--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Most professional women I know - myself…" description: "\"Most professional women I know - myself included - long since gave up looking for a rulebook or a roadmap; we make it up as we go along. Every day pres..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/nancy-gibbs-2206_abstract_most-professional-women-i-know-myself-in_3109355.png" --- # Most professional women I know - myself included - long… ![“Most professional women I know - myself included - long since gave up looking for a rulebook or a roadmap; we make it up as we go along. Every day presents a new choice, a new challenge, which makes long-term career planning seem like an especially abstract exercise.” quote by Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/nancy-gibbs-2206_abstract_most-professional-women-i-know-myself-in_3109355.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/nancy-gibbs-2206_abstract_most-professional-women-i-know-myself-in_3109355.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b7c/nancy-gibbs-2206_abstract_most-professional-women-i-know-myself-in_3109355.png) > “Most professional women I know - myself included - long since gave up looking for a rulebook or a roadmap; we make it up as we go along. Every day presents a new choice, a new challenge, which makes long-term career planning seem like an especially abstract exercise.” [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Women abandon rigid career guides, creating their own paths through daily choices and challenges. **In simple terms:** Women make their own career paths. Key Takeaway Embrace flexibility and adapt daily. Themes career development women empowerment adaptability Mood determined optimistic Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - job search - entrepreneurship - skill building - networking Key Concepts self‑direction agency non‑linear growth Questions to Reflect On - How do you adapt your career goals each week? - What small decision shaped your path? A Different Perspective Rigid plans can limit creativity and responsiveness. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abstract](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) [Along](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/along/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-planning-5424583/) [Challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/challenge/) [Choice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choice/) [Day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/day/) [Every](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every/) [Every day](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/every-day/) [Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Feminism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/feminism/) [Fitness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fitness/) [Gave](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gave/) [Go](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/go/) [Included](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/included/) [Know](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/know/) [Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long term](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-term/) [Looking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/looking/) [Make](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make/) [Makes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/makes/) [Most](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/most/) [Myself](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/myself/) [New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new/) [New challenge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-challenge/) [Planning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning/) [Planning Like](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/planning-like-470827/) [Presents](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/presents/) [Professional](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional/) [Professional Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/professional-women-1585165/) [Seem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/seem/) [Since](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/since/) [Up](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/up/) [Which](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/which/) [Women](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/women/) ## Related quotes > [As parents, I think we're always novices, and every day presents a new challenge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ewen-bremner/as-parents-i-think-we-re-always-novices-and-every-day-presents-a-new/) [Ewen Bremner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ewen-bremner/) > [“In the race to scale a startup, overlooking financial planning is like to building a skyscraper on shaky ground. True growth stems from decisions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-hishmeh/in-the-race-to-scale-a-startup-overlooking-financial-planning-is-like/) [Jason Hishmeh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-hishmeh/) > [Tracking account planning is rather like counting a mixed batch of tropical fish. You think you see patterns, but they've all changed by the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/tracking-account-planning-is-rather-like-counting-a-mixed-batch-of/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Planning is like "pointing yourself" in the direction of a target...no more than that. Let your power then redefine the target, and re-point you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-carroll/planning-is-like-pointing-yourself-in-the-direction-of-a-target-no/) [Lee Carroll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-carroll/) > [Financial planning is like navigation. If you know where you are and where you want to go, navigation isn't such a great problem. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/venita-vancaspel/financial-planning-is-like-navigation-if-you-know-where-you-are-and/) [Venita VanCaspel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/venita-vancaspel/) > [Planning is like taking on blinders. I think it is a wise thing to be open to whatever shows up on your doorstep.