--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I'm hard at work, when I'm deep in…" description: "\"When I'm hard at work, when I'm deep in it, there is no other feeling. For me, my work is at all times building a nation out of thin air. It is manning..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/shonda-rhimes-1866_deep_when-i-m-hard-at-work-when-i-m-deep-in-i_2406760.jpg" --- # When I'm hard at work, when I'm deep in it, there is no… ![“When I'm hard at work, when I'm deep in it, there is no other feeling. For me, my work is at all times building a nation out of thin air. It is manning the troops. It is painting a canvas. It is hitting every high note. It is running a marathon. It is being Beyonce. And it is all of those things…” quote by Shonda Rhimes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/shonda-rhimes-1866_deep_when-i-m-hard-at-work-when-i-m-deep-in-i_2406760.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/shonda-rhimes-1866_deep_when-i-m-hard-at-work-when-i-m-deep-in-i_2406760.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5b3/shonda-rhimes-1866_deep_when-i-m-hard-at-work-when-i-m-deep-in-i_2406760.jpg) > “When I'm hard at work, when I'm deep in it, there is no other feeling. For me, my work is at all times building a nation out of thin air. It is manning the troops. It is painting a canvas. It is hitting every high note. It is running a marathon. It is being Beyonce. And it is all of those things at the same time.” [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. Deep immersion in work creates a powerful sense of purpose and identity. **In simple terms:** Work can feel like building a nation. Key Takeaway Seek work that aligns with your passions. Themes purpose creativity dedication Mood inspired passionate Type philosophical motivational When to use this quote - career - artistic projects - leadership - personal development Key Concepts identity flow state Questions to Reflect On - What activities give you this feeling? - How do you maintain balance while pursuing passion? A Different Perspective Intense focus can lead to burnout if balance is ignored. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Deep feeling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/deep-feeling/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Painting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/painting/) [Running A Marathon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-a-marathon/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [I made myself into an envelope into which I could thrust my work deep, lick the flap, seal it from everybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emily-carr/i-made-myself-into-an-envelope-into-which-i-could-thrust-my-work-deep/) [Emily Carr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emily-carr/) > [Writing a song is work. You have to go deep in order to mine the material and dig it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-b-schmit/writing-a-song-is-work-you-have-to-go-deep-in-order-to-mine-the/) [Timothy B. Schmit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-b-schmit/) > [I always follow my heart and my guts. If I want to do something, I have immense belief in hard work and myself. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/preity-zinta/i-always-follow-my-heart-and-my-guts-if-i-want-to-do-something-i-have/) [Preity Zinta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/preity-zinta/) > [I can remember being a young kid, twelve, thirteen years old just with my headphones on, on the train, listening to rappers paint these…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vic-mensa/i-can-remember-being-a-young-kid-twelve-thirteen-years-old-just-with/) [Vic Mensa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vic-mensa/) > [Usually, when you're talking about work with other writers it's because something seriously bad is going on with your work and you've absolutely thrown…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chang-rae-lee/usually-when-you-re-talking-about-work-with-other-writers-it-s/) [Chang-Rae Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chang-rae-lee/) > [It's a feeling I can't describe, to see my work in action. The best is when an artist is appreciative.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-civil/it-s-a-feeling-i-can-t-describe-to-see-my-work-in-action-the-best-is/) [Karen Civil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-civil/) > [It's a very different feeling to work on a show with a future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adrian-pasdar/it-s-a-very-different-feeling-to-work-on-a-show-with-a-future/) [Adrian Pasdar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adrian-pasdar/) > [This is the feeling that gives a man true courage-the feeling that he has a work to do at all costs; the sense of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-kingsley/this-is-the-feeling-that-gives-a-man-true-courage-the-feeling-that-he/) [Charles Kingsley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-kingsley/) > [My feeling about work is it's much more about the experience of doing it than the end product. 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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. 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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. 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