---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Losing people I cared so much about and…"
description: "\"“Losing people I cared so much about and very nearly losing my dream of working for myself was devastating. To make ends meet, I even had to borrow $ 4..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg"
---

#  Losing people I cared so much about and very nearly losing…

![“Losing people I cared so much about and very nearly losing my dream of working for myself was devastating. To make ends meet, I even had to borrow $ 4,000 from my dad until we could sell our second car. I had come to a fork in the road: Should I put on a tie and take a job on Wall Street? That was…” quote by Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg)

> ““Losing people I cared so much about and very nearly losing my dream of working for myself was devastating. To make ends meet, I even had to borrow $ 4,000 from my dad until we could sell our second car. I had come to a fork in the road: Should I put on a tie and take a job on Wall Street? That was not the life I wanted. On the other hand, I had a wife and two young children to support. I realized I was facing one of life’s big turning points and my choices would have big implications for me and for my family’s future.””

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The speaker describes a critical crossroads where financial pressure forces a choice between a lucrative but undesired career and supporting family with uncertain prospects.

**In simple terms:** Facing a tough decision between money and personal fulfillment.

Key Takeaway

Weigh values and long‑term impact before deciding.

Themes

career family finance values decision‑making

Mood

anxious determined reflective

Type

advice personal‑narrative motivational

When to use this quote

- career change
- family budgeting
- entrepreneurship
- financial crisis
- personal values

Key Concepts

risk opportunity cost life turning points

Questions to Reflect On

- What would you sacrifice for financial security?
- How can you align work with personal values?

A Different Perspective

Choosing a high‑pay job may compromise personal happiness and long‑term goals.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Choices Big](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/choices-big-2259786/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Facing life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/facing-life/) [Family Future](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/family-future-494147/) [Fork in the road](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fork-in-the-road/) [Losing Dream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-dream-4141918/) [Losing people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/losing-people/) [Turning points](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/turning-points/) [Wall St](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-st/) [Wall street](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wall-street/)

## Related quotes

> [Coming from losing my dream of playing professional football, not having a college degree at the time and looking to jump into the business…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-howes/coming-from-losing-my-dream-of-playing-professional-football-not/)

[Lewis Howes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-howes/)

> [“If you compromise your integrity and principles on minor issues, it gets easier to make bad choices on the big issues.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-dunwoody/if-you-compromise-your-integrity-and-principles-on-minor-issues-it/)

[Ann Dunwoody](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-dunwoody/)

> [“Our lives are made up of choices. Big ones, small ones, strung together by the thin air of good intentions; a line of dominoes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-haas/our-lives-are-made-up-of-choices-big-ones-small-ones-strung-together/)

[Abigail Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-haas/)

> [“Our lives are made up of choices. Big ones, small ones, strung together by the thin air of good intentions; a line of dominoes,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abigail-haas/our-lives-are-made-up-of-choices-big-ones-small-ones-strung-together-2/)

[Abigail Haas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abigail-haas/)

> [I'd love to have a family -- sometime in the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-pattinson/i-d-love-to-have-a-family-sometime-in-the-future/)

[Robert Pattinson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-pattinson/)

> [Family is the future, security is the future, work is the future, investment is the future, dignity is the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrzej-duda/family-is-the-future-security-is-the-future-work-is-the-future/)

[Andrzej Duda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrzej-duda/)

> [I just feel that I need to set my kid's future as best as I can and my family's future and my friends' future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronnie-radke/i-just-feel-that-i-need-to-set-my-kid-s-future-as-best-as-i-can-and/)

[Ronnie Radke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronnie-radke/)

> [I'm just very keen to have a family and both Catherine and I, you know, are looking forward to having a family in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prince-william/i-m-just-very-keen-to-have-a-family-and-both-catherine-and-i-you-know/)

[Prince William](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prince-william/)

> [That's what I do this for, to secure my family's future. I don't care about anything else. I'm able to spoil people, and that's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conor-mcgregor/that-s-what-i-do-this-for-to-secure-my-family-s-future-i-don-t-care/)

[Conor McGregor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conor-mcgregor/)