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margrethe-vestager/planning-is-like-taking-on-blinders-i-think-it-is-a-wise-thing-to-be/) [Margrethe Vestager](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margrethe-vestager/) > [I don't know when the cult of conspicuous busyness began, but it has swept up almost all the upwardly mobile, professional women I know.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-ehrenreich/i-don-t-know-when-the-cult-of-conspicuous-busyness-began-but-it-has/) [Barbara Ehrenreich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-ehrenreich/) > [As individuals, we professional women need to learn how to raise our hands and ask for more throughout our careers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/caroline-ghosn/as-individuals-we-professional-women-need-to-learn-how-to-raise-our/) [Caroline Ghosn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/caroline-ghosn/) > [I think it's important how I come across to my students. I want them to see how professional women dress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-biden/i-think-it-s-important-how-i-come-across-to-my-students-i-want-them/) [Jill Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-biden/) > [We must find ways to encourage more professional women to participate in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/reham-khan/we-must-find-ways-to-encourage-more-professional-women-to-participate/) [Reham Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/reham-khan/) > [It is a silly question to ask a prostitute why she does it.. These are the highest-paid professional women in America.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gail-sheehy/it-is-a-silly-question-to-ask-a-prostitute-why-she-does-it-these-are/) [Gail Sheehy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gail-sheehy/) > [There are so many professional women who have to be this boss, but when they get home, it's like, 'Can someone take care of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yvonne-orji/there-are-so-many-professional-women-who-have-to-be-this-boss-but/) [Yvonne Orji](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yvonne-orji/) > [There weren't any opportunities to be a professional women's player until I was 16 and the WSL was formed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nikita-parris/there-weren-t-any-opportunities-to-be-a-professional-women-s-player/) [Nikita Parris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nikita-parris/) > [We live in one of the most complex ages for young, professional women.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalie-dormer/we-live-in-one-of-the-most-complex-ages-for-young-professional-women/) [Natalie Dormer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalie-dormer/) > [When I first became a lawyer, only 2% of the bar was women. People would always think I was a secretary. In those days,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bella-abzug/when-i-first-became-a-lawyer-only-2-of-the-bar-was-women-people-would/) [Bella Abzug](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bella-abzug/) ## More by Nancy Gibbs > [Back in the really olden days, dinner was seldom a ceremonial event for U.S. families. Only the very wealthy had a separate dining room.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/back-in-the-really-olden-days-dinner-was-seldom-a-ceremonial-event/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [The millennials were raised in a cocoon, their anxious parents afraid to let them go out in the park to play. So should we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-millennials-were-raised-in-a-cocoon-their-anxious-parents-afraid/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Be bored and see where it takes you, because the imagination's dusty wilderness is worth crossing if you want to sculpt your soul.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/be-bored-and-see-where-it-takes-you-because-the-imagination-s-dusty/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [As you probably know, I've written a lot about the presidency, so it's obviously exciting when you get to interview a president and write…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/as-you-probably-know-i-ve-written-a-lot-about-the-presidency-so-it-s/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [ \[Former chief executives\] come away thinking that America needs a strong, functioning presidency to succeed, and they become very protective of that office. Democrats… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/former-chief-executives-come-away-thinking-that-america-needs-a/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [It's hard to think of any tool, any instrument, any object in history with which so many developed so close a relationship so quickly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/it-s-hard-to-think-of-any-tool-any-instrument-any-object-in-history/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“Lydon Johnson realized he really was President, that his identity had changed by President Kennedy's shocking death, when aides who had been like family…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/lydon-johnson-realized-he-really-was-president-that-his-identity-had/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [A typical smart phone has more computing power than Apollo 11 when it landed a man on the moon.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/a-typical-smart-phone-has-more-computing-power-than-apollo-11-when-it/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [George W. Bush, though a president's son, is cast as Reagan's heir even more than his father's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/george-w-bush-though-a-president-s-son-is-cast-as-reagan-s-heir-even/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [For God to be kept out of the classroom or out of America's public debate by nervous school administrators or overcautious politicians serves no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/for-god-to-be-kept-out-of-the-classroom-or-out-of-america-s-public/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [Pain is the most private experience, but its causes, whether natural or man-made, demand public accounting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/pain-is-the-most-private-experience-but-its-causes-whether-natural-or/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [On the court, Jason Collins is not a huge basketball star, but he has already claimed his place in civil rights history as the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/on-the-court-jason-collins-is-not-a-huge-basketball-star-but-he-has/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [When you are a media celebrity, every word you speak is dissected, as are those you choose not to speak.