--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My mom worked in restaurants for 60…" description: "\"My mom worked in restaurants for 60 years, and what I learned from her is a lot. But if I had to boil it down, take your work very seriously, but don't..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/rachael-ray-7121_awake_my-mom-worked-in-restaurants-for-60-year_708232.jpg" --- # My mom worked in restaurants for 60 years, and what I… ![“My mom worked in restaurants for 60 years, and what I learned from her is a lot. But if I had to boil it down, take your work very seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. Work harder than everyone else and never complain about it. Don't go to bed if you're not proud of the product of…” quote by Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/rachael-ray-7121_awake_my-mom-worked-in-restaurants-for-60-year_708232.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/rachael-ray-7121_awake_my-mom-worked-in-restaurants-for-60-year_708232.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3a9/rachael-ray-7121_awake_my-mom-worked-in-restaurants-for-60-year_708232.jpg) > “My mom worked in restaurants for 60 years, and what I learned from her is a lot. But if I had to boil it down, take your work very seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. Work harder than everyone else and never complain about it. Don't go to bed if you're not proud of the product of your day; stay awake until you are.” [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Balance dedication with humility; work hard, stay modest, and keep improving daily. **In simple terms:** Work hard, stay humble, and be proud of your day. Key Takeaway Push yourself, but keep perspective. Themes work ethic humility self‑improvement Mood determined reflective Type motivational inspirational When to use this quote - career advancement - personal projects - daily routines - entrepreneurship Key Concepts dedication pride self‑reflection Questions to Reflect On - How do you measure daily success? - When is it okay to pause and reflect? A Different Perspective Hard work alone doesn't guarantee fulfillment; rest and self‑care matter. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Mom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mom/) [Proud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/proud/) ## Related quotes > [Take events in your life seriously, take work seriously, but don't take yourself seriously, or you'll become affected, pompous and boring.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shelley-duvall/take-events-in-your-life-seriously-take-work-seriously-but-don-t-take/) [Shelley Duvall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shelley-duvall/) > [I try not to take myself too seriously, but I do take my work seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-doody/i-try-not-to-take-myself-too-seriously-but-i-do-take-my-work-seriously/) Alison Doody > [I hopefully don't take myself seriously, but I take the work as seriously as I can and try to do the best I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miles-robbins/i-hopefully-don-t-take-myself-seriously-but-i-take-the-work-as/) [Miles Robbins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miles-robbins/) > [Surround yourself with people who take their work seriously, but not themselves, those who work hard and play hard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colin-powell/surround-yourself-with-people-who-take-their-work-seriously-but-not-2/) [Colin Powell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colin-powell/) > [Some people don't take me seriously, so I had to work harder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elle-king/some-people-don-t-take-me-seriously-so-i-had-to-work-harder/) [Elle King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elle-king/) > [I worked at restaurants and coffee shops and babysitting and just whatever I could do to make money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tig-notaro/i-worked-at-restaurants-and-coffee-shops-and-babysitting-and-just/) [Tig Notaro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tig-notaro/) > [I worked in restaurants the first half of my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bradley-cooper/i-worked-in-restaurants-the-first-half-of-my-life/) [Bradley Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bradley-cooper/) > [I worked in restaurants, bars, record stores; I did anything and everything to pay my way through university and LAMDA.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-riley/i-worked-in-restaurants-bars-record-stores-i-did-anything-and/) [Tom Riley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-riley/) > [I worked in restaurants for five or six years in New York. I've worked in restaurants a lot in my life. Never in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ayo-edebiri/i-worked-in-restaurants-for-five-or-six-years-in-new-york-i-ve-worked/) [Ayo Edebiri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ayo-edebiri/) > [I worked in restaurants, and I worked in the Cambridge Public Library.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/h-jon-benjamin/i-worked-in-restaurants-and-i-worked-in-the-cambridge-public-library/) [H. Jon Benjamin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/h-jon-benjamin/) > [I appreciate the opportunity afforded to me and I take it very seriously. That's work. And I love it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-tomlin/i-appreciate-the-opportunity-afforded-to-me-and-i-take-it-very/) [Mike Tomlin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-tomlin/) > [There's really no reason for any musician, writer, actor to ever take themselves seriously. If you work in a needle exchange, take yourself seriously.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/moby/there-s-really-no-reason-for-any-musician-writer-actor-to-ever-take/) [Moby](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/moby/) > [This is a job and Survivor is a game show. So, this is something to take seriously and work really hard at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colleen-haskell/this-is-a-job-and-survivor-is-a-game-show-so-this-is-something-to/) [Colleen Haskell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colleen-haskell/) > [The more seriously we work on our own imperfections, the less we are judgemental of the imperfections of others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/the-more-seriously-we-work-on-our-own-imperfections-the-less-we-are/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [Although I don't take myself very seriously, I do take my work extraordinarily seriously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alton-brown/although-i-don-t-take-myself-very-seriously-i-do-take-my-work/) [Alton Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alton-brown/) ## More by Rachael Ray > [My mom, who's been in the restaurant business for 40 years, is the number-one influence in my life. But I look up to a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/my-mom-who-s-been-in-the-restaurant-business-for-40-years-is-the/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [Whatever it is that you're successful at, that has to be the No. 1 goal. In my case, it's accessibility. So all of my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/whatever-it-is-that-you-re-successful-at-that-has-to-be-the-no-1-goal/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [When you're out grocery shopping for your family, maybe you can put a can of cat or dog food in your cart and bring…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/when-you-re-out-grocery-shopping-for-your-family-maybe-you-can-put-a/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [I had the lunchbox that cleared the cafeteria. I was very unpopular in the early grades. Because I hung out with my grandfather, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-had-the-lunchbox-that-cleared-the-cafeteria-i-was-very-unpopular-in/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [I was always a person on my mother's hip in the kitchen. My mom really wanted her kids at her side as much as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-was-always-a-person-on-my-mother-s-hip-in-the-kitchen-my-mom-really/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [If you want to look at the state of humans, you should look at the state of animals first. People are choosing whether or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/if-you-want-to-look-at-the-state-of-humans-you-should-look-at-the/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [Laugh more than you cry. Work hard and play hard. Eat well and you can eat more.