--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My work has never been about me, and I've…" description: "\"My work has never been about me, and I've never made a big deal about my race. I've actually tried hard to avoid ever making a big deal out of it and h..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaun-king-5314_big-deal_my-work-has-never-been-about-me-and-i-ve_1678005.png" --- # My work has never been about me, and I've never made a big… ![“My work has never been about me, and I've never made a big deal about my race. I've actually tried hard to avoid ever making a big deal out of it and have, instead, simply tried to do good work that matters.” quote by Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaun-king-5314_big-deal_my-work-has-never-been-about-me-and-i-ve_1678005.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaun-king-5314_big-deal_my-work-has-never-been-about-me-and-i-ve_1678005.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/787/shaun-king-5314_big-deal_my-work-has-never-been-about-me-and-i-ve_1678005.png) > “My work has never been about me, and I've never made a big deal about my race. I've actually tried hard to avoid ever making a big deal out of it and have, instead, simply tried to do good work that matters.” [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He emphasizes focusing on work and impact rather than making race a central narrative. **In simple terms:** Focus on contributions, not identity politics. Key Takeaway Let actions speak louder than labels. Themes race identity work ethic Mood reflective assertive Type social personal When to use this quote - career - activism - public speaking Key Concepts meritocracy social responsibility Questions to Reflect On - How can you balance personal merit with acknowledging systemic issues? - What role should race play in professional narratives? A Different Perspective Ignoring race can overlook systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Race](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/race/) [Racism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/racism/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [“Things get to me all the time—I just don’t see the point in making a big deal out of it.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-harrington/things-get-to-me-all-the-time-i-just-don-t-see-the-point-in-making-a/) [Hannah Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-harrington/) > [The work, the work, the work. This is what the business is all about. This is the fun, the glory, the pleasure. It's the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-dusenberry/the-work-the-work-the-work-this-is-what-the-business-is-all-about/) [Phil Dusenberry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-dusenberry/) > [“What ripens passion is the conviction that your work matters. For most people, interest without purpose is nearly impossible to sustain for a lifetime.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-duckworth/what-ripens-passion-is-the-conviction-that-your-work-matters-for-most/) [Angela Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-duckworth/) > [Work on something that matters. Have courage.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ginni-rometty/work-on-something-that-matters-have-courage/) [Ginni Rometty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ginni-rometty/) > [The only thing we can control is the daily work we put in, and that's all that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danilo-gallinari/the-only-thing-we-can-control-is-the-daily-work-we-put-in-and-that-s/) [Danilo Gallinari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danilo-gallinari/) > [If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do work that matters, this is it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/if-there-was-ever-a-moment-to-follow-your-passion-and-do-work-that/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Open office plans, cell phones, constant notifications: these are all things that fight against sustained attention on a task. For some people and some…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-drum/open-office-plans-cell-phones-constant-notifications-these-are-all/) [Kevin Drum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-drum/) > [The people that are doing work that matters aren't doing work thats popular. They're just doing work that changes some people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-people-that-are-doing-work-that-matters-aren-t-doing-work-thats/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [Once you stop thinking about the minutiae of what each part might mean for your career, you learn that if you do a good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-savage/once-you-stop-thinking-about-the-minutiae-of-what-each-part-might/) [Fred Savage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-savage/) > [To lend each other a hand when we're falling, perhaps that's the only work that matters in the end.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brennan-manning/to-lend-each-other-a-hand-when-we-re-falling-perhaps-that-s-the-only/) [Brennan Manning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brennan-manning/) > [Our lives have a countdown clock that we can't see. Mine reminds me to only do work that matters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-miller/our-lives-have-a-countdown-clock-that-we-can-t-see-mine-reminds-me-to/) [Donald Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-miller/) > [The good news is that more than ever, value accrues to those that show up, those that make a difference, those that do work…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/the-good-news-is-that-more-than-ever-value-accrues-to-those-that-show/) [Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/) > [What really matters is the work. And what matters to me is doing the work. I'm not looking at the back end: "What am…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-redford/what-really-matters-is-the-work-and-what-matters-to-me-is-doing-the/) [Robert Redford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-redford/) > [“Focus on your work. Do what you're great at. Don't compare yourself to others and or waste time criticizing the lives and work of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/focus-on-your-work-do-what-you-re-great-at-don-t-compare-yourself-to/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [How hard you work matters more than how much you make.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michelle-obama/how-hard-you-work-matters-more-than-how-much-you-make/) [Michelle Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michelle-obama/) ## More by Shaun King > [There are many great outlets that we love and respect, but 'The North Star' really is going to be a hard news outlet with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/there-are-many-great-outlets-that-we-love-and-respect-but-the-north/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [I love New York. It's my favorite city in the world. I live and work here by choice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-love-new-york-it-s-my-favorite-city-in-the-world-i-live-and-work/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Boston's justice system is in serious need of reform. Many of its policies and practices are antiquated, expensive, and don't really even make Boston…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/boston-s-justice-system-is-in-serious-need-of-reform-many-of-its/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [LISTEN: If you ever wondered what you would do if you were alive in the Civil Rights Movement, NOW IS THE TIME to find…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/listen-if-you-ever-wondered-what-you-would-do-if-you-were-alive-in/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [I fight against racism and bigotry because I care about the people who are experiencing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-fight-against-racism-and-bigotry-because-i-care-about-the-people/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Politicians can and should be held accountable for their choices.