--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm…" description: "\"I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm casting a bit of a net.\" — Neil Patrick Harris" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png" --- # I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm casting a bit of a… ![“I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm casting a bit of a net.” quote by Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png) > “I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm casting a bit of a net.” [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prefers broad networking over linear career ladders, emphasizing diverse connections. **In simple terms:** Cast a net, not climb a ladder. Key Takeaway Focus on building varied relationships. Themes networking career relationships Mood optimistic strategic Type advice career. When to use this quote - job search - entrepreneurship - freelancing - industry events Key Concepts social capital diversity opportunity Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance breadth and depth in networking? - What platforms help you cast a wider net? A Different Perspective May neglect depth for breadth, leading to shallow ties. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet ## Related quotes > [I often say songwriting is like trying to climb down a ladder at night. You put your foot on the next rung and test…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/crowder/i-often-say-songwriting-is-like-trying-to-climb-down-a-ladder-at/) [Crowder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/crowder/) > [No man can climb the ladder of success without first placing his foot on the bottom rung.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-cash-penney/no-man-can-climb-the-ladder-of-success-without-first-placing-his-foot/) [James Cash Penney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-cash-penney/) > [Don’t just climb the ladder of success - a ladder that leads, after all, to higher and higher levels of stress and burnout -…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/don-t-just-climb-the-ladder-of-success-a-ladder-that-leads-after-all/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) > [Climb the ladder to success escalator style](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-notorious-b-i-g/climb-the-ladder-to-success-escalator-style/) [The Notorious B.I.G](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/the-notorious-b-i-g/) > [There is no immortality that is not built on friendship and work done with care. All the secrets in the world worth knowing are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sloan/there-is-no-immortality-that-is-not-built-on-friendship-and-work-done/) [Robin Sloan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sloan/) > [I don't ever remember them telling us or teaching us that the only way we could be more successful is if other people were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-rubio/i-don-t-ever-remember-them-telling-us-or-teaching-us-that-the-only/) [Marco Rubio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-rubio/) > [I think Mount Everest is gorgeous, too, but that doesn’t mean I have any intention of trying to climb it](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeaniene-frost/i-think-mount-everest-is-gorgeous-too-but-that-doesn-t-mean-i-have/) [Jeaniene Frost](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeaniene-frost/) > [Climb up the ladder! Climb up the ladder! Are you stupid?!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cm-punk/climb-up-the-ladder-climb-up-the-ladder-are-you-stupid/) [CM Punk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cm-punk/) > [Just remember, you can't climb the ladder of success with your hands in your pockets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arnold-schwarzenegger/just-remember-you-can-t-climb-the-ladder-of-success-with-your-hands/) [Arnold Schwarzenegger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arnold-schwarzenegger/) > [You wanna know what scares people? Success. When you don't make moves and when you don't climb up the ladder, everybody loves you because…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/you-wanna-know-what-scares-people-success-when-you-don-t-make-moves/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [If you can't bear to have your face stepped on, don't try to climb the ladder of success.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evan-esar/if-you-can-t-bear-to-have-your-face-stepped-on-don-t-try-to-climb-the/) [Evan Esar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evan-esar/) > [Life isn't a straightforward climb up the ladder. It can take a few slips to really gain perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-jacobs/life-isn-t-a-straightforward-climb-up-the-ladder-it-can-take-a-few/) [Kate Jacobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-jacobs/) > [Climb the ladder only if it takes you to somewhere high! Some ascents may descend you to low places!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/climb-the-ladder-only-if-it-takes-you-to-somewhere-high-some-ascents/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [Let's teach those people that when they go to work, they get skills, they meet people, they get opportunities, they get to climb the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/let-s-teach-those-people-that-when-they-go-to-work-they-get-skills/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [Don't just climb the ladder, chart a new path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/don-t-just-climb-the-ladder-chart-a-new-path/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) ## More by Neil Patrick Harris > [My favorite time to dance is at, like, wedding receptions, when it's all ages and everyone seems to be having fun.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/my-favorite-time-to-dance-is-at-like-wedding-receptions-when-it-s-all/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I pride myself in being able to straddle demographics, and if that was said as Barney Stinson, it would mean a little different thing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-pride-myself-in-being-able-to-straddle-demographics-and-if-that-was/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Paris is not so exciting and romantic when you’re jet lagged and alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/paris-is-not-so-exciting-and-romantic-when-you-re-jet-lagged-and-alone/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I didn't want to go marching down the street with camera crews. Oy. To get married? Really? It seems like you have an agenda…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-didn-t-want-to-go-marching-down-the-street-with-camera-crews-oy-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > ['Smurfs' just seemed like a great way to represent a young father to be, guy in a marriage, work in conflict, and I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/smurfs-just-seemed-like-a-great-way-to-represent-a-young-father-to-be/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [What defines a relationship is the work that's involved to maintain it, and it's constantly changing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/what-defines-a-relationship-is-the-work-that-s-involved-to-maintain/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I like to make decisions based on things I'm interested in doing, not what seems like the next move in my quote-unquote career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-like-to-make-decisions-based-on-things-i-m-interested-in-doing-not/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [“He wanted a home. He wanted a family. He wanted to have friends. But none of those things were realistic. At least not until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/he-wanted-a-home-he-wanted-a-family-he-wanted-to-have-friends-but/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Rest in peace, Steve Jobs. Your genius will live on for generations to come...