--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No matter how commonplace or dull your…" description: "\"No matter how commonplace or dull your first job's duties seem, chances are you can find something to do that others don't want to and make it your own..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/ryan-holiday-514_career_no-matter-how-commonplace-or-dull-your-f_2853945.jpg" --- # No matter how commonplace or dull your first job's duties… ![“No matter how commonplace or dull your first job's duties seem, chances are you can find something to do that others don't want to and make it your own.” quote by Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/ryan-holiday-514_career_no-matter-how-commonplace-or-dull-your-f_2853945.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/ryan-holiday-514_career_no-matter-how-commonplace-or-dull-your-f_2853945.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d3a/ryan-holiday-514_career_no-matter-how-commonplace-or-dull-your-f_2853945.jpg) > “No matter how commonplace or dull your first job's duties seem, chances are you can find something to do that others don't want to and make it your own.” [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Even mundane jobs contain hidden opportunities; find tasks others avoid and make them your niche. **In simple terms:** Find value in overlooked tasks. Key Takeaway Turn ignored duties into strengths. Themes work innovation strategy Mood pragmatic inspirational Type professional strategic When to use this quote - career advancement - entrepreneurship - skill development - team leadership Key Concepts lean thinking opportunity spotting Questions to Reflect On - What overlooked tasks can you master? - How does this benefit your team? A Different Perspective Not all tasks are equally valuable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Duties](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duties/) [Job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job/) ## Related quotes > [Are those 'terrible' machines really putting those people out of work? Or are they getting rid of a really dull job that we shouldn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rodney-brooks/are-those-terrible-machines-really-putting-those-people-out-of-work/) [Rodney Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rodney-brooks/) > [I always concentrated on doing the very best that I could in the job and the duties that I was assigned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hugh-shelton/i-always-concentrated-on-doing-the-very-best-that-i-could-in-the-job/) [Hugh Shelton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hugh-shelton/) > [I spent several years in a North Vietnamese prison camp in the dark, fed with scraps. Do you think I want to do that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mccain/i-spent-several-years-in-a-north-vietnamese-prison-camp-in-the-dark/) [John McCain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mccain/) > [I speak for all Malaysians in expressing my admiration for the Queen and the grace, poise and selflessness with which she has carried out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/najib-razak/i-speak-for-all-malaysians-in-expressing-my-admiration-for-the-queen/) [Najib Razak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/najib-razak/) > [My husband is in charge of all phone, email and texting duties at home. He even has to turn on the TV and air…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/becki-newton/my-husband-is-in-charge-of-all-phone-email-and-texting-duties-at-home/) [Becki Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/becki-newton/) > [Irrespective of the tasks given to me, I have done my best to discharge my duties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajnath-singh/irrespective-of-the-tasks-given-to-me-i-have-done-my-best-to/) [Rajnath Singh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajnath-singh/) > [We have duties to others, and duties to ourselves, and we cannot shirk either.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theodore-roosevelt/we-have-duties-to-others-and-duties-to-ourselves-and-we-cannot-shirk/) [Theodore Roosevelt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theodore-roosevelt/) > [One has two duties - to be worried and not to be worried.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-m-forster/one-has-two-duties-to-be-worried-and-not-to-be-worried/) [E. M. Forster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-m-forster/) > [Duties are ours; events are God's. This removes an infinite burden from the shoulders of a miserable, tempted, dying creature. On this consideration only,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/duties-are-ours-events-are-god-s-this-removes-an-infinite-burden-from/) [Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/) > [Some duties exist simply because we are part of a larger family or community.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/some-duties-exist-simply-because-we-are-part-of-a-larger-family-or/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [I guess everybody has to pay duties at the Masters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seve-ballesteros/i-guess-everybody-has-to-pay-duties-at-the-masters/) [Seve Ballesteros](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seve-ballesteros/) > [“I truly wanted to live a life in which I could make my own choices, independent of the 'duties' of my birth and position.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/i-truly-wanted-to-live-a-life-in-which-i-could-make-my-own-choices/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [Medical physicists work in cooperation with doctors. A few medical physicists devote their time to research and teaching. A few get involved with administrative…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cameron/medical-physicists-work-in-cooperation-with-doctors-a-few-medical/) [John Cameron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cameron/) > [knowledge of our duties is the most useful part of philosophy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-whately/knowledge-of-our-duties-is-the-most-useful-part-of-philosophy/) [Richard Whately](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-whately/) > [“You must not allow the hurt of the past to haunt or hinder you from fulfilling and performing your duties as one who has…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/you-must-not-allow-the-hurt-of-the-past-to-haunt-or-hinder-you-from/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) ## More by Ryan Holiday > [“If we can focus on making clear what parts of our day are within our control and what parts are not, we will not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/if-we-can-focus-on-making-clear-what-parts-of-our-day-are-within-our/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The areas of great interest to the Stoics all make an appearance here: virtue, mortality, emotions, self-awareness, fortitude, right action, problem solving, acceptance, mental…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-areas-of-great-interest-to-the-stoics-all-make-an-appearance-here/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“With a business, we take most failures less personally and understand they’re part of the process.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/with-a-business-we-take-most-failures-less-personally-and-understand/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Many creatives want to be just the creator, or only “the idea guy.” They like that because it’s sexy and because that’s what comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/many-creatives-want-to-be-just-the-creator-or-only-the-idea-guy-they/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Pretty much everyone's career starts the same way: with grunt work. Not just the cliched fetching of coffee, but other lowly tasks: taking notes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/pretty-much-everyone-s-career-starts-the-same-way-with-grunt-work-not/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The greats - they protect their sleep because it's where the best work comes from. They say no to things. They turn in when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-greats-they-protect-their-sleep-because-it-s-where-the-best-work/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Where little danger is apprehended, the more the enemy will be unprepared and consequently there is the fairest prospect of success.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-little-danger-is-apprehended-the-more-the-enemy-will-be/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [We often learn the hard way that our world is ruled by external factors. We don't always get what is rightfully ours, even if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/we-often-learn-the-hard-way-that-our-world-is-ruled-by-external/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“From Rusticus … I learned to read carefully and not be satisfied with a rough understanding of the whole, and not to agree too…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/from-rusticus-i-learned-to-read-carefully-and-not-be-satisfied-with-a/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [I wholeheartedly agree that many media 'standards' can feel disingenuous or, in fact, be a cover for less-than-honest behavior.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/i-wholeheartedly-agree-that-many-media-standards-can-feel/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“Remember: even what we get for free has a cost, if only in what we pay to store it—in our garages and in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/remember-even-what-we-get-for-free-has-a-cost-if-only-in-what-we-pay/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [It's your job to find a release and an outlet for the stress and the feelings. Never forget: the crazy stays at home.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/it-s-your-job-to-find-a-release-and-an-outlet-for-the-stress-and-the/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [Where the head goes, the body follows. Perception precedes action. Right action follows the right perspective.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/where-the-head-goes-the-body-follows-perception-precedes-action-right/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [The risks of speaking extemporaneously are apparent the first time you wing it and promptly put your foot in your mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-risks-of-speaking-extemporaneously-are-apparent-the-first-time/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) > [“The tools of the Internet and social media have made it possible to track, test, iterate, and improve marketing to the point where these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-holiday/the-tools-of-the-internet-and-social-media-have-made-it-possible-to/) [Ryan Holiday](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) [Explore all 504 Ryan Holiday quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-holiday/) ## 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 > [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. 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