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/laugh-more-than-you-cry-work-hard-and-play-hard-eat-well-and-you-can/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [I am burger obsessed and I love playing with the idea of what a burger can be for people. I make burgers out of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-am-burger-obsessed-and-i-love-playing-with-the-idea-of-what-a/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [I wish I could be as thin as Jessica Simpson. I think she looks gorgeous! I have had Jessica on my show several times,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-wish-i-could-be-as-thin-as-jessica-simpson-i-think-she-looks/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [It only looks like I get to eat a lot of food on TV. I really just get the one bite and the crew…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/it-only-looks-like-i-get-to-eat-a-lot-of-food-on-tv-i-really-just-get/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [When I do a 30-minute meal, for instance, on Food Network, that's my food you see at the end of the show and it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/when-i-do-a-30-minute-meal-for-instance-on-food-network-that-s-my/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [Everyone on both sides of my family cooks.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/everyone-on-both-sides-of-my-family-cooks/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [Everybody's twelve years old in an apple orchard.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/everybody-s-twelve-years-old-in-an-apple-orchard/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [I did 30 Minute Meals for five years on local television, and I earned nothing the first two years. Then I earned $50 a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/i-did-30-minute-meals-for-five-years-on-local-television-and-i-earned/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) > [That's a horrible thought. I guess cheese or wine. I think I might be too depressed to eat if I had to eat only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachael-ray/that-s-a-horrible-thought-i-guess-cheese-or-wine-i-think-i-might-be/) [Rachael Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) [Explore all 94 Rachael Ray quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachael-ray/) ## More Awake quotes > [“I am awake. I know what you took. I am coming for you. Vengeance is mine.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-burks/i-am-awake-i-know-what-you-took-i-am-coming-for-you-vengeance-is-mine/) [Robin Burks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-burks/) > [Reagan was sitting up at Cath's desk when Cath woke up. "Are you awake?" "Have you been watching me sleep?" "Yes, Bella. Are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/reagan-was-sitting-up-at-cath-s-desk-when-cath-woke-up-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Are you awake?” “Have you been watching me sleep?” “Yes, Bella. Are you awake?” “No.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rainbow-rowell/are-you-awake-have-you-been-watching-me-sleep-yes-bella-are-you-awake/) [Rainbow Rowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rainbow-rowell/) > [“Have courage for the great sorrows of life, and patience for the small ones. And when you have finished your daily task, go to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/have-courage-for-the-great-sorrows-of-life-and-patience-for-the-small/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [One of his students asked Buddha, "Are you the Messiah?" "No," answered Buddha. "Then are you a healer?" "No," Buddha replied. "Then are you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/one-of-his-students-asked-buddha-are-you-the-messiah-no-answered/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [“I had a chat with May and I had a sweet talk with April but the lovely conversation that left me to ponder was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/i-had-a-chat-with-may-and-i-had-a-sweet-talk-with-april-but-the/) [Ernest Agyemang Yeboah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-agyemang-yeboah/) > [Hopes are dreams of those who are awake](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/hopes-are-dreams-of-those-who-are-awake/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [If your heart isn't yet illumined Be awake always, be a seeker of the heart, Be at war continually with your carnal soul. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/if-your-heart-isn-t-yet-illumined-be-awake-always-be-a-seeker-of-the/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Wherever I went I felt like the last person awake in a room full of sleepers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-winton/wherever-i-went-i-felt-like-the-last-person-awake-in-a-room-full-of/) [Tim Winton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-winton/) > [I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware. There's so much going on and so much to know... We stay in our little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-teter/i-d-just-like-to-see-athletes-awake-and-aware-there-s-so-much-going/) [Hannah Teter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-teter/) > [As your awareness of the riches available to you in your everyday life grows, you are on the way to becoming the laughing Buddha.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-jeffers/as-your-awareness-of-the-riches-available-to-you-in-your-everyday/) [Susan Jeffers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-jeffers/) > [“Think of it this way, Mara. We don’t have the power to make the sun rise, but we can choose to be awake when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sharon-garlough-brown/think-of-it-this-way-mara-we-don-t-have-the-power-to-make-the-sun/) [Sharon Garlough Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sharon-garlough-brown/) > [“The owl,” he was saying, “is one of the most curious creatures. A bird that stays awake when the rest of the world sleeps.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-rose/the-owl-he-was-saying-is-one-of-the-most-curious-creatures-a-bird/) [M.J. Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-rose/) > [The shadows in the early morning don't tell much. The shadows rest at that time. So it's useless to gaze very early in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-castaneda/the-shadows-in-the-early-morning-don-t-tell-much-the-shadows-rest-at/) [Carlos Castaneda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-castaneda/) > [Shall we keep men in a fool's paradise? Shall we lull them into soft slumbers from which they will awake in hell? Are we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-spurgeon/shall-we-keep-men-in-a-fool-s-paradise-shall-we-lull-them-into-soft/) [Charles Spurgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-spurgeon/) Browse all 1,663 Awake quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My mom worked in restaurants for 60 years, and what I learned from her is a lot. But if I had to boil it down, take your work very seriously, but don't take yourself too seriously. Work harder than everyone else and never complain about it. 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