--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My first job was cleaning dog kennels. It…" description: "\"My first job was cleaning dog kennels. It was especially, ah, aromatic during those hot, humid Louisiana summers, but it prepared me for Hollywood.\" — ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/robert-crais-9313_ah_my-first-job-was-cleaning-dog-kennels-it_2944465.jpg" --- # My first job was cleaning dog kennels. It was especially… ![“My first job was cleaning dog kennels. It was especially, ah, aromatic during those hot, humid Louisiana summers, but it prepared me for Hollywood.” quote by Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/robert-crais-9313_ah_my-first-job-was-cleaning-dog-kennels-it_2944465.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/robert-crais-9313_ah_my-first-job-was-cleaning-dog-kennels-it_2944465.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/294/robert-crais-9313_ah_my-first-job-was-cleaning-dog-kennels-it_2944465.jpg) > “My first job was cleaning dog kennels. It was especially, ah, aromatic during those hot, humid Louisiana summers, but it prepared me for Hollywood.” [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early menial work taught resilience and observation, shaping later creative success in Hollywood **In simple terms:** Hard jobs build skills for future dreams Key Takeaway Value all work as training ground Themes resilience observation career growth Mood reflective gritty Type personal career inspirational When to use this quote - entry‑level labor - film industry preparation - personal development - networking Key Concepts skill acquisition adaptability creative insight Questions to Reflect On - How did those chores influence your storytelling? - What other humble jobs can teach valuable lessons? A Different Perspective The quote idealplays the romanticism of Hollywood, ignoring systemic barriers many face ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Dog](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dog/) [First job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/first-job/) [Hollywood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hollywood/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) [Louisiana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/louisiana/) [Summers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/summers/) ## Related quotes > [Growing up Mormon, you learn how to be very, very organized, and it's a passionate group. I mean, in that way, it's prepared me…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dustin-lance-black/growing-up-mormon-you-learn-how-to-be-very-very-organized-and-it-s-a/) [Dustin Lance Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dustin-lance-black/) > [When we do deals, it's not, 'Ah, it's a million bucks, who cares?' The penny means something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/when-we-do-deals-it-s-not-ah-it-s-a-million-bucks-who-cares-the-penny/) [Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/) > [Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/ah-take-the-cash-in-hand-and-waive-the-rest/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [Ah, 'The Departed' is really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/ah-the-departed-is-really-good/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [“Ah, Lord God be merciful to us all!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/ah-lord-god-be-merciful-to-us-all/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I've read quite a few readers' reviews of my book on Amazon, saying, 'Ah, he criticises the free market, he advocates central planning.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/i-ve-read-quite-a-few-readers-reviews-of-my-book-on-amazon-saying-ah/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [When I was working with Tom Ford, he would just look at me and ask, 'Will you wear it?' I'd say, 'Ah, too long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/when-i-was-working-with-tom-ford-he-would-just-look-at-me-and-ask/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [I don't think I handle the notes much differently from other pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, there is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-schnabel/i-don-t-think-i-handle-the-notes-much-differently-from-other-pianists/) [Artur Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-schnabel/) > [Ah, I hope to live to 87 and drink from the the goblet of life to the dregs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-van-gogh/ah-i-hope-to-live-to-87-and-drink-from-the-the-goblet-of-life-to-the/) [Theo Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-van-gogh/) > [I always have scarves handy; they're my indulgence. I buy them at an L.A. shop called Lost & Found. I'll spray one with loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/i-always-have-scarves-handy-they-re-my-indulgence-i-buy-them-at-an-l/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [I make a film - and once I've made it, everyone comes along and says 'Ah! This is a film that's political, or social'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/i-make-a-film-and-once-i-ve-made-it-everyone-comes-along-and-says-ah/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) > [So in those days, they were scooping up any young person who could sing and look decent, ah, at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-carlisle/so-in-those-days-they-were-scooping-up-any-young-person-who-could/) [Kitty Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-carlisle/) > [Life is beautiful, what do you think? In the morning I say, 'Ah, I am alive still!' All my friends die already. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/life-is-beautiful-what-do-you-think-in-the-morning-i-say-ah-i-am/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot - travel all the same!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/ah-young-people-travel-if-you-can-and-if-you-cannot-travel-all-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [My feeling is, I do a lot of low-budget films. I don't do low-budget acting. I have no interest in just goofballing my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/my-feeling-is-i-do-a-lot-of-low-budget-films-i-don-t-do-low-budget/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) ## More by Robert Crais > [I really strive to bring something new to each book. I don't want to write the same book over and over again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-really-strive-to-bring-something-new-to-each-book-i-don-t-want-to/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Dogs give us something just as we give something to them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/dogs-give-us-something-just-as-we-give-something-to-them/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [My books come to me in images, and sometimes the image is at the beginning of the book, and sometimes it's simply a flash…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/my-books-come-to-me-in-images-and-sometimes-the-image-is-at-the/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [People want you to be ordinary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/people-want-you-to-be-ordinary/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Pike put down the cat. He slid from Pike's arms like molasses and puddled at his feet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/pike-put-down-the-cat-he-slid-from-pike-s-arms-like-molasses-and/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [“The best dog training was based on the reward system. You did not punish a dog for doing wrong, you rewarded the dog for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/the-best-dog-training-was-based-on-the-reward-system-you-did-not/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I write characters and stories that move me, and I write from the heart.