> [For your own good, for the good of your family and your future, grow a backbone. When something is wrong, stand up and say…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-ramsey/for-your-own-good-for-the-good-of-your-family-and-your-future-grow-a/)

[Dave Ramsey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-ramsey/)

> [The children have been a wonderful gift to me, and I'm thankful to have once again seen our world through their eyes. They restore…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jackie-kennedy/the-children-have-been-a-wonderful-gift-to-me-and-i-m-thankful-to/)

[Jackie Kennedy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jackie-kennedy/)

> [By the way, I am the least political member of my family - I have no future in politics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-bush/by-the-way-i-am-the-least-political-member-of-my-family-i-have-no/)

[Neil Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-bush/)

> [Every member of the family of the future will be a producer of some kind and in some degree. The only one who will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frances-ellen-watkins-harper/every-member-of-the-family-of-the-future-will-be-a-producer-of-some/)

[Frances Ellen Watkins Harper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frances-ellen-watkins-harper/)

> [I need to make money for my family and my future family. I'm not a YOLO person.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cardi-b/i-need-to-make-money-for-my-family-and-my-future-family-i-m-not-a/)

[Cardi B](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cardi-b/)

> [All I think about is my son, my family, and my future family.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/morena-baccarin/all-i-think-about-is-my-son-my-family-and-my-future-family/)

[Morena Baccarin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/morena-baccarin/)

## More by Ray Dalio

> [“Slow down your thinking so you can note the criteria you are using to make your decision. 2. Write the criteria down as a principle.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/slow-down-your-thinking-so-you-can-note-the-criteria-you-are-using-to/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“Having a process that ensures problems are brought to the surface, and their root causes diagnosed, assures that continual improvements occur.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/having-a-process-that-ensures-problems-are-brought-to-the-surface-and/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“If you can’t successfully do something, don’t think you can tell others how it should be done”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/if-you-can-t-successfully-do-something-don-t-think-you-can-tell/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“Remember that a good plan should resemble a movie script.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/remember-that-a-good-plan-should-resemble-a-movie-script/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“I believe that the key to success lies in knowing how to both strive for a lot and fail well. By failing well, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-believe-that-the-key-to-success-lies-in-knowing-how-to-both-strive/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [I'm scared of one man, one vote because it suggests that everybody has an equal ability at making decisions, and I think that's dangerous.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-m-scared-of-one-man-one-vote-because-it-suggests-that-everybody-has/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“A manager’s ability to recognize when outcomes are inconsistent with goals and then modify designs and assemble people to rectify them makes all the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/a-manager-s-ability-to-recognize-when-outcomes-are-inconsistent-with/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“So I learned to be radically open-minded to allow others to point out what I might be missing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/so-i-learned-to-be-radically-open-minded-to-allow-others-to-point-out/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“During those terrible days after 9/11, when the whole country was being whipsawed by emotion, or the weeks between September 19 and October 10,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/during-those-terrible-days-after-9-11-when-the-whole-country-was/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“is more effective to train that subconscious, emotional you the same way you would teach a child to behave”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/is-more-effective-to-train-that-subconscious-emotional-you-the-same/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [I think that the first thing is you should have a strategic asset allocation mix that assumes that you don't know what the future…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/i-think-that-the-first-thing-is-you-should-have-a-strategic-asset/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [Life is like a game where you seek to overcome the obstacles that stand in the way of achieving your goals. You get better…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/life-is-like-a-game-where-you-seek-to-overcome-the-obstacles-that/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“when we look down on ourselves through the eyes of nature we are of absolutely no significance. It is a reality that each one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/when-we-look-down-on-ourselves-through-the-eyes-of-nature-we-are-of/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“Great questions are a much better indicator of future success than great answers.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/great-questions-are-a-much-better-indicator-of-future-success-than/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

> [“Georgi Plekhanov’s classic On the Role of the Individual in History.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/georgi-plekhanov-s-classic-on-the-role-of-the-individual-in-history/)

[Ray Dalio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

[Explore all 716 Ray Dalio quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/)

