--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My career as a 20-year-old, there were…" description: "\"My career as a 20-year-old, there were ups and downs and things I'm really happy with but there are a lot of things I have regrets about.\" — Rory MacDo..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg" --- # My career as a 20-year-old, there were ups and downs and… ![“My career as a 20-year-old, there were ups and downs and things I'm really happy with but there are a lot of things I have regrets about.” quote by Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg) > “My career as a 20-year-old, there were ups and downs and things I'm really happy with but there are a lot of things I have regrets about.” [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Reflecting on a 20‑year‑old career, the speaker acknowledges achievements and regrets, highlighting the mixed emotions of early professional life. **In simple terms:** Career at 20 had highs, lows, and regrets. Key Takeaway Learn from past choices to shape future goals. Themes career development reflection regret growth Mood thoughtful motivational Type advice reflective When to use this quote - job interviews - career planning - mentorship - skill development - personal branding Key Concepts life‑course theory decision making professional identity Questions to Reflect On - What lessons did you learn from early career setbacks? - How will you apply them moving forward? A Different Perspective Regrets can hinder progress. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [20 Year](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/20-year/) [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career 20](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-20-565737/) [Downs Things](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/downs-things-4363840/) [Happy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/happy/) [Regret](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regret/) [Regrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/regrets/) [Things Regrets](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/things-regrets-370392/) [Ups and downs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ups-and-downs/) ## Related quotes > [My dream is to do things until 'I have no regrets'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-taemin/my-dream-is-to-do-things-until-i-have-no-regrets/) [Lee Taemin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-taemin/) > [“One of the great secrets of life. Most people die of a sort of creeping common sense and discover too late that the only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/one-of-the-great-secrets-of-life-most-people-die-of-a-sort-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [The only things one never regrets are one's mistakes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/the-only-things-one-never-regrets-are-one-s-mistakes/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never regrets…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/most-people-die-of-a-sort-of-creeping-common-sense-and-discover-when/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [“That is one of the great secrets of life Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/that-is-one-of-the-great-secrets-of-life-nowadays-most-people-die-of/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Nowadays most people die of a sort of creeping common sense, and discover when it is too late that the only things one never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/nowadays-most-people-die-of-a-sort-of-creeping-common-sense-and/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I'm not one to pat myself on my back, but I have had a career for 20 years, and if people are interested in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-williamson/i-m-not-one-to-pat-myself-on-my-back-but-i-have-had-a-career-for-20/) [Matthew Williamson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-williamson/) > [I think that's one of the reasons why I've been able to have a great career for 20 years - because I'm able to adapt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/i-think-that-s-one-of-the-reasons-why-i-ve-been-able-to-have-a-great/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [If you've been following my career for 20 years, then you know what I do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/everlast/if-you-ve-been-following-my-career-for-20-years-then-you-know-what-i/) [Everlast](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/everlast/) > [I want to be able to look back on my career and have a 20 minute long, nonstop highlight reel.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-o-malley/i-want-to-be-able-to-look-back-on-my-career-and-have-a-20-minute-long/) [Sean O'Malley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-o-malley/) > [One minute you're starting left fielder, hitting home runs; the next, it's career over. I was 20.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-linklater/one-minute-you-re-starting-left-fielder-hitting-home-runs-the-next-it/) [Richard Linklater](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-linklater/) > [You don't want to have a fast career for two years. You want to have an amazing career for 20 years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-show/you-don-t-want-to-have-a-fast-career-for-two-years-you-want-to-have/) [Big Show](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-show/) > [Regret for the things we did can be tempered by time; it is regret for the things we did not do that is inconsolable.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorian-cox/regret-for-the-things-we-did-can-be-tempered-by-time-it-is-regret-for/) [Dorian Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorian-cox/) > [Everybody has certain things they wish they hadn't done in life. They wish they hadn't kicked their dog when they were ten or something.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/everybody-has-certain-things-they-wish-they-hadn-t-done-in-life-they/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [“Ah! Lord Henry, I wish you would tell me how to become young again." He thought for a moment. "Can you remember any great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/ah-lord-henry-i-wish-you-would-tell-me-how-to-become-young-again-he/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) ## More by Rory MacDonald > [I feel like I am the best in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-feel-like-i-am-the-best-in-the-world/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I stick to my principles.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-stick-to-my-principles/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I'm not a massive guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-m-not-a-massive-guy/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I'm a little bit more introverted than maybe some of the big personalities in the sport.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-m-a-little-bit-more-introverted-than-maybe-some-of-the-big/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I recognize that losing is a part of growth in this sport and it's a positive thing in the long run.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-recognize-that-losing-is-a-part-of-growth-in-this-sport-and-it-s-a/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I don't like to take people lightly even if the odds are against them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-don-t-like-to-take-people-lightly-even-if-the-odds-are-against-them/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I love jiu-jitsu.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-love-jiu-jitsu/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I've sacrificed a lot to get to the top, to the world title. I really sacrificed, and I took a lot of chances. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-ve-sacrificed-a-lot-to-get-to-the-top-to-the-world-title-i-really/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [After the Jon Fitch fight, about being confused, the Lord's really given me clarity and shined a light on where he wants me to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/after-the-jon-fitch-fight-about-being-confused-the-lord-s-really/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [I come from humble beginnings so I don't require a lot to feel comfortable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/i-come-from-humble-beginnings-so-i-don-t-require-a-lot-to-feel/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [As I move forward and closer to God I think he's got something for me and I can feel it in my heart, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/as-i-move-forward-and-closer-to-god-i-think-he-s-got-something-for-me/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [Montreal is not what I'm used to. I'm used to big mountains and the outdoors. I'm not much of a city guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/montreal-is-not-what-i-m-used-to-i-m-used-to-big-mountains-and-the/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [Canada will always be my home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/canada-will-always-be-my-home/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [You know what? Life's not about money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/you-know-what-life-s-not-about-money/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) > [MMA is my true talent and what I excel at the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/mma-is-my-true-talent-and-what-i-excel-at-the-most/) [Rory MacDonald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) [Explore all 103 Rory MacDonald quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/) ## More Career quotes > [“Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into taking a job in a field that doesn’t feel right in your gut. You are the one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-james/don-t-allow-anyone-to-pressure-you-into-taking-a-job-in-a-field-that/) [Alison James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-james/) > [In every province, the chief occupations, in order of importance, are lovemaking, malicious gossip, and talking nonsense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/in-every-province-the-chief-occupations-in-order-of-importance-are/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [I think I've had the longest career of strength, focus, and still being able to sell records. I think I'm that guy. I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nas/i-think-i-ve-had-the-longest-career-of-strength-focus-and-still-being/) [Nas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nas/) > [One needs more than ambition and talent to make a success of anything, really. There must be love and a vocation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessye-norman/one-needs-more-than-ambition-and-talent-to-make-a-success-of-anything/) [Jessye Norman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessye-norman/) > [There are so many things you can do with your life, you can go to school and study toward your career, you can become…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/there-are-so-many-things-you-can-do-with-your-life-you-can-go-to/) [Simphiwe Scientist Dumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simphiwe-scientist-dumi/) > [I always knew I wanted to have a good career, so I made it happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chord-overstreet/i-always-knew-i-wanted-to-have-a-good-career-so-i-made-it-happen/) [Chord Overstreet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chord-overstreet/) > [I am a very big fan of Brian Eno, of his work as an artist and making his music, and as a producer. In…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rostam-batmanglij/i-am-a-very-big-fan-of-brian-eno-of-his-work-as-an-artist-and-making/) [Rostam Batmanglij](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rostam-batmanglij/) > [If I can beat a proven champion like Canelo, that will take my career to a different level.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennady-golovkin/if-i-can-beat-a-proven-champion-like-canelo-that-will-take-my-career/) [Gennady Golovkin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennady-golovkin/) > [My non-career. My excuse for a career? Honestly, I never think about the word 'career.' I've had managers, the minute they say it to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-verlaine/my-non-career-my-excuse-for-a-career-honestly-i-never-think-about-the/) [Tom Verlaine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-verlaine/) > [“The vocation of a man lies in his vision.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-vocation-of-a-man-lies-in-his-vision/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [I started off as a model maker, so the first part of my career was a model maker and then a motion control camera…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-knoll/i-started-off-as-a-model-maker-so-the-first-part-of-my-career-was-a/) [John Knoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-knoll/) > [Growing up I did commercials and things like that, but nothing serious. As I got older, my family is really hardcore into academics. They…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/portia-doubleday/growing-up-i-did-commercials-and-things-like-that-but-nothing-serious/) [Portia Doubleday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/portia-doubleday/) > [You can have a career and kids who love you. But you have to nurture yourself and find a way to be fulfilled so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherine-reitman/you-can-have-a-career-and-kids-who-love-you-but-you-have-to-nurture/) [Catherine Reitman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherine-reitman/) > [As for doing good; that is one of the professions which is full. Moreover I have tried it fairly and, strange as it may…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-david-thoreau/as-for-doing-good-that-is-one-of-the-professions-which-is-full/) [Henry David Thoreau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-david-thoreau/) > [Even though I'm already successful and have a career, it is always good to have your eggs in more than one basket.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/farrah-abraham/even-though-i-m-already-successful-and-have-a-career-it-is-always/) [Farrah Abraham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/farrah-abraham/) [Browse all 11,387 Career quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My career as a 20-year-old, there were ups and downs and things I'm really happy with but there are a lot of things I have regrets about.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Rory MacDonald" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-ups-and-downs-and-things-i-m/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Career" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-ups-and-downs-and-things-i-m/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ecf/rory-macdonald-4967_career_my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-up_2937717.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“My career as a 20-year-old, there were ups and downs and things I'm really happy with but there are a lot of…” — Rory MacDonald", "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": "Rory MacDonald", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rory-macdonald/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "My career as a 20-year-old, there...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-ups-and-downs-and-things-i-m/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rory-macdonald/my-career-as-a-20-year-old-there-were-ups-and-downs-and-things-i-m/#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 } } ] } ```