--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I finished my career the way I wanted to." description: "\"I finished my career the way I wanted to.\" — Michael Phelps" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg" --- # I finished my career the way I wanted to. ![“I finished my career the way I wanted to.” quote by Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg) > “I finished my career the way I wanted to.” [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Finishing a career on one's own terms reflects purposeful planning, perseverance, and personal fulfillment. **In simple terms:** End career how you want. Key Takeaway Set goals and pursue them fully. Themes achievement legacy self‑determination Mood proud motivational Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - retirement - career change - coaching - mentorship - post‑career life Key Concepts goal setting career planning personal fulfillment Questions to Reflect On - What does a successful career end look like for you? - How will you transition after? A Different Perspective External factors may disrupt plans. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lucky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lucky/) ## Related quotes > [I've had a long career and I want to continue to have a long career. The way to do that is not to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-cornell/i-ve-had-a-long-career-and-i-want-to-continue-to-have-a-long-career/) [Chris Cornell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-cornell/) > [It's tough to put into words right now, but I finished my career how I wanted to. Through the ups and downs of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/it-s-tough-to-put-into-words-right-now-but-i-finished-my-career-how-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I always feel like I want to do my career my own way.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/famke-janssen/i-always-feel-like-i-want-to-do-my-career-my-own-way/) [Famke Janssen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/famke-janssen/) > [I have failed to love you in the way you wanted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apollyon-speller/i-have-failed-to-love-you-in-the-way-you-wanted/) Apollyon Speller > [“If everything comes in your way just the way you wanted them to ,then you're probably in the wrong lane.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arkopaul/if-everything-comes-in-your-way-just-the-way-you-wanted-them-to-then/) Arkopaul > [Up to now I've done everything I've wanted to do the way I wanted to do myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hasil-adkins/up-to-now-i-ve-done-everything-i-ve-wanted-to-do-the-way-i-wanted-to/) [Hasil Adkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hasil-adkins/) > [But my whole career, I have done things my way and the way that I wanted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-williams-jr/but-my-whole-career-i-have-done-things-my-way-and-the-way-that-i/) [Hank Williams Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-williams-jr/) > [Hmm it didn't come out the way I wanted](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/myself/hmm-it-didn-t-come-out-the-way-i-wanted/) Myself > [I'll die before I'm 25, and when I do I'll have lived the way I wanted to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sid-vicious/i-ll-die-before-i-m-25-and-when-i-do-i-ll-have-lived-the-way-i-wanted/) [Sid Vicious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sid-vicious/) > [I am a retired United States Marine Corporal and I started out in 2nd Battalion Night Marines on my deployment and I finished my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kyle-carpenter/i-am-a-retired-united-states-marine-corporal-and-i-started-out-in-2nd/) [Kyle Carpenter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kyle-carpenter/) > [I wish I had stayed and finished my career here in New York.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patrick-ewing/i-wish-i-had-stayed-and-finished-my-career-here-in-new-york/) [Patrick Ewing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patrick-ewing/) > [For me, it was impressive how Iniesta finished his career without the Ballon d'Or. With everything he won, it is difficult for me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruno-fernandes/for-me-it-was-impressive-how-iniesta-finished-his-career-without-the/) [Bruno Fernandes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruno-fernandes/) > [And then 45 years later, as I finished my career in the great city of Cleveland, that was another great way to end my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-winfield/and-then-45-years-later-as-i-finished-my-career-in-the-great-city-of/) [Dave Winfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-winfield/) > [I could have stayed at Southampton until I retired and finished my career there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-lallana/i-could-have-stayed-at-southampton-until-i-retired-and-finished-my/) [Adam Lallana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-lallana/) > [I finished my career in Australia and started my Academy, showing kids technique. I just loved it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-kewell/i-finished-my-career-in-australia-and-started-my-academy-showing-kids/) [Harry Kewell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-kewell/) ## More by Michael Phelps > [The support I've received from my sponsors has enabled me to raise the bar in swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-support-i-ve-received-from-my-sponsors-has-enabled-me-to-raise/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm definitely ahead of the schedule where I thought I was going to be at. I'm really happy. I was excited to race and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-definitely-ahead-of-the-schedule-where-i-thought-i-was-going-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit on anything. The more you dream, the farther you get.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-on-anything-the-more-you-dream-the-farther-you/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I think with practice, you can being whatever you want to be, and with a goal you can go in any direction that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-think-with-practice-you-can-being-whatever-you-want-to-be-and-with/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I learned how fast you can go from being an international hero to being a reference in a joke on a late night talk…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-learned-how-fast-you-can-go-from-being-an-international-hero-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I'm the same kind of guy before all this happened.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-m-the-same-kind-of-guy-before-all-this-happened/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [The only reason I started swimming was for water safety. Then, once I started falling in love with sports, I got more comfortable with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/the-only-reason-i-started-swimming-was-for-water-safety-then-once-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I don't like to be second in anything. I was trying, I just wasn't going anywhere.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-don-t-like-to-be-second-in-anything-i-was-trying-i-just-wasn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Every day, there's always something to be worried about; you turn on the news and see something different every day, and it's terrible. Hopefully,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/every-day-there-s-always-something-to-be-worried-about-you-turn-on/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I want to test my maximum and see how much I can do. And I want to change the world of swimming.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-want-to-test-my-maximum-and-see-how-much-i-can-do-and-i-want-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [You can't put a limit anything.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/you-can-t-put-a-limit-anything/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [I haven't swam in any of the rivers outside of Baltimore. I try to keep it in the pool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-haven-t-swam-in-any-of-the-rivers-outside-of-baltimore-i-try-to/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [This is my 20th year in the sport. I've known swimming and that's it. I don't want to swim past age 30; if I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/this-is-my-20th-year-in-the-sport-i-ve-known-swimming-and-that-s-it-i/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Anything is possible as long as you want it, you work for it. Doesn't matter what anyone else thinks, the only person that can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/anything-is-possible-as-long-as-you-want-it-you-work-for-it-doesn-t/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) > [Nothing is impossible. With so many people saying it couldn't be done, all it takes is an imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/nothing-is-impossible-with-so-many-people-saying-it-couldn-t-be-done/) [Michael Phelps](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) [Explore all 169 Michael Phelps quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/) ## 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 > [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": "I finished my career the way I wanted to.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michael Phelps" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/40a/michael-phelps-2388_career_i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to_1706952.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I finished my career the way I wanted to.” — Michael Phelps", "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 Phelps", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-phelps/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I finished my career the way...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-phelps/i-finished-my-career-the-way-i-wanted-to/#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 } } ] } ```