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/when-you-are-a-media-celebrity-every-word-you-speak-is-dissected-as/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [If you want to humble an empire it makes sense to maim its cathedrals. They are symbols of its faith, and when they crumple…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/if-you-want-to-humble-an-empire-it-makes-sense-to-maim-its-cathedrals/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) > [“The wand is mighter then the sword.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nancy-gibbs/the-wand-is-mighter-then-the-sword/) [Nancy Gibbs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) [Explore all 179 Nancy Gibbs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nancy-gibbs/) ## More Abstract quotes > [Love is like that, fragile and light. No wonder it rests upon our hearts in intangible moments, bids us follow fleeting thoughts and ideas…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/love-is-like-that-fragile-and-light-no-wonder-it-rests-upon-our/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Wisdom is the abstract of the past, but beauty is the promise of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/wisdom-is-the-abstract-of-the-past-but-beauty-is-the-promise-of-the/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Where human eyes have never seen, where human beings have never been, I build a world of abstract dreams, and I wait for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sun-ra/where-human-eyes-have-never-seen-where-human-beings-have-never-been-i/) [Sun Ra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sun-ra/) > [A little too abstract, a little too wise, It is time for us to kiss the earth again, It is time to let the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robinson-jeffers/a-little-too-abstract-a-little-too-wise-it-is-time-for-us-to-kiss-the/) [Robinson Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robinson-jeffers/) > [“Happy is very abstract, you can't touch it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julius-veal/happy-is-very-abstract-you-can-t-touch-it/) [Julius Veal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julius-veal/) > [Abstract Expressionism was invented by New York drunks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joni-mitchell/abstract-expressionism-was-invented-by-new-york-drunks/) [Joni Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joni-mitchell/) > [The more horrible this world (as today, for instance), the more abstract our art, whereas a happy world brings forth an art of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-klee/the-more-horrible-this-world-as-today-for-instance-the-more-abstract/) [Paul Klee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-klee/) > [Describing comic sensibility is near impossible. It's sort of an abstract silliness, that sometimes the joke isn't the star.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-carvey/describing-comic-sensibility-is-near-impossible-it-s-sort-of-an/) [Dana Carvey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-carvey/) > [For people of color - especially African Americans - the idea that racist cops might frame members of their community is no abstract notion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/for-people-of-color-especially-african-americans-the-idea-that-racist/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [The word of the Lord never comes to us as an opinion, no attempt is made to support it by argument, it comes as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-w-ivins/the-word-of-the-lord-never-comes-to-us-as-an-opinion-no-attempt-is/) [Anthony W. Ivins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-w-ivins/) > [A mobile is an abstract sculpture made chiefly out of sheet metal, steel rods, wire and wood. Some or all of these elements move,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-calder/a-mobile-is-an-abstract-sculpture-made-chiefly-out-of-sheet-metal/) [Alexander Calder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-calder/) > [I'm this superphilosophical kind of person. Stuck in a prison of abstract ideas and overpowering emotions, I have this personality that makes it really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natsuo-kirino/i-m-this-superphilosophical-kind-of-person-stuck-in-a-prison-of/) [Natsuo Kirino](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natsuo-kirino/) > [Future lawyers should be more aware that law is not a system of abstract logic, but the web of arrangements, rooted in history but…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/felix-frankfurter/future-lawyers-should-be-more-aware-that-law-is-not-a-system-of/) [Felix Frankfurter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/felix-frankfurter/) > [The trouble is that when you read criticisms about the other films that I've made you get the impression that they're all about themes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-haneke/the-trouble-is-that-when-you-read-criticisms-about-the-other-films/) [Michael Haneke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-haneke/) > [Painting is... a richer language than words... Painting operates through signs which are not abstract and incorporeal like words. The signs of painting are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-dubuffet/painting-is-a-richer-language-than-words-painting-operates-through/) [Jean Dubuffet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-dubuffet/) [Browse all 1,403 Abstract quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abstract/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Most professional women I know - myself included - long since gave up looking for a rulebook or a roadmap; we make it up as we go along. 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