--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I work for ABC. If the thing that ABC is…" description: "\"I work for ABC. If the thing that ABC is paying me for is storytelling - not to make sure that a costume is exactly right or all those other things - t..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/shonda-rhimes-1866_creative-space_i-work-for-abc-if-the-thing-that-abc-is_520543.jpg" --- # I work for ABC. If the thing that ABC is paying me for is… ![“I work for ABC. If the thing that ABC is paying me for is storytelling - not to make sure that a costume is exactly right or all those other things - then it is up to me to find the most creative space possible so that that function of my job can happen.” quote by Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/shonda-rhimes-1866_creative-space_i-work-for-abc-if-the-thing-that-abc-is_520543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/shonda-rhimes-1866_creative-space_i-work-for-abc-if-the-thing-that-abc-is_520543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a69/shonda-rhimes-1866_creative-space_i-work-for-abc-if-the-thing-that-abc-is_520543.jpg) > “I work for ABC. If the thing that ABC is paying me for is storytelling - not to make sure that a costume is exactly right or all those other things - then it is up to me to find the most creative space possible so that that function of my job can happen.” [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker emphasizes that storytelling is the core job, requiring creative freedom beyond technical details. **In simple terms:** Storytelling is the main purpose, not costume details. Key Takeaway Prioritize narrative over minutiae. Themes creativity storytelling career focus Mood inspirational practical Type motivational professional When to use this quote - creative meetings - script development - production planning Key Concepts narrative freedom creative space job focus Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance creativity with practical constraints? - What techniques help maintain narrative focus? A Different Perspective Focusing solely on story may neglect important technical aspects. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Abc Paying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abc-paying-4393354/) [Abc Thing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/abc-thing-4393355/) [Creative space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-space/) [Find](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/find/) [Paying Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paying-storytelling-4393357/) [Right](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/right/) [Space](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/space/) [Storytelling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/storytelling/) [Thing Abc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thing-abc-4393356/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work Abc](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-abc-4393353/) ## Related quotes > [I was sure 'Summer Heights High' would be a cult ABC thing; I had no idea it would be such a big hit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-lilley/i-was-sure-summer-heights-high-would-be-a-cult-abc-thing-i-had-no/) [Chris Lilley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-lilley/) > [A creative space is an important thing. There are so many studios that feel like doctor's offices in Nashville. I couldn't write there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/a-creative-space-is-an-important-thing-there-are-so-many-studios-that/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [Whether I'm writing about plumbers or psychics or psychic plumbers, I want to find a creative space that imprisons me usefully, so I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/whether-i-m-writing-about-plumbers-or-psychics-or-psychic-plumbers-i/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [“Learned and sociological accepted lines, boundaries, internal perimeters, and partitions diminish the creative space within our minds that's poised and ready.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-abix/learned-and-sociological-accepted-lines-boundaries-internal/) [Ben Abix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-abix/) > [“Seeking to create a high-productivity space for commercial innovation, Probst conceived the “Action Office,” whose surfaces, both horizontal and vertical, allowed for clear thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prentice/seeking-to-create-a-high-productivity-space-for-commercial-innovation/) [Steve Prentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prentice/) > [The fashion business got boring. I was working with big companies, but the minute it became too formulaic, I got bored with it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-cornejo/the-fashion-business-got-boring-i-was-working-with-big-companies-but/) [Maria Cornejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-cornejo/) > [A lot of the songs that I wrote during 'Pt. 1' and 'Pt. 2' are the first songs that I ever wrote that sounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/a-lot-of-the-songs-that-i-wrote-during-pt-1-and-pt-2-are-the-first/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [Respect your own creativity and respect the creativity and creative space of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-barker/respect-your-own-creativity-and-respect-the-creativity-and-creative/) [Danny Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-barker/) > [“That may be true, but it’s not the point. Designers learn to have lots of wild ideas because they know that the number one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/that-may-be-true-but-it-s-not-the-point-designers-learn-to-have-lots/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [ “The fatal misconception behind brainstorming is that there is a particular script we should all follow in group interactions… \[W\]hen the composition of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/the-fatal-misconception-behind-brainstorming-is-that-there-is-a/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [I've always wanted to keep my own personal creative space, and do everything myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-ve-always-wanted-to-keep-my-own-personal-creative-space-and-do/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [I don't want to sound like anyone else, I wanted to be in my own creative space and find this river of melody myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-grennan/i-don-t-want-to-sound-like-anyone-else-i-wanted-to-be-in-my-own/) [Thomas Grennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-grennan/) > [I've always felt like there was less creative space on sets with guardians. I just felt independent at a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothee-chalamet/i-ve-always-felt-like-there-was-less-creative-space-on-sets-with/) [Timothee Chalamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothee-chalamet/) > [I used to hate the fact that I did so much study cause I felt it was useless. I'm into this creative space, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-ting/i-used-to-hate-the-fact-that-i-did-so-much-study-cause-i-felt-it-was/) [Chloe Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-ting/) > [When you've fought and fought to keep positive and to keep creative even though there was not a space to be creative, well, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/when-you-ve-fought-and-fought-to-keep-positive-and-to-keep-creative/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) ## More by Shonda Rhimes > [My philosophy was always try to look like Whitney Houston at all times. That did not work out so well.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-philosophy-was-always-try-to-look-like-whitney-houston-at-all/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Being numb no longer suits me. It’s ill-fitting and I’m antsy about it. I find myself snapping back at people more. Or writing little…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/being-numb-no-longer-suits-me-it-s-ill-fitting-and-i-m-antsy-about-it/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [You don't necessarily have to watch something for 14 seasons. It's not necessarily the way everything's supposed to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/you-don-t-necessarily-have-to-watch-something-for-14-seasons-it-s-not/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We all think we’re going to be great and we feel a little bit robbed when our expectations aren’t met. But sometimes our expectations…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-all-think-we-re-going-to-be-great-and-we-feel-a-little-bit-robbed/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My worst trait is that I'm an introvert. When I've led stuff, the hardest thing for me to overcome has been my natural desire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-worst-trait-is-that-i-m-an-introvert-when-i-ve-led-stuff-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [There are stories to be told that are still untold and characters to be portrayed that haven't been portrayed correctly. So there's work to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-are-stories-to-be-told-that-are-still-untold-and-characters-to/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I say it in the writers' room all the time: My black is not your black. What's terrifying is that, just the same way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-say-it-in-the-writers-room-all-the-time-my-black-is-not-your-black/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I don't think of myself as a television producer. Obviously, that's crazy. Because I should. That's what I do. But I don't actually see…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-think-of-myself-as-a-television-producer-obviously-that-s/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My father used to say to me, 'The only limit to your success is your own imagination.' I actually believed that - like, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-father-used-to-say-to-me-the-only-limit-to-your-success-is-your/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [I don't identify with her, but I highly admire Eleanor Roosevelt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/i-don-t-identify-with-her-but-i-highly-admire-eleanor-roosevelt/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [We spend our whole lives worrying about the future, planning for the future, trying to predict the future, as if figuring it out will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/we-spend-our-whole-lives-worrying-about-the-future-planning-for-the/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [What I found fascinating for me was, I've never gotten so much approval and accolades and warmth and congratulations as when I had a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/what-i-found-fascinating-for-me-was-i-ve-never-gotten-so-much/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [“Look. I will not be told what size to be. I do not care about anyone else’s judgment about my body. I am not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/look-i-will-not-be-told-what-size-to-be-i-do-not-care-about-anyone/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [My parents created a world in which the only ­barrier to your success is your own imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/my-parents-created-a-world-in-which-the-only-barrier-to-your-success/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) > [There have to be practical steps. There's no point in holding out for a magic door because there are no magic doors. You can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shonda-rhimes/there-have-to-be-practical-steps-there-s-no-point-in-holding-out-for/) [Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) [Explore all 194 Shonda Rhimes quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shonda-rhimes/) ## More Creative space quotes > [A creative space is an important thing. There are so many studios that feel like doctor's offices in Nashville. I couldn't write there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-paisley/a-creative-space-is-an-important-thing-there-are-so-many-studios-that/) [Brad Paisley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-paisley/) > [I used to hate the fact that I did so much study cause I felt it was useless. I'm into this creative space, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-ting/i-used-to-hate-the-fact-that-i-did-so-much-study-cause-i-felt-it-was/) [Chloe Ting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-ting/) > [I've always felt like there was less creative space on sets with guardians. I just felt independent at a young age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothee-chalamet/i-ve-always-felt-like-there-was-less-creative-space-on-sets-with/) [Timothee Chalamet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothee-chalamet/) > [I don't want to sound like anyone else, I wanted to be in my own creative space and find this river of melody myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-grennan/i-don-t-want-to-sound-like-anyone-else-i-wanted-to-be-in-my-own/) [Thomas Grennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-grennan/) > [I've always wanted to keep my own personal creative space, and do everything myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacob-collier/i-ve-always-wanted-to-keep-my-own-personal-creative-space-and-do/) [Jacob Collier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacob-collier/) > [ “The fatal misconception behind brainstorming is that there is a particular script we should all follow in group interactions… \[W\]hen the composition of the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonah-lehrer/the-fatal-misconception-behind-brainstorming-is-that-there-is-a/) [Jonah Lehrer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonah-lehrer/) > [“That may be true, but it’s not the point. Designers learn to have lots of wild ideas because they know that the number one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-burnett/that-may-be-true-but-it-s-not-the-point-designers-learn-to-have-lots/) [Bill Burnett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-burnett/) > [Respect your own creativity and respect the creativity and creative space of other people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/danny-barker/respect-your-own-creativity-and-respect-the-creativity-and-creative/) [Danny Barker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/danny-barker/) > [A lot of the songs that I wrote during 'Pt. 1' and 'Pt. 2' are the first songs that I ever wrote that sounded…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bibi-bourelly/a-lot-of-the-songs-that-i-wrote-during-pt-1-and-pt-2-are-the-first/) [Bibi Bourelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bibi-bourelly/) > [The fashion business got boring. I was working with big companies, but the minute it became too formulaic, I got bored with it. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-cornejo/the-fashion-business-got-boring-i-was-working-with-big-companies-but/) [Maria Cornejo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-cornejo/) > [“Seeking to create a high-productivity space for commercial innovation, Probst conceived the “Action Office,” whose surfaces, both horizontal and vertical, allowed for clear thought,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-prentice/seeking-to-create-a-high-productivity-space-for-commercial-innovation/) [Steve Prentice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-prentice/) > [“Learned and sociological accepted lines, boundaries, internal perimeters, and partitions diminish the creative space within our minds that's poised and ready.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-abix/learned-and-sociological-accepted-lines-boundaries-internal/) [Ben Abix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-abix/) > [Whether I'm writing about plumbers or psychics or psychic plumbers, I want to find a creative space that imprisons me usefully, so I can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/heidi-julavits/whether-i-m-writing-about-plumbers-or-psychics-or-psychic-plumbers-i/) [Heidi Julavits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/heidi-julavits/) > [When you've fought and fought to keep positive and to keep creative even though there was not a space to be creative, well, you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viv-albertine/when-you-ve-fought-and-fought-to-keep-positive-and-to-keep-creative/) [Viv Albertine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viv-albertine/) > [I did the Daily Show, and then I did Air America Radio, and I realized that I was lucky enough to have a job…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lizz-winstead/i-did-the-daily-show-and-then-i-did-air-america-radio-and-i-realized/) [Lizz Winstead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lizz-winstead/) [Browse all 25 Creative space quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creative-space/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I work for ABC. 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