--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I had very modest expectations when I…" description: "\"I had very modest expectations when I first moved to New York. I didn't even expect to get a record deal.\" — Norah Jones" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/norah-jones-2918_deals_i-had-very-modest-expectations-when-i-fi_764803.png" --- # I had very modest expectations when I first moved to New… ![“I had very modest expectations when I first moved to New York. I didn't even expect to get a record deal.” quote by Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/norah-jones-2918_deals_i-had-very-modest-expectations-when-i-fi_764803.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/norah-jones-2918_deals_i-had-very-modest-expectations-when-i-fi_764803.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/c7a/norah-jones-2918_deals_i-had-very-modest-expectations-when-i-fi_764803.png) > “I had very modest expectations when I first moved to New York. I didn't even expect to get a record deal.” [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. She entered New York with low expectations, yet achieved a record deal, showing surprise success can arise from modest beginnings. **In simple terms:** Low expectations can lead to unexpected achievements. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and stay open to opportunities. Themes humility career unexpected success music industry Mood hopeful inspired reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - relocating for a career - starting a new job - seeking artistic contracts - adjusting to city life Key Concepts self‑efficacy serendipity growth mindset Questions to Reflect On - What expectations are limiting your ambition? - How can humility become a strategic advantage? A Different Perspective Success may still require persistent effort despite initial modesty. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deals/) [Didn Expect](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-expect/) [Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations/) [Expectations Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/expectations-moved-5923579/) [Firsts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/firsts/) [Modest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest/) [Modest Expectations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modest-expectations-3111785/) [Moved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved/) [Moved New](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/moved-new-894286/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Record deal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/record-deal/) [Records](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/records/) ## Related quotes > [I think, going forward, we need to be much more modest on expectations with regard to China growth: That's just being realistic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-van-houten/i-think-going-forward-we-need-to-be-much-more-modest-on-expectations/) [Frans van Houten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-van-houten/) > [Simplicity is not the goal. It is the by-product of a good idea and modest expectations.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-rand/simplicity-is-not-the-goal-it-is-the-by-product-of-a-good-idea-and/) [Paul Rand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-rand/) > [It's sort of good to see your vocation as a daily task and have fairly modest expectations for financial or reward in other coin…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-updike/it-s-sort-of-good-to-see-your-vocation-as-a-daily-task-and-have/) [John Updike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-updike/) > [I moved to New York to do a play when I was 18.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-gallagher-jr/i-moved-to-new-york-to-do-a-play-when-i-was-18/) [John Gallagher, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-gallagher-jr/) > [I moved to New York last year and I love it. It's a huge change and I've always wanted to spend time there. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-weisz/i-moved-to-new-york-last-year-and-i-love-it-it-s-a-huge-change-and-i/) [Rachel Weisz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-weisz/) > [I moved to New York when I was 17 for college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diana-silvers/i-moved-to-new-york-when-i-was-17-for-college/) [Diana Silvers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diana-silvers/) > [We read so that we can be moved by a new way of looking at things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-fitch/we-read-so-that-we-can-be-moved-by-a-new-way-of-looking-at-things/) [Janet Fitch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-fitch/) > [When I was 7, we moved to New York because my dad's job was transferred.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morena-baccarin/when-i-was-7-we-moved-to-new-york-because-my-dad-s-job-was-transferred/) [Morena Baccarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morena-baccarin/) > [I moved to New York to pursue music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-van-etten/i-moved-to-new-york-to-pursue-music/) [Sharon Van Etten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-van-etten/) > [When I moved to New York, I remember thinking, 'I'm never going to live anywhere else.'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/when-i-moved-to-new-york-i-remember-thinking-i-m-never-going-to-live/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [“We closed the deal and moved to New York. Where in fact I had lived before, from the time I was twenty-one and just…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-didion/we-closed-the-deal-and-moved-to-new-york-where-in-fact-i-had-lived/) [Joan Didion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-didion/) > [I picked up and moved to New York with no friends and no job. I moved from New York to L.A. with no friends,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ariana-madix/i-picked-up-and-moved-to-new-york-with-no-friends-and-no-job-i-moved/) [Ariana Madix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ariana-madix/) > [In high school, I was kind of a loner because I had moved to a new school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennie-garth/in-high-school-i-was-kind-of-a-loner-because-i-had-moved-to-a-new/) [Jennie Garth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennie-garth/) > [I moved from New York to El Paso in 2015, just before my senior year. I was super nervous. My mom, she's in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/khalid/i-moved-from-new-york-to-el-paso-in-2015-just-before-my-senior-year-i/) [Khalid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/khalid/) > [I love being able to be a writer. That's what I moved to New York to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-searles/i-love-being-able-to-be-a-writer-that-s-what-i-moved-to-new-york-to-be/) [John Searles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-searles/) ## More by Norah Jones > [I don't want to be singing my diary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-don-t-want-to-be-singing-my-diary/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [The pop world is cool, but I never really thought of myself as part of it or wanting to be a part of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/the-pop-world-is-cool-but-i-never-really-thought-of-myself-as-part-of/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [That's been the coolest thing about all this, I get to meet people that I worship!