--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Basically, we've grown up very focused on…" description: "\"Basically, we've grown up very focused on the institution. The institution tells me what to do. It tells me where to go. It tells me what my career pat..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/michael-mullen-13631_attach_basically-we-ve-grown-up-very-focused-on_2671500.png" --- # Basically, we've grown up very focused on the institution… ![“Basically, we've grown up very focused on the institution. The institution tells me what to do. It tells me where to go. It tells me what my career path is, and then I, sort of, attach my own personal desires, my own personal interests. I think we're living in a time where we're going to have to…” quote by Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/michael-mullen-13631_attach_basically-we-ve-grown-up-very-focused-on_2671500.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/michael-mullen-13631_attach_basically-we-ve-grown-up-very-focused-on_2671500.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/be8/michael-mullen-13631_attach_basically-we-ve-grown-up-very-focused-on_2671500.png) > “Basically, we've grown up very focused on the institution. The institution tells me what to do. It tells me where to go. It tells me what my career path is, and then I, sort of, attach my own personal desires, my own personal interests. I think we're living in a time where we're going to have to change - to put people in the center.” [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Institutions dictate career paths, but shifting focus to people centers personal fulfillment and adaptability. **In simple terms:** Institutions limit choices; people‑centered change needed. Key Takeaway Prioritize human needs over rigid structures. Themes career institution personal growth leadership human‑centred Mood reflective optimistic Type organizational motivational When to use this quote - Workplace redesign - career counseling - leadership training - employee empowerment Key Concepts Organizational behavior career development human‑centric design Questions to Reflect On - What incentives encourage people‑first reforms? - How to balance institutional goals with individual aspirations? A Different Perspective Changing entrenched institutions faces resistance. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Attach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attach/) [Basically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/basically/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-path/) [Center](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/center/) [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Desires](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/desires/) [Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused/) [Focused Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focused-institution-2506786/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Going](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/going/) [Grown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown/) [Grown Focused](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grown-focused-2506788/) [I think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/i-think/) [Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution/) [Institution Institution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution-institution-2506789/) [Institution Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/institution-tells-2506787/) [Interests](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interests/) [Living](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/living/) [Me](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/me/) [My own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/my-own/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Path](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/path/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Personal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/personal/) [Put](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/put/) [Sort](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sort/) [Tells](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tells/) [Then](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/then/) [Think](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/think/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Very](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/very/) [Where](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/where/) ## Related quotes > [Historically, royal families have represented an institution. The institution is built on heritage, and is timeless in that sense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederik-crown-prince-of-denmark/historically-royal-families-have-represented-an-institution-the/) [Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederik-crown-prince-of-denmark/) > [The Hollywood model is to develop scripts for 10 years, sell them, transfer them, attach this actor, then attach a director. This isn't what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/the-hollywood-model-is-to-develop-scripts-for-10-years-sell-them/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You want to attach emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lurlene-mcdaniel/you-want-to-attach-emotionally/) [Lurlene McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lurlene-mcdaniel/) > [For the artist to attach himself to his work, or identify himself with it, is suicidal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/for-the-artist-to-attach-himself-to-his-work-or-identify-himself-with/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Prioritization sounds like such a simple thing, but true prioritization starts with a very difficult question to answer, especially at a company with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/prioritization-sounds-like-such-a-simple-thing-but-true/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [We cannot all be great, but we can always attach ourselves to something that is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/we-cannot-all-be-great-but-we-can-always-attach-ourselves-to/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [It used to be that you could do these nuggets of a movie and it would attach itself in terms of credibility to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/it-used-to-be-that-you-could-do-these-nuggets-of-a-movie-and-it-would/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [Adidas is just right. They've been, like, a partner I couldn't be more thankful for. I really feel like they've helped increase my popularity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/adidas-is-just-right-they-ve-been-like-a-partner-i-couldn-t-be-more/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [People attach too much to the idea of being a model, that you can only be a certain way to have done it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/people-attach-too-much-to-the-idea-of-being-a-model-that-you-can-only/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [“When you attach to someone or something, just remember it won’t be there forever. So ask yourself, is it worth the pain you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-t-p-johnson/when-you-attach-to-someone-or-something-just-remember-it-won-t-be/) [Zachary T. P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-t-p-johnson/) > [“God is the light bulb, to where faith is the light switch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/god-is-the-light-bulb-to-where-faith-is-the-light-switch/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [Look at the newborn baby. It struggles to breathe after living in the womb. And yet, growth comes as a result of struggle. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/look-at-the-newborn-baby-it-struggles-to-breathe-after-living-in-the/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [I've always thought it was important not to attach too much superstition to the space where you're writing, because once you get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-jones/i-ve-always-thought-it-was-important-not-to-attach-too-much/) [Sadie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-jones/) > [“we have to bear the result of our own actions because we attach ourselves to them. ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-have-to-bear-the-result-of-our-own-actions-because-we-attach/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [“I reached out for something to attach myself to—and I found nothing. But in reaching out, in the effort to grasp, to attach myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-reached-out-for-something-to-attach-myself-to-and-i-found-nothing/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) ## More by Michael Mullen > [Every Sailor has the potential to lead," said Mullen, "I don't care if it's a seaman recruit or someone higher ranking than myself. Where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/every-sailor-has-the-potential-to-lead-said-mullen-i-don-t-care-if-it/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I worry a little bit about - quote - "regime change." We haven't had a great deal of success with that in years. That's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-worry-a-little-bit-about-quote-regime-change-we-haven-t-had-a-great/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Some 70% to 80% of all who join the military will return to the civilian workforce. They'll return to communities, and one of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/some-70-to-80-of-all-who-join-the-military-will-return-to-the/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm blessed to be in a command position in a Navy this good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-blessed-to-be-in-a-command-position-in-a-navy-this-good/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [The truth is, we live in deeds, not days; in actions and thoughts and feelings, not heartbeats.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-truth-is-we-live-in-deeds-not-days-in-actions-and-thoughts-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'd have no problem serving under any president.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-d-have-no-problem-serving-under-any-president/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I think anybody in our - in the, in the national security apparatus has, has got to take full cognizance of their responsibility for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-think-anybody-in-our-in-the-in-the-national-security-apparatus-has/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm very concerned about the nuclear weapons development for Iran and the destabilizing influence it has and they have in that part of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-very-concerned-about-the-nuclear-weapons-development-for-iran-and/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [Too often we just look at these glistening successes. Behind them in many, many cases is failure along the way, and that doesn't get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/too-often-we-just-look-at-these-glistening-successes-behind-them-in/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [When I go there to Afghanistan or Pakistan, the question both asked - and if it's not asked, implied - is, 'Are you staying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/when-i-go-there-to-afghanistan-or-pakistan-the-question-both-asked/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [The best day was when we got bin Laden.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/the-best-day-was-when-we-got-bin-laden/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I would like America to remember those who have served and those that we've lost and their families.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-would-like-america-to-remember-those-who-have-served-and-those-that/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I've been pretty clear about saying that I think that the No. 1 threat to our national security is our debt. And we've got…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-ve-been-pretty-clear-about-saying-that-i-think-that-the-no-1-threat/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [I'm a Vietnam veteran. I was here when there was no public support, not just for the effort in Vietnam, for the mission in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/i-m-a-vietnam-veteran-i-was-here-when-there-was-no-public-support-not/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) > [It is my position that allowing gays and lesbians to serve openly would be the right thing to do. No matter how I look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-mullen/it-is-my-position-that-allowing-gays-and-lesbians-to-serve-openly/) [Michael Mullen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) [Explore all 49 Michael Mullen quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-mullen/) ## More Attach quotes > [“I reached out for something to attach myself to—and I found nothing. But in reaching out, in the effort to grasp, to attach myself,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/i-reached-out-for-something-to-attach-myself-to-and-i-found-nothing/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [“we have to bear the result of our own actions because we attach ourselves to them. ...”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/we-have-to-bear-the-result-of-our-own-actions-because-we-attach/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [I've always thought it was important not to attach too much superstition to the space where you're writing, because once you get into the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sadie-jones/i-ve-always-thought-it-was-important-not-to-attach-too-much/) [Sadie Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sadie-jones/) > [Look at the newborn baby. It struggles to breathe after living in the womb. And yet, growth comes as a result of struggle. Even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-rap-brown/look-at-the-newborn-baby-it-struggles-to-breathe-after-living-in-the/) [H. Rap Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-rap-brown/) > [“God is the light bulb, to where faith is the light switch.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-liccione/god-is-the-light-bulb-to-where-faith-is-the-light-switch/) [Anthony Liccione](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-liccione/) > [“When you attach to someone or something, just remember it won’t be there forever. So ask yourself, is it worth the pain you will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-t-p-johnson/when-you-attach-to-someone-or-something-just-remember-it-won-t-be/) [Zachary T. P. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-t-p-johnson/) > [People attach too much to the idea of being a model, that you can only be a certain way to have done it. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-dornan/people-attach-too-much-to-the-idea-of-being-a-model-that-you-can-only/) [Jamie Dornan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-dornan/) > [Adidas is just right. They've been, like, a partner I couldn't be more thankful for. I really feel like they've helped increase my popularity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/adidas-is-just-right-they-ve-been-like-a-partner-i-couldn-t-be-more/) [Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/) > [It used to be that you could do these nuggets of a movie and it would attach itself in terms of credibility to your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-harris/it-used-to-be-that-you-could-do-these-nuggets-of-a-movie-and-it-would/) [Jared Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-harris/) > [We cannot all be great, but we can always attach ourselves to something that is great.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-emerson-fosdick/we-cannot-all-be-great-but-we-can-always-attach-ourselves-to/) [Harry Emerson Fosdick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-emerson-fosdick/) > [Prioritization sounds like such a simple thing, but true prioritization starts with a very difficult question to answer, especially at a company with a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-weiner/prioritization-sounds-like-such-a-simple-thing-but-true/) [Jeff Weiner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-weiner/) > [For the artist to attach himself to his work, or identify himself with it, is suicidal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/for-the-artist-to-attach-himself-to-his-work-or-identify-himself-with/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [You want to attach emotionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lurlene-mcdaniel/you-want-to-attach-emotionally/) [Lurlene McDaniel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lurlene-mcdaniel/) > [The Hollywood model is to develop scripts for 10 years, sell them, transfer them, attach this actor, then attach a director. This isn't what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-birbiglia/the-hollywood-model-is-to-develop-scripts-for-10-years-sell-them/) [Mike Birbiglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-birbiglia/) > [You couldn't attach a 'but' to 'I love you'. You could onlt attach an 'and'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-brockmann/you-couldn-t-attach-a-but-to-i-love-you-you-could-onlt-attach-an-and/) [Suzanne Brockmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-brockmann/) [Browse all 62 Attach quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attach/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Basically, we've grown up very focused on the institution. The institution tells me what to do. It tells me where to go. It tells me what my career path is, and then I, sort of, attach my own personal desires, my own personal interests. 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