--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: By 14, I had decided on three modest…" description: "\"By 14, I had decided on three modest goals and repeated them often to everyone. I wanted to be a world-class filmmaker, CEO of a multi-billion-dollar e..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a0/sean-astin-11532_actor_by-14-i-had-decided-on-three-modest-goal_2893560.jpg" --- # By 14, I had decided on three modest goals and repeated… ![“By 14, I had decided on three modest goals and repeated them often to everyone. I wanted to be a world-class filmmaker, CEO of a multi-billion-dollar entertainment company, and president of the United States. I've had to settle for journeyman actor.” quote by Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a0/sean-astin-11532_actor_by-14-i-had-decided-on-three-modest-goal_2893560.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a0/sean-astin-11532_actor_by-14-i-had-decided-on-three-modest-goal_2893560.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8a0/sean-astin-11532_actor_by-14-i-had-decided-on-three-modest-goal_2893560.jpg) > “By 14, I had decided on three modest goals and repeated them often to everyone. I wanted to be a world-class filmmaker, CEO of a multi-billion-dollar entertainment company, and president of the United States. I've had to settle for journeyman actor.” [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Setting ambitious goals and sharing them can motivate, but reality may require adjusting aspirations and finding fulfillment in other roles. **In simple terms:** Dreams inspire but may need adaptation. Key Takeaway Adjust goals while staying motivated. Themes ambition realism career dreams Mood reflective motivational Type inspirational practical When to use this quote - career planning - personal development - creative industries Key Concepts goal setting self‑efficacy Questions to Reflect On - What core values guide your aspirations? - How do you measure success? A Different Perspective Over‑ambitious goals can cause disappointment. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [14 Decided](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/14-decided-4077103/) [Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Company](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/company/) [Entertainment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entertainment/) [Filmmaker Ceo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/filmmaker-ceo-4077102/) [Goals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals/) [Goals Repeated](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/goals-repeated-4077101/) [Journeyman Actor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/journeyman-actor-522007/) [Theatre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/theatre/) ## Related quotes > [I'm a journeyman actor. My experience as a journeyman actor is that you have to go where the work is. I've never been the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-lehman/i-m-a-journeyman-actor-my-experience-as-a-journeyman-actor-is-that/) [Kristin Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-lehman/) > [It's hard to make a living in this business. Unions aren't as strong as they used to be. For a journeyman actor - someone…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annette-bening/it-s-hard-to-make-a-living-in-this-business-unions-aren-t-as-strong/) [Annette Bening](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annette-bening/) > [I'm a journeyman actor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pierce-brosnan/i-m-a-journeyman-actor/) [Pierce Brosnan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pierce-brosnan/) > [In this business, it's important: if you consider yourself a journeyman actor like I do, you need to stay topical. So I'm always looking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ian-ziering/in-this-business-it-s-important-if-you-consider-yourself-a-journeyman/) [Ian Ziering](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ian-ziering/) > [First of all, it was wonderful to have a home. Consistent work when you're a journeyman actor, when you're a character actor, is really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-krumholtz/first-of-all-it-was-wonderful-to-have-a-home-consistent-work-when-you/) [David Krumholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-krumholtz/) > [I always wanted to be a journeyman actor. I wanted to be able to do comedy and drama, classical and contemporary. I like to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-always-wanted-to-be-a-journeyman-actor-i-wanted-to-be-able-to-do/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I think of myself as a journeyman actor. I've got some talent and I work hard, but people like Brando or Pacino - those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-rockwell/i-think-of-myself-as-a-journeyman-actor-i-ve-got-some-talent-and-i/) [Sam Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-rockwell/) > [I am still a journeyman actor and a peace and justice activist. I'm a pilgrim trying to win my freedom and serve as best…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-sheen/i-am-still-a-journeyman-actor-and-a-peace-and-justice-activist-i-m-a/) [Martin Sheen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-sheen/) > [No, I never thought of it in those terms. I used to go into agents' offices and they'd have pictures of these handsome movie…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-wallach/no-i-never-thought-of-it-in-those-terms-i-used-to-go-into-agents/) [Eli Wallach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-wallach/) > [ The idea of a journeyman actor, people sort of say negatively - "Someone who never made it for real" - \[but\] I think a… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aya-cash/the-idea-of-a-journeyman-actor-people-sort-of-say-negatively-someone/) [Aya Cash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aya-cash/) > [I'm really lucky. I never really felt like LA was the Mecca, that you "made it" if you made it somewhere else. I've been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristin-lehman/i-m-really-lucky-i-never-really-felt-like-la-was-the-mecca-that-you/) [Kristin Lehman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristin-lehman/) > [I consider myself a journeyman actor, and I pride myself and look forward to keeping my career choices as diverse as possible because it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendell-pierce/i-consider-myself-a-journeyman-actor-and-i-pride-myself-and-look/) [Wendell Pierce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendell-pierce/) > [I am just a journeyman actor. Most often I take what's offered me, and I've been able to work year after year. I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-margolis/i-am-just-a-journeyman-actor-most-often-i-take-what-s-offered-me-and/) [Mark Margolis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-margolis/) > [I'm a journeyman actor, and I don't ever want to forget that. With romantic-lead dreams.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-sanderson/i-m-a-journeyman-actor-and-i-don-t-ever-want-to-forget-that-with/) [William Sanderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-sanderson/) > [I'm the journeyman actor that you saw in one scene here, two scenes there. I've been eking out a living doing theater - Broadway,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viola-davis/i-m-the-journeyman-actor-that-you-saw-in-one-scene-here-two-scenes/) [Viola Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viola-davis/) ## More by Sean Astin > [Even though my parents were famous actors, I honestly felt most of the time that I didn't understand what was going on.