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/politicians-can-and-should-be-held-accountable-for-their-choices/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [When you are a coordinated partner, you are, in effect, on the campaign staff. You can talk to the whole staff and have virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-you-are-a-coordinated-partner-you-are-in-effect-on-the-campaign/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [Our nation is not a fully representative democracy if we do not have a one-person, one-vote method of directly electing our president. It disproportionately…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/our-nation-is-not-a-fully-representative-democracy-if-we-do-not-have/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [I've always been a writer and have always loved writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/i-ve-always-been-a-writer-and-have-always-loved-writing/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [The United States has so many laws, into the millions, that experts have lost track of just how many laws we have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/the-united-states-has-so-many-laws-into-the-millions-that-experts/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [For my entire life, I have held the cards of my complicated family history very close to my chest.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/for-my-entire-life-i-have-held-the-cards-of-my-complicated-family/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [When 63 million people voted to elect Donald Trump as the president of the United States, it opened up the floodgates for toxic white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-63-million-people-voted-to-elect-donald-trump-as-the-president/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [When you turn 18 in the United States, you should be automatically registered to vote. Ideally, this sensible reform would be a federal law…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/when-you-turn-18-in-the-united-states-you-should-be-automatically/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [There is a movement we call Afro-Futurism, where we imagine a black way of life free of white supremacy and bigotry. 'Black Panther,' I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/there-is-a-movement-we-call-afro-futurism-where-we-imagine-a-black/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) > [My theory on momentum is that the best way to produce it is through small, hard-fought victories that lead to bigger battles and bigger…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shaun-king/my-theory-on-momentum-is-that-the-best-way-to-produce-it-is-through/) [Shaun King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) [Explore all 101 Shaun King quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shaun-king/) ## More Big deal quotes > [Okay, so I'll admit I'm curious. Big deal. We both know what that leads to. Dead cat.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-elizabeth-phillips/okay-so-i-ll-admit-i-m-curious-big-deal-we-both-know-what-that-leads/) [Susan Elizabeth Phillips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-elizabeth-phillips/) > [“But in the parent department, he had won the lottery. So, he'd always known that when he finally told them, they'd make him feel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-corey-whaley/but-in-the-parent-department-he-had-won-the-lottery-so-he-d-always/) [John Corey Whaley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-corey-whaley/) > [“Perspective is everything. If your “why” is big enough, you can deal with almost any “what.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nelson-searcy/perspective-is-everything-if-your-why-is-big-enough-you-can-deal-with/) [Nelson Searcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nelson-searcy/) > [Making sure that people have access to preventive medicine for the first time ever as a nation? That's a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/making-sure-that-people-have-access-to-preventive-medicine-for-the/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [“You weren't out there that long, were you? I can't bear to think that no one found you right away." Noah shook his head.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/you-weren-t-out-there-that-long-were-you-i-can-t-bear-to-think-that/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Everyone's just laughing at me. I hate it. Big breasts, big ass, big deal, Can't I be anything else ? Gee, how long can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-monroe/everyone-s-just-laughing-at-me-i-hate-it-big-breasts-big-ass-big-deal/) [Marilyn Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-monroe/) > [“Eventually, Edgard said, “She doesn’t know anything about me. Not even that we were roping partners. Not that we were…” He looked at Trevor…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorelei-james/eventually-edgard-said-she-doesn-t-know-anything-about-me-not-even/) [Lorelei James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorelei-james/) > [Humility simply means that you do a great job at everything and it isn't really a big deal.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/humility-simply-means-that-you-do-a-great-job-at-everything-and-it/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [“Being responsible for someone’s childhood is a big deal. We not only create our own memories, but we create our child’s memories.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-macy-stafford/being-responsible-for-someone-s-childhood-is-a-big-deal-we-not-only/) [Rachel Macy Stafford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-macy-stafford/) > [I've never been truly closeted on the air; it's just something I never really made a big deal out of because I never felt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elvis-duran/i-ve-never-been-truly-closeted-on-the-air-it-s-just-something-i-never/) [Elvis Duran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elvis-duran/) > [Tom Stafford was an odd character, you know - a brilliant guy. He looked weird and I think he took a really defensive attitude…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donnie-fritts/tom-stafford-was-an-odd-character-you-know-a-brilliant-guy-he-looked/) [Donnie Fritts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donnie-fritts/) > [When you're standing around for an hour doing stand up it's no big deal but when you're standing around watching a show for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rogan/when-you-re-standing-around-for-an-hour-doing-stand-up-it-s-no-big/) [Joe Rogan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rogan/) > [People make such a big deal about how people in bands look, especially if you're a girl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/juliana-hatfield/people-make-such-a-big-deal-about-how-people-in-bands-look-especially/) [Juliana Hatfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/juliana-hatfield/) > [“What’s wrong with you?” John asks suspiciously. I give him a ‘what chu talkin’ ‘bout Willis?’ look and he explains. “You just woke up.”…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katelin-lamontagne/what-s-wrong-with-you-john-asks-suspiciously-i-give-him-a-what-chu/) [Katelin LaMontagne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katelin-lamontagne/) > [I never said Kristen ruined my wedding. At the time, when a million other things had fallen apart that day, I felt like she…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/scheana-shay/i-never-said-kristen-ruined-my-wedding-at-the-time-when-a-million/) [Scheana Shay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/scheana-shay/) Browse all 1,273 Big deal quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My work has never been about me, and I've never made a big deal about my race. 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