend to stay because it becomes a career;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ursula-burns/fresh-out-of-college-you-tend-to-join-a-company-because-it-s-a-job/) [Ursula Burns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ursula-burns/) > [I had a certain career as an actor that I think was quite personal as well, and had a lot of integrity, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jodie-foster/i-had-a-certain-career-as-an-actor-that-i-think-was-quite-personal-as/) [Jodie Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jodie-foster/) > [Once you get to a certain part in your career, the hate is gonna come.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denzel-curry/once-you-get-to-a-certain-part-in-your-career-the-hate-is-gonna-come/) [Denzel Curry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denzel-curry/) > [It's not human nature to be great. It's human nature to survive, to be average and do what you have to do to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-saban/it-s-not-human-nature-to-be-great-it-s-human-nature-to-survive-to-be/) [Nick Saban](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-saban/) > [Success needs to be measured according to the ambitions and the resources of each designer. And many aren't interested in being a megabrand.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-gunn/success-needs-to-be-measured-according-to-the-ambitions-and-the/) [Tim Gunn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-gunn/) > [There are a lot of goals and ambitions that I have in life, things I want to accomplish. Who knows? I mean - it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-tebow/there-are-a-lot-of-goals-and-ambitions-that-i-have-in-life-things-i/) [Tim Tebow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-tebow/) > [I hope I can fulfill all my ambitions at Everton. But you never know in this game.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-moyes/i-hope-i-can-fulfill-all-my-ambitions-at-everton-but-you-never-know/) [David Moyes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-moyes/) > [It's interesting when you wind up distilling all your ambitions and your goals and dreams into one single person. It's giving that person a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damien-chazelle/it-s-interesting-when-you-wind-up-distilling-all-your-ambitions-and/) [Damien Chazelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damien-chazelle/) > [I don't know what my ambitions are until they turn up really but I'd love to work with Shane Meadows, I know that much!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-kaye/i-don-t-know-what-my-ambitions-are-until-they-turn-up-really-but-i-d/) [Paul Kaye](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-kaye/) > [“Why should some foul word-slinging curb my ambitions?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/veronika-carnaby/why-should-some-foul-word-slinging-curb-my-ambitions/) [Veronika Carnaby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/veronika-carnaby/) > [Coaching Netherlands remains one of my ambitions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/coaching-netherlands-remains-one-of-my-ambitions/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [A man's worth is no greater than the worth of his ambitions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/a-man-s-worth-is-no-greater-than-the-worth-of-his-ambitions/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More by Michael Douglas > [Directors have so much else to do besides tell actors what to do. There are so many issues and problems.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/directors-have-so-much-else-to-do-besides-tell-actors-what-to-do/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I've gotten burnt the last few years on a couple of little independent films where you get paid nothing, you work your ass off,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-ve-gotten-burnt-the-last-few-years-on-a-couple-of-little/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [With little knowledge of what it meant to be a Jew, I found myself passionately defending the Jewish people. Now, half a century later,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/with-little-knowledge-of-what-it-meant-to-be-a-jew-i-found-myself/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I don't look good in tights. I know that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-don-t-look-good-in-tights-i-know-that/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [My mother is Bermudan, so I had a lot of memories when I was a kid, used to go down to Bermuda a lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/my-mother-is-bermudan-so-i-had-a-lot-of-memories-when-i-was-a-kid/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I love kids, and I love having had this second chance to have a family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-love-kids-and-i-love-having-had-this-second-chance-to-have-a-family/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [I guess there are some women who like older men, but it's a smaller group.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/i-guess-there-are-some-women-who-like-older-men-but-it-s-a-smaller/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) > [People are goofy about the movie business, so you end up counting on friends you knew before you were successful. 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I, on the other hand, revel in it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/actresses-have-more-fear-of-being-disliked-i-on-the-other-hand-revel/) [Michael Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) [Explore all 162 Michael Douglas quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/) ## More Accomplished quotes > [I never believed in trying to do anything. Whatever I set out to do I found I had already accomplished.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/i-never-believed-in-trying-to-do-anything-whatever-i-set-out-to-do-i/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [This is, for an accomplished Latino, an accomplished African American, an accomplished anyone who disproves stereotypes, it's a constant battle in your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonia-sotomayor/this-is-for-an-accomplished-latino-an-accomplished-african-american/) [Sonia Sotomayor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonia-sotomayor/) > [When you have accomplished your goal simply walk away. This is the path way to Heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laozi/when-you-have-accomplished-your-goal-simply-walk-away-this-is-the/) [Laozi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laozi/) > [... even the most sublimely accomplished non-stop talker can't consistently please.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-d-salinger-2/even-the-most-sublimely-accomplished-non-stop-talker-can-t/) [J. D. 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They have created a land of make-believe that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/with-epcot-center-the-disney-corporation-has-accomplished-something-i/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Listing the polar bear under the Endangered Species Act could harm bear conservation efforts by eliminating revenues from the carefully-regulated sport hunting of polar…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-ridenour/listing-the-polar-bear-under-the-endangered-species-act-could-harm/) Amy Ridenour > [“Great things can be accomplished, when it doesnt matter who gets the credit.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/great-things-can-be-accomplished-when-it-doesnt-matter-who-gets-the/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) > [If I could inspire you for even a moment to be yourself and love yourself, and not let what anyone has to say hinder…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joshua-neal-hartry/if-i-could-inspire-you-for-even-a-moment-to-be-yourself-and-love/) [Joshua Neal Hartry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joshua-neal-hartry/) Browse all 1,379 Accomplished quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Douglas" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amount-in-your-career-you-re-not/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Accomplished" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amount-in-your-career-you-re-not/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/62b/michael-douglas-2539_accomplished_when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amoun_88128.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“When you've accomplished a certain amount in your career, you're not so focused on your ambitions.” — Michael Douglas", "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": "Michael Douglas", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-douglas/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "When you've accomplished a certain amount...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amount-in-your-career-you-re-not/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-douglas/when-you-ve-accomplished-a-certain-amount-in-your-career-you-re-not/#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 } } ] } ```