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/that-s-been-the-coolest-thing-about-all-this-i-get-to-meet-people/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I remember early on, for instance, having to play wedding gigs, that I hated playing the music. Now I don't have to play music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-remember-early-on-for-instance-having-to-play-wedding-gigs-that-i/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I'm happy. I feel good about music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-m-happy-i-feel-good-about-music/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I love eggs so much. I feel like my day hasn't started until I've had eggs. I'm probably gonna die from high cholesterol!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-love-eggs-so-much-i-feel-like-my-day-hasn-t-started-until-i-ve-had/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I make a good fried chicken.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-make-a-good-fried-chicken/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [It's not like once you achieve success, you're done, you know. It's like, still enjoy doing what you're doing, that's the key for me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/it-s-not-like-once-you-achieve-success-you-re-done-you-know-it-s-like/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Music is fun. It should be fun. And that's the key, I think. Keep it as the thing you love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/music-is-fun-it-should-be-fun-and-that-s-the-key-i-think-keep-it-as/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Come away with me and we'll kiss. On a mountaintop. Come away with me and I'll never stop loving you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/come-away-with-me-and-we-ll-kiss-on-a-mountaintop-come-away-with-me/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I love my dad and we have a very good relationship now.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-love-my-dad-and-we-have-a-very-good-relationship-now/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Without a piano I don't know how to stand, don't know what to do with my hands.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/without-a-piano-i-don-t-know-how-to-stand-don-t-know-what-to-do-with/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I'm always going to do that - record and make music.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-m-always-going-to-do-that-record-and-make-music/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [Come away with me on a bus. Come away where they can't tempt us. With their lies...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/come-away-with-me-on-a-bus-come-away-where-they-can-t-tempt-us-with/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) > [I, don't know how, to slow it down. My mind's racing from chasing pirates.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norah-jones/i-don-t-know-how-to-slow-it-down-my-mind-s-racing-from-chasing-pirates/) [Norah Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) [Explore all 145 Norah Jones quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norah-jones/) ## More Deals quotes > [Right now we're concerned about budget. Right now we're concerned about the prospect of interest rate rise. 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Failure is something that is part of life's cycle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/failure-is-a-part-of-life-and-you-have-to-learn-to-deal-with-it/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [When you reach that competing point, when you reach that time when the gun is about to go off, everyone's level is pretty much…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/apolo-ohno/when-you-reach-that-competing-point-when-you-reach-that-time-when-the/) [Apolo Ohno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/apolo-ohno/) > [I think the next 50 years are going to present the human race with challenges that so far exceed the limitations of geopolitical boundaries…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-think-the-next-50-years-are-going-to-present-the-human-race-with/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [Americans are very friendly and very suspicious, that is what Americans are and that is what always upsets the foreigner, who deals with them,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gertrude-stein/americans-are-very-friendly-and-very-suspicious-that-is-what/) [Gertrude Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gertrude-stein/) > [As a professional athlete and someone who has spent almost his entire life in boxing, not a day goes by when I don't think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-de-la-hoya/as-a-professional-athlete-and-someone-who-has-spent-almost-his-entire/) [Oscar De La Hoya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-de-la-hoya/) > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [I don't really resent being on the red carpet as much as I do having to deal with the paparazzi.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/megan-fox/i-don-t-really-resent-being-on-the-red-carpet-as-much-as-i-do-having/) [Megan Fox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/megan-fox/) > [I think kids growing up, if they were picked on and feeling inferior at 12, they're going to feel that way at 72. You…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sylvester-stallone/i-think-kids-growing-up-if-they-were-picked-on-and-feeling-inferior/) [Sylvester Stallone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sylvester-stallone/) > [You know, by the time you reach my age, you've made plenty of mistakes if you've lived your life properly. So you learn. 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