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/even-though-my-parents-were-famous-actors-i-honestly-felt-most-of-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [My career is very easy to interpret. It's about working. I'm a working actor, so that's how I see myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/my-career-is-very-easy-to-interpret-it-s-about-working-i-m-a-working/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I was about 14, and my friend's stepdad asked me to do a 10K with him because his son - who was more into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-was-about-14-and-my-friend-s-stepdad-asked-me-to-do-a-10k-with-him/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I used to love watching Angela Lansbury and other people when they were doing voice-overs for Disney shows. You'd see them doing these wild…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-used-to-love-watching-angela-lansbury-and-other-people-when-they/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I actually think I've got a pretty good horror scream.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-actually-think-i-ve-got-a-pretty-good-horror-scream/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I first heard about 'Stranger Things' from people dressed as the characters coming up to me at conventions saying, 'Hey, you have to see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-first-heard-about-stranger-things-from-people-dressed-as-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [As soon as they sent me an email saying that 'Stranger Things' is having an audition and they'd like you to come in, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/as-soon-as-they-sent-me-an-email-saying-that-stranger-things-is/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [Every day you've got running shoes on, it's a good day.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/every-day-you-ve-got-running-shoes-on-it-s-a-good-day/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [The filmmakers who I'm pining to work for aren't ringing my phone off the hook](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/the-filmmakers-who-i-m-pining-to-work-for-aren-t-ringing-my-phone-off/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [The jealousy I feel twards Orlando Bloom exists on many levels.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/the-jealousy-i-feel-twards-orlando-bloom-exists-on-many-levels/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [The first stage I preformed on were the stairs to the hallway in the living room. There was a really nice platform, and when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/the-first-stage-i-preformed-on-were-the-stairs-to-the-hallway-in-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [I remember Michael Jackson once called to see if I was feeling okay because I had gone home sick from the set of 'Goonies';…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/i-remember-michael-jackson-once-called-to-see-if-i-was-feeling-okay/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [When Trump goes after the media and calls it fake news, he should be impeached - and everyone should say this. But the media…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/when-trump-goes-after-the-media-and-calls-it-fake-news-he-should-be/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [There was a combination of not wanting to look a gift horse in the mouth, but also really not wanting to be stuck in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/there-was-a-combination-of-not-wanting-to-look-a-gift-horse-in-the/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) > [When you're a kid, you just have no concept of anything other than what you're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-astin/when-you-re-a-kid-you-just-have-no-concept-of-anything-other-than/) [Sean Astin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) [Explore all 59 Sean Astin quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-astin/) ## More Actor quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [When you step out and do a song in a musical, the easier thing to do is make it funny. But when those transitions…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kelli-o-hara/when-you-step-out-and-do-a-song-in-a-musical-the-easier-thing-to-do/) [Kelli O'Hara](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kelli-o-hara/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [There has got to be a way for me to have a role on TV or in film that is just as normal as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adeel-akhtar/there-has-got-to-be-a-way-for-me-to-have-a-role-on-tv-or-in-film-that/) [Adeel Akhtar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adeel-akhtar/) > [I love casting against type and doing things you wouldn't expect, because I think you get more interesting performances that way. Hollywood loves to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-s-goyer/i-love-casting-against-type-and-doing-things-you-wouldn-t-expect/) [David S. Goyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-s-goyer/) > [I'm an actor, so I'm never going to feel like I've done enough.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/italia-ricci/i-m-an-actor-so-i-m-never-going-to-feel-like-i-ve-done-enough/) [Italia Ricci](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/italia-ricci/) > [I am tired of our characters being so incomplete. When do we ever save the day in a film? When does a Latino actor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/esai-morales/i-am-tired-of-our-characters-being-so-incomplete-when-do-we-ever-save/) [Esai Morales](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/esai-morales/) > [When I was 13, I auditioned for the theater school, and I was there for four years. In the meantime, I did my first…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ana-de-armas/when-i-was-13-i-auditioned-for-the-theater-school-and-i-was-there-for/) [Ana de Armas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ana-de-armas/) > [If you stood me in a costume next to a computer graphic of the same-looking character, I think there would be a difference. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warwick-davis/if-you-stood-me-in-a-costume-next-to-a-computer-graphic-of-the-same/) [Warwick Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warwick-davis/) > [failure in the theater is more public, more brilliant, more unreal than in any other field.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lillian-hellman/failure-in-the-theater-is-more-public-more-brilliant-more-unreal-than/) [Lillian Hellman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lillian-hellman/) > [I'm a character actor - always have been, always will be - and historically, character actors don't come into their own until later in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-potts/i-m-a-character-actor-always-have-been-always-will-be-and/) [Annie Potts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-potts/) > [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/) [Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/) > [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/) [Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/) > [I never planned to do female roles. It just happened. I was typecast.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divine/i-never-planned-to-do-female-roles-it-just-happened-i-was-typecast/) [Divine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divine/) > [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/) [Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/) [Browse all 21,590 Actor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/actor/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "By 14, I had decided on three modest goals and repeated them often to everyone. I wanted to be a world-class filmmaker, CEO of a multi-billion-dollar entertainment company, and president of the United States. 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