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-write-characters-and-stories-that-move-me-and-i-write-from-the-heart/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I love, love writing about Los Angeles. I love exploring every part of it. And I find, rather than a burden, it's actually one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-love-love-writing-about-los-angeles-i-love-exploring-every-part-of/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [My fiction is almost always inspired by a character's need or desire to rise above him- or herself. No one is perfect and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/my-fiction-is-almost-always-inspired-by-a-character-s-need-or-desire/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [It's easy to sound good. All you do is leave in the parts where you act tough and forget the parts where you get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/it-s-easy-to-sound-good-all-you-do-is-leave-in-the-parts-where-you/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [My family was all police and hard hats at the refineries; they didn't know what to think about me. So I became a closet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/my-family-was-all-police-and-hard-hats-at-the-refineries-they-didn-t/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [When dogs fulfill their roles they are ecstatically happy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/when-dogs-fulfill-their-roles-they-are-ecstatically-happy/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I admire people who re-create themselves. And it seems to me that what gives us all the opportunity to be heroic in our own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-admire-people-who-re-create-themselves-and-it-seems-to-me-that-what/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [Some of us find our way with a single light to guide us; others lose themselves even when the star field is as sharp…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/some-of-us-find-our-way-with-a-single-light-to-guide-us-others-lose/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) > [I was digging for stuff in a used bookstore, and I came upon 'Little Sister.' I fell in love with Chandler that night. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-crais/i-was-digging-for-stuff-in-a-used-bookstore-and-i-came-upon-little/) [Robert Crais](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) [Explore all 71 Robert Crais quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-crais/) ## More Ah quotes > [My feeling is, I do a lot of low-budget films. I don't do low-budget acting. I have no interest in just goofballing my way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lance-henriksen/my-feeling-is-i-do-a-lot-of-low-budget-films-i-don-t-do-low-budget/) [Lance Henriksen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lance-henriksen/) > [Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot - travel all the same!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jules-verne/ah-young-people-travel-if-you-can-and-if-you-cannot-travel-all-the/) [Jules Verne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jules-verne/) > [Life is beautiful, what do you think? In the morning I say, 'Ah, I am alive still!' All my friends die already. I am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alejandro-jodorowsky/life-is-beautiful-what-do-you-think-in-the-morning-i-say-ah-i-am/) [Alejandro Jodorowsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alejandro-jodorowsky/) > [So in those days, they were scooping up any young person who could sing and look decent, ah, at the same time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kitty-carlisle/so-in-those-days-they-were-scooping-up-any-young-person-who-could/) [Kitty Carlisle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kitty-carlisle/) > [I make a film - and once I've made it, everyone comes along and says 'Ah! This is a film that's political, or social'…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dario-argento/i-make-a-film-and-once-i-ve-made-it-everyone-comes-along-and-says-ah/) [Dario Argento](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dario-argento/) > [I always have scarves handy; they're my indulgence. I buy them at an L.A. shop called Lost & Found. I'll spray one with loads…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-headey/i-always-have-scarves-handy-they-re-my-indulgence-i-buy-them-at-an-l/) [Lena Headey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-headey/) > [Ah, I hope to live to 87 and drink from the the goblet of life to the dregs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-van-gogh/ah-i-hope-to-live-to-87-and-drink-from-the-the-goblet-of-life-to-the/) [Theo Van Gogh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-van-gogh/) > [I don't think I handle the notes much differently from other pianists. But the pauses between the notes - ah, there is where the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-schnabel/i-don-t-think-i-handle-the-notes-much-differently-from-other-pianists/) [Artur Schnabel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-schnabel/) > [When I was working with Tom Ford, he would just look at me and ask, 'Will you wear it?' I'd say, 'Ah, too long,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carine-roitfeld/when-i-was-working-with-tom-ford-he-would-just-look-at-me-and-ask/) [Carine Roitfeld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carine-roitfeld/) > [I've read quite a few readers' reviews of my book on Amazon, saying, 'Ah, he criticises the free market, he advocates central planning.' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ha-joon-chang/i-ve-read-quite-a-few-readers-reviews-of-my-book-on-amazon-saying-ah/) [Ha-Joon Chang](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ha-joon-chang/) > [“Ah, Lord God be merciful to us all!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/ah-lord-god-be-merciful-to-us-all/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Ah, 'The Departed' is really good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enrique-pena-nieto/ah-the-departed-is-really-good/) [Enrique Pena Nieto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enrique-pena-nieto/) > [Ah, take the Cash in hand and waive the Rest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-fitzgerald/ah-take-the-cash-in-hand-and-waive-the-rest/) [Edward Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-fitzgerald/) > [When we do deals, it's not, 'Ah, it's a million bucks, who cares?' The penny means something.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump-jr/when-we-do-deals-it-s-not-ah-it-s-a-million-bucks-who-cares-the-penny/) [Donald Trump, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump-jr/) > [Ah, Scotland. I am three-parts Scottish and terribly proud of it, although maybe we should divide it into eighths, because my two-eighths are Danish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanna-lumley/ah-scotland-i-am-three-parts-scottish-and-terribly-proud-of-it/) [Joanna Lumley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanna-lumley/) Browse all 51 Ah quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My first job was cleaning dog kennels. 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