## More Dreams quotes

> [“Cine a ucis stelele? Cine a surpat drumul spre viitor al celor din morminte?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ionel-teodoreanu/cine-a-ucis-stelele-cine-a-surpat-drumul-spre-viitor-al-celor-din/)

[Ionel Teodoreanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ionel-teodoreanu/)

> [“Once we become sensitive to dreams, we discover that every dynamic in a dream is manifesting itself in some way in our practical lives”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-a-johnson/once-we-become-sensitive-to-dreams-we-discover-that-every-dynamic-in/)

[Robert A. Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-a-johnson/)

> [“Now you’re wet. You’re so wet you’re leaking down your ass. You’re soaking my pillow. I don’t think I’m ever washing it. I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-stoker/now-you-re-wet-you-re-so-wet-you-re-leaking-down-your-ass-you-re/)

[Susan Stoker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-stoker/)

> [“Not that it matters, when you dream, there's no outside or in. Your mind is an unimaginable bloom. A willow catkin as big as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rich-shapero/not-that-it-matters-when-you-dream-there-s-no-outside-or-in-your-mind/)

[Rich Shapero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rich-shapero/)

> [Sometimes we wish for the feel but we never understand that we have to give a lot to get the feel !](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-reynolds/sometimes-we-wish-for-the-feel-but-we-never-understand-that-we-have/)

[Robert Reynolds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-reynolds/)

> [The vision of the left, full of envy and resentment, takes its worst toll on those at the bottom - whether black or white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-sowell/the-vision-of-the-left-full-of-envy-and-resentment-takes-its-worst/)

[Thomas Sowell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-sowell/)

> [It’s so important to create in your own voice, to hold onto what makes you unique, and have faith in your vision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-lasseter/it-s-so-important-to-create-in-your-own-voice-to-hold-onto-what-makes/)

[John Lasseter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-lasseter/)

> [“As dreams are the healing songs from the wilderness of our unconscious - So wild animals, wild plants, wild landscapes are the healing dreams…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dale-pendell/as-dreams-are-the-healing-songs-from-the-wilderness-of-our/)

[Dale Pendell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dale-pendell/)

> [Alone in a world, With millions of souls Walking in circles Trapped in their dreams unhealthy, unclean walking in circles, now do not disturb…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chester-bennington/alone-in-a-world-with-millions-of-souls-walking-in-circles-trapped-in/)

[Chester Bennington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chester-bennington/)

> [“Doing the work to transform your dreams into reality is like walking across the earth. It can be that hard, and it can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dragos-bratasanu/doing-the-work-to-transform-your-dreams-into-reality-is-like-walking/)

[Dragos Bratasanu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dragos-bratasanu/)

> [As far as Im concerned, I didnt dream - ever.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-sturgeon/as-far-as-im-concerned-i-didnt-dream-ever/)

[Theodore Sturgeon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-sturgeon/)

> [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/)

[Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/)

> [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/)

[Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/)

> [Sometimes life seems like a dream, especially when I look down and see that I forgot to put on my pants.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-handey/sometimes-life-seems-like-a-dream-especially-when-i-look-down-and-see/)

[Jack Handey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-handey/)

> [“I had a dream. I had an awesome dream.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/i-had-a-dream-i-had-an-awesome-dream/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

[Browse all 40,599 Dreams quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "“Losing people I cared so much about and very nearly losing my dream of working for myself was devastating. To make ends meet, I even had to borrow $ 4,000 from my dad until we could sell our second car. I had come to a fork in the road: Should I put on a tie and take a job on Wall Street? That was not the life I wanted. On the other hand, I had a wife and two young children to support. I realized I was facing one of life’s big turning points and my choices would have big implications for me and for my family’s future.”",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Ray Dalio"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and-very-nearly-losing-my-dream/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Dreams"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and-very-nearly-losing-my-dream/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a56/ray-dalio-299_dreams_losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and_1281464.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Losing people I cared so much about and very nearly losing my dream of working for myself was devastating…” — Ray Dalio",
                "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": "Ray Dalio",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ray-dalio/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "“Losing people I cared so much...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and-very-nearly-losing-my-dream/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ray-dalio/losing-people-i-cared-so-much-about-and-very-nearly-losing-my-dream/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
