--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I never had a backup plan. I've only been…" description: "\"I never had a backup plan. I've only been good at one thing. I admire people who are jacks-of-all-trades. That's not me.\" — Nahnatchka Khan" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/nahnatchka-khan-11439_admire_i-never-had-a-backup-plan-i-ve-only-been_1923965.jpg" --- # I never had a backup plan. I've only been good at one… ![“I never had a backup plan. I've only been good at one thing. I admire people who are jacks-of-all-trades. That's not me.” quote by Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/nahnatchka-khan-11439_admire_i-never-had-a-backup-plan-i-ve-only-been_1923965.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/nahnatchka-khan-11439_admire_i-never-had-a-backup-plan-i-ve-only-been_1923965.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8d1/nahnatchka-khan-11439_admire_i-never-had-a-backup-plan-i-ve-only-been_1923965.jpg) > “I never had a backup plan. I've only been good at one thing. I admire people who are jacks-of-all-trades. That's not me.” [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Relying on a single skill limits flexibility; embracing multiple abilities broadens opportunities. **In simple terms:** One skill limits you. Key Takeaway Develop diverse skills. Themes career development skill diversity self-improvement Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - job market - entrepreneurship - creative projects - personal growth Key Concepts Jack of all trades specialization Questions to Reflect On - What new skill could you start learning? - How does specialization affect your confidence? A Different Perspective Jack of all may may feel unfocused. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Admire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) [Admire People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire-people-323496/) [Backup](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backup/) [Backup plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/backup-plan/) [Good](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good/) [Never](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/never/) [Only](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/only/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Plan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan/) [Plan Ve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/plan-ve-383060/) [Strategy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/strategy/) ## Related quotes > [I like to go full bore into something. If you have a backup plan, then you've already admitted defeat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-cavill/i-like-to-go-full-bore-into-something-if-you-have-a-backup-plan-then/) [Henry Cavill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-cavill/) > [“Always have a backup plan to the backup plan.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gillian-flynn/always-have-a-backup-plan-to-the-backup-plan/) [Gillian Flynn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gillian-flynn/) > [“When OSHA fails, social media is the backup plan!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-magee/when-osha-fails-social-media-is-the-backup-plan/) [Steven Magee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-magee/) > [Plan B. You've always got to have a Plan B.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/plan-b-you-ve-always-got-to-have-a-plan-b/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [Connect with supportive people who empower you. The more you jump into your life, the further away from Ed you can get. Don't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenni-schaefer/connect-with-supportive-people-who-empower-you-the-more-you-jump-into/) [Jenni Schaefer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenni-schaefer/) > [I think that the minute that you have a backup plan, you've admitted that you're not going to succeed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-holmes/i-think-that-the-minute-that-you-have-a-backup-plan-you-ve-admitted/) [Elizabeth Holmes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-holmes/) > [What I gotta do? Cats don't even have a clue Can't stand to see Me kick a flow so unbelievably And never gave a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eamon/what-i-gotta-do-cats-don-t-even-have-a-clue-can-t-stand-to-see-me/) [Eamon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eamon/) > [I like to write from scratch most of the time, but I like to have a backup plan just in case.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-kurstin/i-like-to-write-from-scratch-most-of-the-time-but-i-like-to-have-a/) [Greg Kurstin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-kurstin/) > [A backup plan means somewhere in my head, I think I might fail and that word is not in my vocabulary. Plus I'm too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/malorie-blackman/a-backup-plan-means-somewhere-in-my-head-i-think-i-might-fail-and/) [Malorie Blackman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/malorie-blackman/) > [A well-defined backup plan is sabotage waiting to happen. Why push through the dip, why take the risk, why blow it all when there's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/a-well-defined-backup-plan-is-sabotage-waiting-to-happen-why-push/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [My family was always very supportive. Whether you're an actor or not, everybody hears the horror stories of people going to L.A. and trying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-levi/my-family-was-always-very-supportive-whether-you-re-an-actor-or-not/) [Zachary Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-levi/) > [Don't let uncertainty talk you into pursuing a backup plan instead of your purpose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-goff/don-t-let-uncertainty-talk-you-into-pursuing-a-backup-plan-instead-of/) [Bob Goff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-goff/) > [I thought I would make it (to the NBA). I believed that I would make it. But I had a Plan B. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/avery-johnson/i-thought-i-would-make-it-to-the-nba-i-believed-that-i-would-make-it/) [Avery Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/avery-johnson/) > [If God is not with us, we do not want to continue. If the Sermon on the Mount is simply impractical, our mission work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-baker/if-god-is-not-with-us-we-do-not-want-to-continue-if-the-sermon-on-the/) [Heidi Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-baker/) > [ When people floated this idea that this was a conspiracy by the \[Jeb\] Bush campaign to undermine \[Marco\] Rubio, at first, it was like… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/josh-barro/when-people-floated-this-idea-that-this-was-a-conspiracy-by-the-jeb/) [Josh Barro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/josh-barro/) ## More by Nahnatchka Khan > [In terms of leadership, you've got to allow for people to be amazing and to contribute in a way that's meaningful. You can't hold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/in-terms-of-leadership-you-ve-got-to-allow-for-people-to-be-amazing/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [The first time I ever wrote anything, it was an editorial column for my high school newspaper.