--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My failed corporate career became the…" description: "\"My failed corporate career became the fodder for the 'Dilbert' comic. Once it became clear I would not be climbing any higher on the corporate ladder, ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/scott-adams-666_career_my-failed-corporate-career-became-the-fo_2432590.jpg" --- # My failed corporate career became the fodder for the… ![“My failed corporate career became the fodder for the 'Dilbert' comic. Once it became clear I would not be climbing any higher on the corporate ladder, it freed me to mock managers without worrying that it would stall my career. Most failures create some sort of unplanned freedom. I took full…” quote by Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/scott-adams-666_career_my-failed-corporate-career-became-the-fo_2432590.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/scott-adams-666_career_my-failed-corporate-career-became-the-fo_2432590.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/639/scott-adams-666_career_my-failed-corporate-career-became-the-fo_2432590.jpg) > “My failed corporate career became the fodder for the 'Dilbert' comic. Once it became clear I would not be climbing any higher on the corporate ladder, it freed me to mock managers without worrying that it would stall my career. Most failures create some sort of unplanned freedom. I took full advantage of mine.” [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Career setbacks can become material for humor, freeing you from ambition and revealing unexpected liberty. **In simple terms:** Failure can open doors to creative freedom Key Takeaway Use setbacks as creative fuel Themes failure creativity freedom Mood witty reflective Type satirical inspirational When to use this quote - comic writing - career transition - personal branding Key Concepts satire career dynamics self‑realization Questions to Reflect On - How can you turn failure into opportunity? - What does “unplanned freedom” mean to you? A Different Perspective Humor may mask deeper dissatisfaction ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Career](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career/) [Career Failures](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/career-failures-299976/) [Clear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clear/) [Create](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/create/) [Dilbert Comic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dilbert-comic-299978/) [Failed Corporate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failed-corporate-299977/) [Failure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/failure/) [Fodder Dilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fodder-dilbert-299979/) [Freedom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freedom/) [Ladder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ladder/) [Management](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/management/) [Mock Managers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mock-managers-299980/) ## Related quotes > [“I succeeded as a cartoonist with negligible art talent, some basic writing skills, an ordinary sense of humor and a bit of experience in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-guillebeau/i-succeeded-as-a-cartoonist-with-negligible-art-talent-some-basic/) [Chris Guillebeau](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-guillebeau/) > [Unlike the Obama Cabinet, the Trump Cabinet is not comprised of do-nothing bureaucrats, who worked their way up the twisted, scheme-ridden Washington ladder; rather,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kayleigh-mcenany/unlike-the-obama-cabinet-the-trump-cabinet-is-not-comprised-of-do/) [Kayleigh McEnany](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kayleigh-mcenany/) > [What signifies the ladder, provided one rise and attain the end?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/what-signifies-the-ladder-provided-one-rise-and-attain-the-end/) [Charles Augustin Sainte-Beuve](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-augustin-sainte-beuve/) > [I was one of the innovators of the TLC Match; some would arguably say that I am the master of the Ladder Match.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edge/i-was-one-of-the-innovators-of-the-tlc-match-some-would-arguably-say/) [Edge](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edge/) > [One thing I would like to see is a stronger ladder series for up-and-coming American drivers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-andretti/one-thing-i-would-like-to-see-is-a-stronger-ladder-series-for-up-and/) [Michael Andretti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-andretti/) > [For to keep at the top is harder almost than to get there](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-gibbons/for-to-keep-at-the-top-is-harder-almost-than-to-get-there/) [James Gibbons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-gibbons/) > [“I got waylaid by another of your throng of supporters and well-wishers so you only have yourself to blame.” “So I heard,” he said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donna-kauffman/i-got-waylaid-by-another-of-your-throng-of-supporters-and-well/) [Donna Kauffman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donna-kauffman/) > [The only way you can stay on top is to remember to touch bottom and get back to basics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shane-black/the-only-way-you-can-stay-on-top-is-to-remember-to-touch-bottom-and/) [Shane Black](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shane-black/) > [I'm a little bit superstitious, and I think that just comes from playing hockey. I won't avoid the number thirteen. A big one for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-badge-dale/i-m-a-little-bit-superstitious-and-i-think-that-just-comes-from/) [James Badge Dale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-badge-dale/) > [In order for us to reach success, we must first find, the ladder.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hensel/in-order-for-us-to-reach-success-we-must-first-find-the-ladder/) [Robert M. Hensel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hensel/) > [You cannot get to the top by sitting on your bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-cannot-get-to-the-top-by-sitting-on-your-bottom/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put plainly, China seems determined to steal its way up the economic ladder, at our expense.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-a-wray/put-plainly-china-seems-determined-to-steal-its-way-up-the-economic/) [Christopher A. Wray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-a-wray/) > [Normally, it's more efficient to climb fast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-ondra/normally-it-s-more-efficient-to-climb-fast/) [Adam Ondra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-ondra/) > [The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-girard/the-elevator-to-success-is-out-of-order-you-ll-have-to-use-the-stairs/) [Joe Girard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-girard/) > [It's sort of the American way to go up and down the ladder, maybe several times in a lifetime.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martha-stewart/it-s-sort-of-the-american-way-to-go-up-and-down-the-ladder-maybe/) [Martha Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martha-stewart/) ## More by Scott Adams > [The creator of the universe works in mysterious ways. But he uses a base ten counting system and likes round numbers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/the-creator-of-the-universe-works-in-mysterious-ways-but-he-uses-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you think your odds of solving your problem are bad, don’t rule out the possibility that what is really happening is that you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/if-you-think-your-odds-of-solving-your-problem-are-bad-don-t-rule-out/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [Frankly, I’m suspicious of anyone who has a strong opinion on a complicated issue.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/frankly-i-m-suspicious-of-anyone-who-has-a-strong-opinion-on-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“If you want success, figure out the price, then pay it. 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Small successes can grow into big ones, but failures rarely…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/what-you-rarely-see-is-a-stillborn-failure-that-transmogrifies-into-a/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Because everything you perceive is a metaphor for something your brain is not equipped to fully understand. God is as real as the clothes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/because-everything-you-perceive-is-a-metaphor-for-something-your/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [“Capitalism is rotten at every level, and yet it adds up to something extraordinarily useful for society over time. The paradox of capitalism is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scott-adams/capitalism-is-rotten-at-every-level-and-yet-it-adds-up-to-something/) [Scott Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scott-adams/) > [The best part about being my age is in knowing how my life worked out. 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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.' 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