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/rest-in-peace-steve-jobs-your-genius-will-live-on-for-generations-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Before babies, I worked very hard to make sure I understood my surroundings and figured out where I fit in the world, whether it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/before-babies-i-worked-very-hard-to-make-sure-i-understood-my/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I often teach a graduate theater seminar on Greek tragedy in performance. I usually begin by saying that no matter what technological advances occur,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-often-teach-a-graduate-theater-seminar-on-greek-tragedy-in/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [Thankfully I've been quite lucky in my career, but it's always good to re-evaluate things and think about what else you want to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/thankfully-i-ve-been-quite-lucky-in-my-career-but-it-s-always-good-to/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I think it has been a weird mistake to have people with their own music careers going on and judging people because when they're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-think-it-has-been-a-weird-mistake-to-have-people-with-their-own/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [I have more artistic control in a smaller show. But it doesn't really matter. Sometimes you can have the smallest role in the smallest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-have-more-artistic-control-in-a-smaller-show-but-it-doesn-t-really/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) > [As I learned from chapters past, it's important to try and stay in the chapter that you're in, and enjoy it while it's lasting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/as-i-learned-from-chapters-past-it-s-important-to-try-and-stay-in-the/) [Neil Patrick Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) [Explore all 174 Neil Patrick Harris quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/) ## More Casting quotes > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm being called in by all the great casting directors. It's no longer based on a headshot. I realize now what they're buying is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-gonzalez/i-m-being-called-in-by-all-the-great-casting-directors-it-s-no-longer/) [Nicholas Gonzalez](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-gonzalez/) > [Whether you are buying a car or casting a ballot, choosing a job or planning a family, follow your moral compass. Don't let others…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/denis-hayes/whether-you-are-buying-a-car-or-casting-a-ballot-choosing-a-job-or/) [Denis Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/denis-hayes/) > [There's a certain feeling of giving, a certain feeling of generosity in love songs. When you sing a song of love, you're actually giving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mraz/there-s-a-certain-feeling-of-giving-a-certain-feeling-of-generosity/) [Jason Mraz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mraz/) > [It would have been an interesting run if we hadn't gotten along! It was good casting, I suppose.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dominic-west/it-would-have-been-an-interesting-run-if-we-hadn-t-gotten-along-it/) [Dominic West](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dominic-west/) > [People are always casting me for what they call my 'authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-hunt/people-are-always-casting-me-for-what-they-call-my-authority/) [Linda Hunt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-hunt/) > [So here I sit in the early candle-light of old age-I and my book-casting backward glances over out travel'd road.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walt-whitman/so-here-i-sit-in-the-early-candle-light-of-old-age-i-and-my-book/) [Walt Whitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walt-whitman/) > [I guess my height has hurt me as much as it's helped me. In comedy people don't mind casting tall women next to shorter…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-janney/i-guess-my-height-has-hurt-me-as-much-as-it-s-helped-me-in-comedy/) [Allison Janney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-janney/) > [I don't think anyone went the polls and said, 'I am casting my vote to make sure that Wall Street has better chances to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-warren/i-don-t-think-anyone-went-the-polls-and-said-i-am-casting-my-vote-to/) [Elizabeth Warren](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-warren/) > [I think Michael Crawford realised, I think we all realised, once we'd gone the route of casting a very young girl, you can't really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-lloyd-webber/i-think-michael-crawford-realised-i-think-we-all-realised-once-we-d/) [Andrew Lloyd Webber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-lloyd-webber/) > [Seen from the point of view of the composer, the most nonsensical practice is that of casting people in musicals who are unable to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-gold/seen-from-the-point-of-view-of-the-composer-the-most-nonsensical/) Ernest Gold > [I spend a long time casting, but once I've cast a film there's a reason why I selected those people. So I'm hands-on in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-payne/i-spend-a-long-time-casting-but-once-i-ve-cast-a-film-there-s-a/) [Alexander Payne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-payne/) > [That's the fun thing of casting a show. I'm a pretty strong believer that TV makes stars, not the other way around. I love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-kring/that-s-the-fun-thing-of-casting-a-show-i-m-a-pretty-strong-believer/) [Tim Kring](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-kring/) > [AMC has a track record for finding actors who have been working actors but not names yet and casting them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mireille-enos/amc-has-a-track-record-for-finding-actors-who-have-been-working/) [Mireille Enos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mireille-enos/) > [I have to speak for myself. As far as videos go - casting, the artwork, everything - I'm completely hands-on. You have to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pink/i-have-to-speak-for-myself-as-far-as-videos-go-casting-the-artwork/) [Pink](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pink/) Browse all 858 Casting quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm casting a bit of a net.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Neil Patrick Harris" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-casting-a-bit-of-a-net/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Casting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-casting-a-bit-of-a-net/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e71/neil-patrick-harris-2281_casting_i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-cas_1354716.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I'm not trying to climb a ladder - I'm casting a bit of a net.” — Neil Patrick Harris", "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": "Neil Patrick Harris", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-patrick-harris/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I'm not trying to climb a...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-casting-a-bit-of-a-net/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-patrick-harris/i-m-not-trying-to-climb-a-ladder-i-m-casting-a-bit-of-a-net/#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 } } ] } ```