--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: This is how it works. You bust your ass…" description: "\"“This is how it works. You bust your ass. Not everything goes your way, and then, after a while, you get to that point. You get to make your own decisi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/nina-lacour-2768_quote_this-is-how-it-works-you-bust-your-ass-n_1786962.jpg" --- # This is how it works. You bust your ass. Not everything… ![“This is how it works. You bust your ass. Not everything goes your way, and then, after a while, you get to that point. You get to make your own decisions and people look to you for approval on their work.” quote by Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/nina-lacour-2768_quote_this-is-how-it-works-you-bust-your-ass-n_1786962.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/nina-lacour-2768_quote_this-is-how-it-works-you-bust-your-ass-n_1786962.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cb9/nina-lacour-2768_quote_this-is-how-it-works-you-bust-your-ass-n_1786962.jpg) > ““This is how it works. You bust your ass. Not everything goes your way, and then, after a while, you get to that point. You get to make your own decisions and people look to you for approval on their work.”” [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and decision‑making earn respect; others look to you for guidance when you succeed. **In simple terms:** Effort and choices build authority. Key Takeaway Earn trust by delivering results. Themes leadership responsibility authority Mood determined confident Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - team management - entrepreneurship - project leadership Key Concepts decision‑making earned respect Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance personal effort with external constraints? - What steps can you take to mentor others? A Different Perspective Success may depend on factors beyond personal effort, like systemic bias. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) [Approval Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval-work-1441468/) [Decisions People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/decisions-people-410623/) [Look Approval](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/look-approval-1912237/) [Make Decisions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/make-decisions-237830/) ## Related quotes > [Never ask for approval in your work. Life is your own, inspiration is your own, you create alone, and the results are your own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-luiz/never-ask-for-approval-in-your-work-life-is-your-own-inspiration-is/) [David Luiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-luiz/) > [Do not look for approval except for the consciousness of doing your best.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-carnegie/do-not-look-for-approval-except-for-the-consciousness-of-doing-your/) [Andrew Carnegie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-carnegie/) > [Don't look to the approval of others for your mental stability](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karl-lagerfeld/don-t-look-to-the-approval-of-others-for-your-mental-stability/) [Karl Lagerfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karl-lagerfeld/) > [You are here and you are allowed to be here and therefore you are allowed to make decisions about yourself and the people in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-gilbert/you-are-here-and-you-are-allowed-to-be-here-and-therefore-you-are/) [Elizabeth Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-gilbert/) > [A hundred years ago-even 20 or 30 years ago-it was possible, if not always easy, to close major business by calling on and satisfying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/a-hundred-years-ago-even-20-or-30-years-ago-it-was-possible-if-not/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [ \[In a republic,\] it is not the people themselves who make the decisions, but the people they themselves choose to stand in their places. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-monroe/in-a-republic-it-is-not-the-people-themselves-who-make-the-decisions/) [James Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-monroe/) > [The real question for me is, do people have the tools that they need in order to make those decisions well? And I think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-zuckerberg/the-real-question-for-me-is-do-people-have-the-tools-that-they-need/) [Mark Zuckerberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-zuckerberg/) > [“If the people who make the decisions are the people who will also bear the consequences of those decisions, perhaps better decisions will result.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-abrams/if-the-people-who-make-the-decisions-are-the-people-who-will-also/) [John Abrams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-abrams/) > [People have very difficult lives. We can judge them for making the wrong decisions, but if you look harder and understand that these lives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-haigh/people-have-very-difficult-lives-we-can-judge-them-for-making-the/) [Andrew Haigh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-haigh/) > [Sometimes, and sometimes youre in the midst of other people making decisions and your people are making decisions and you dont want to make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-mitchell/sometimes-and-sometimes-youre-in-the-midst-of-other-people-making/) [Elizabeth Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-mitchell/) > [Underneath it, in 'An Inconvenient Truth', we talked a lot about the unspoken decisions that people make in their heads.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-guggenheim/underneath-it-in-an-inconvenient-truth-we-talked-a-lot-about-the/) [Davis Guggenheim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/davis-guggenheim/) > [Decisions are made by people who have time, not people who have talent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/decisions-are-made-by-people-who-have-time-not-people-who-have-talent/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Life's so much based on instincts and quick decisions, and people don't know what they're looking for.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/whitney-wolfe-herd/life-s-so-much-based-on-instincts-and-quick-decisions-and-people-don/) [Whitney Wolfe Herd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/whitney-wolfe-herd/) > [“When society is ful of nonsense like ours, when the government makes decisions people don't approve of and tells you that you have voted…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cameron-jace/when-society-is-ful-of-nonsense-like-ours-when-the-government-makes/) [Cameron Jace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cameron-jace/) > [“People are unpredictable and predictable at the same time: it seems that whenever you want someone to surprise you they remain themselves, and those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-hiorns/people-are-unpredictable-and-predictable-at-the-same-time-it-seems/) [Helen Hiorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-hiorns/) ## More by Nina LaCour > [“No," I say. "I didn't know that," and as I say it I feel flooded with bitterness at all the things Ingrid kept secret…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/no-i-say-i-didn-t-know-that-and-as-i-say-it-i-feel-flooded-with/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [I want to tell you about everything but I can't because I couldn't stand for you to have that look on your face all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-want-to-tell-you-about-everything-but-i-can-t-because-i-couldn-t/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“We all want to be feel something, we want to be someone to one another.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/we-all-want-to-be-feel-something-we-want-to-be-someone-to-one-another/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“I know," I say. "It sucks. Let's go get tacos and sit on the beach.