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/the-first-time-i-ever-wrote-anything-it-was-an-editorial-column-for/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [I've read many great samples, both of existing shows I liked and original pilots, and definitely hired the writers - or, at least, tried…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/i-ve-read-many-great-samples-both-of-existing-shows-i-liked-and/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [Some people don't have a sense of humor about certain things, and other people do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/some-people-don-t-have-a-sense-of-humor-about-certain-things-and/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [Networks love data. They love to be able to look at numbers and try to predict what they think will work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/networks-love-data-they-love-to-be-able-to-look-at-numbers-and-try-to/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [Randall Park and Ali Wong, they are so many things; they're not just one thing, they're bigger than just their identity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/randall-park-and-ali-wong-they-are-so-many-things-they-re-not-just/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [Working in network sitcom arenas, whenever you decide to depart from the norm and tell a story that's not typical, I think you're always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/working-in-network-sitcom-arenas-whenever-you-decide-to-depart-from/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [Norman Lear was talking about everything in the '70s... race, sexism, all of it. The network comedy really stayed away from that in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/norman-lear-was-talking-about-everything-in-the-70s-race-sexism-all/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [I think a lot of quote-unquote 'comedic actors' really go for the laugh and are overly straining and sort of trying.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/i-think-a-lot-of-quote-unquote-comedic-actors-really-go-for-the-laugh/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [You don't have to be just one thing. I think that applies to women in front of and behind the camera.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/you-don-t-have-to-be-just-one-thing-i-think-that-applies-to-women-in/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [For immigrant families, television is what connects you to American culture, but it's also what makes you feel like an outsider.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/for-immigrant-families-television-is-what-connects-you-to-american/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [I love women who don't apologize.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/i-love-women-who-don-t-apologize/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [If you try to describe NASCAR to anyone, you sound crazy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/if-you-try-to-describe-nascar-to-anyone-you-sound-crazy/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [Sometimes you can feel the gears shifting in scripts, like really trying to make something work that feels sweaty for whatever reason. I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/sometimes-you-can-feel-the-gears-shifting-in-scripts-like-really/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) > [You can be a successful woman and also be vulnerable, and that's important to show people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nahnatchka-khan/you-can-be-a-successful-woman-and-also-be-vulnerable-and-that-s/) [Nahnatchka Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) [Explore all 60 Nahnatchka Khan quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nahnatchka-khan/) ## More Admire quotes > [Everyone will admire you when you do well. What a horrible thing to do to someone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/everyone-will-admire-you-when-you-do-well-what-a-horrible-thing-to-do/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I admire Serena Williams, because, I mean, who doesn't admire Serena Williams?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johanna-konta/i-admire-serena-williams-because-i-mean-who-doesn-t-admire-serena/) [Johanna Konta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johanna-konta/) > [How proud I am to be compared to Oprah. I really admire her. She's a minority woman and she's done all this by herself...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cristina-saralegui/how-proud-i-am-to-be-compared-to-oprah-i-really-admire-her-she-s-a/) [Cristina Saralegui](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cristina-saralegui/) > [I admire President Obama's ability to trust strangers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/greg-gutfeld/i-admire-president-obama-s-ability-to-trust-strangers/) [Greg Gutfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/greg-gutfeld/) > [I really admire people's interactions with technology that aren't tech-centric but use it as a tool.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-polachek/i-really-admire-people-s-interactions-with-technology-that-aren-t/) [Caroline Polachek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-polachek/) > [During my first years in the Sierra, I was ever calling on everybody within reach to admire them, but I found no one half…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/during-my-first-years-in-the-sierra-i-was-ever-calling-on-everybody/) [John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/) > [Shaw's works make me admire the magnificent tolerance and broadmindedness of the english.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-joyce/shaw-s-works-make-me-admire-the-magnificent-tolerance-and/) [James Joyce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-joyce/) > [It could be my British need for discipline that makes me admire the American appetite for freedom and passion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-winwood/it-could-be-my-british-need-for-discipline-that-makes-me-admire-the/) [Steve Winwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-winwood/) > [I believe in a world where there are no heroes, and I've read and know humanity a lot. There are moments that I admire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/orhan-pamuk/i-believe-in-a-world-where-there-are-no-heroes-and-i-ve-read-and-know/) [Orhan Pamuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/orhan-pamuk/) > [I admire machinery as much is any man, and am as thankful to it as any man can be for what it does for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/i-admire-machinery-as-much-is-any-man-and-am-as-thankful-to-it-as-any/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [I think it's really good and helpful to have the people you most admire in some other discipline than what you work in. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whit-stillman/i-think-it-s-really-good-and-helpful-to-have-the-people-you-most/) [Whit Stillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whit-stillman/) > [Part of what we admire about a painting or a piece of music is the order which the artist has imposed upon what would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-storr/part-of-what-we-admire-about-a-painting-or-a-piece-of-music-is-the/) [Anthony Storr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-storr/) > [I respect and admire the Premier League.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-koeman/i-respect-and-admire-the-premier-league/) [Ronald Koeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-koeman/) > [“Admire and appreciate your man and he will be happy on your side”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-alfiori/admire-and-appreciate-your-man-and-he-will-be-happy-on-your-side/) [Linda Alfiori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-alfiori/) > [“The thing I admire most about you is no matter how hard, or how much the world has tried to beat you, break you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-gill/the-thing-i-admire-most-about-you-is-no-matter-how-hard-or-how-much/) [Nikita Gill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-gill/) [Browse all 2,369 Admire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/admire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I never had a backup plan. 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