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-know-i-say-it-sucks-let-s-go-get-tacos-and-sit-on-the-beach/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“I sleep through the next day. Each time I go to the bathroom, I try not to look in the mirror. Once, I catch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-sleep-through-the-next-day-each-time-i-go-to-the-bathroom-i-try-not/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“Crushes are supposed to be fun, aren't they? They definitely aren't supposed to be so torturous.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/crushes-are-supposed-to-be-fun-aren-t-they-they-definitely-aren-t/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“Maybe it doesn't matter, maybe if we all force ourselves to act like we're okay even if we're not, eventually things will get better.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/maybe-it-doesn-t-matter-maybe-if-we-all-force-ourselves-to-act-like/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“My room is so quiet and empty it hurts.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/my-room-is-so-quiet-and-empty-it-hurts/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“That's what friends do: they notice things. They're there for each other. They see what parents don't.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/that-s-what-friends-do-they-notice-things-they-re-there-for-each/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“I don't want to hurt you or anybody so please forget about me. Just try. Find yourself a better friend.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-don-t-want-to-hurt-you-or-anybody-so-please-forget-about-me-just/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“I don't know if any of this would have happened if we had been at home... Would we have crammed ourselves into the bathroom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-don-t-know-if-any-of-this-would-have-happened-if-we-had-been-at/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“I can't believe that we could be so impermanent”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/i-can-t-believe-that-we-could-be-so-impermanent/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“Whenever Ingrid and I got out of the suburbs, into Berkeley or San Francisco, and saw how other people lived, Ingrid would cry at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/whenever-ingrid-and-i-got-out-of-the-suburbs-into-berkeley-or-san/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [ “She \[Ava\] was never something waiting to be solved. All she is—all she’s ever been—is a person trying to live a life.” ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/she-ava-was-never-something-waiting-to-be-solved-all-she-is-all-she-s/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) > [“My mom says Ingrid's name and I start to hum, not the melody to a song, just one drawn-out note. I know it makes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nina-lacour/my-mom-says-ingrid-s-name-and-i-start-to-hum-not-the-melody-to-a-song/) [Nina LaCour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) [Explore all 141 Nina LaCour quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nina-lacour/) ## More Approval quotes > [Anyone who's read my 'Terror in the Skies' series knows that I have not been writing with an eye toward approval from any government…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-jacobsen/anyone-who-s-read-my-terror-in-the-skies-series-knows-that-i-have-not/) [Annie Jacobsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-jacobsen/) > [we need not avoid our active lives, but simply bring to them a new vision and shift of gravity. for in the center we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sue-monk-kidd/we-need-not-avoid-our-active-lives-but-simply-bring-to-them-a-new/) [Sue Monk Kidd](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sue-monk-kidd/) > [Lean too much on the approval of people, and it becomes a bed of thorns](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tehyi-hsieh/lean-too-much-on-the-approval-of-people-and-it-becomes-a-bed-of-thorns/) [Tehyi Hsieh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tehyi-hsieh/) > [But I always reassure them that as far as my contractual rights can go, I will protect them and make sure that they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/but-i-always-reassure-them-that-as-far-as-my-contractual-rights-can/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [Growing up in that fashion is a breeding ground for insecurity and doubt; it also leaves you questioning motives. It took me a long…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/damon-runyon/growing-up-in-that-fashion-is-a-breeding-ground-for-insecurity-and/) [Damon Runyon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/damon-runyon/) > [A year ago, my approval rating was in the 30s, my nominee for the supreme court had just withdrawn, and my vice president had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/a-year-ago-my-approval-rating-was-in-the-30s-my-nominee-for-the/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [Approval is a greater motivator than disapproval, but we have to disapprove on occasion when we correct. It’s necessary. I make corrections only after…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-wooden/approval-is-a-greater-motivator-than-disapproval-but-we-have-to/) [John Wooden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-wooden/) > [These days people are mean to people just because they don't like the way they look. No-one should be hated because of their flaws.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sonya-parker/these-days-people-are-mean-to-people-just-because-they-don-t-like-the/) [Sonya Parker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sonya-parker/) > [I got this emptiness inside that got me fighting for approval because I missed out on my daddy saying, Way to Go.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lecrae/i-got-this-emptiness-inside-that-got-me-fighting-for-approval-because/) [Lecrae](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lecrae/) > [My dad taught me swears when I was a toddler, and I saw, at a really early age, that if I shocked people, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roseanne-barr/my-dad-taught-me-swears-when-i-was-a-toddler-and-i-saw-at-a-really/) [Roseanne Barr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roseanne-barr/) > [If torture is going to be administered as a last resort in the ticking-bomb case, to save enormous numbers of lives, it ought to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-dershowitz/if-torture-is-going-to-be-administered-as-a-last-resort-in-the/) [Alan Dershowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-dershowitz/) > [Comedy is a very approval-oriented field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-chappelle/comedy-is-a-very-approval-oriented-field/) [Dave Chappelle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-chappelle/) > [Whenever you are too worried about someone else's approval, that person loses respect for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sherry-argov/whenever-you-are-too-worried-about-someone-else-s-approval-that/) [Sherry Argov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sherry-argov/) > [Pleasure is Nature's test, her sign of approval.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/pleasure-is-nature-s-test-her-sign-of-approval/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Do you really mean the only reason you try to be good is to gain God's approval and reward? That's not morality, that's just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-dawkins/do-you-really-mean-the-only-reason-you-try-to-be-good-is-to-gain-god/) [Richard Dawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-dawkins/) [Browse all 904 Approval quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/approval/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“This is how it works. You bust your ass. Not everything goes your way, and then, after a while, you get to that point. 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