---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I decided that I was going to stop trying…"
description: "\"I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince older, more established heads of studios or networks to understand me and get me, and focus more ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg"
---

#  I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince…

![“I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince older, more established heads of studios or networks to understand me and get me, and focus more on developing relationships with people who already do.” quote by Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg)

> “I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince older, more established heads of studios or networks to understand me and get me, and focus more on developing relationships with people who already do.”

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

Focus on building relationships with those who already understand and support you, rather than trying to convince skeptics.

**In simple terms:** Prioritize supportive allies over persuading skeptics.

Key Takeaway

Cultivate connections with supportive people.

Themes

career networking relationships

Mood

determined optimistic

Type

practical inspirational

When to use this quote

- industry events
- social media
- mentorship

Key Concepts

strategic networking self‑advocacy

Questions to Reflect On

- Who are your most supportive contacts?
- How can you expand your supportive network?

A Different Perspective

Some may view this as avoiding challenge.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Developing relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/developing-relationships/) [Focus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/focus/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Relationships](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/relationships/)

## Related quotes

> [You're born and then you're on your own, you start having relationships, you're developing relationships to the world and your wider community, and then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mirah/you-re-born-and-then-you-re-on-your-own-you-start-having/)

[Mirah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mirah/)

> [If we were able to rewrite the script for the reputation of Christianity, I think we would put the emphasis on developing relationships with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andy-stanley/if-we-were-able-to-rewrite-the-script-for-the-reputation-of/)

[Andy Stanley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andy-stanley/)

> [A lot of my work is about developing relationships with corporate partners such as Jaguar and Diageo.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-elliot/a-lot-of-my-work-is-about-developing-relationships-with-corporate/)

[Ben Elliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-elliot/)

> [Believe in yourself. And stop trying to convince others](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-de-la-vega/believe-in-yourself-and-stop-trying-to-convince-others/)

[James de la Vega](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-de-la-vega/)

> [Leaders have to give time for relationships. But more demands will be placed on their time as they become more successful. So if a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-krzyzewski/leaders-have-to-give-time-for-relationships-but-more-demands-will-be/)

[Mike Krzyzewski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-krzyzewski/)

> [“For developing relationships to what we call familiarity, I find that it takes most women six to eight times meeting with someone before they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/shasta-nelson/for-developing-relationships-to-what-we-call-familiarity-i-find-that/)

[Shasta Nelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/shasta-nelson/)

> [The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/the-beginning-of-love-is-the-will-to-let-those-we-love-be-perfectly/)

[Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/)

> [In terms of what is the solution is going forward, in my view, it is the grassroots human-rights groups - both Israeli and Palestinian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/in-terms-of-what-is-the-solution-is-going-forward-in-my-view-it-is/)

[Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/)

> [“Use wisdom when developing relationships and establishing new alliances. There are people who do not have pure motives as it pertains to developing relationships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dr-glen-a-staples/use-wisdom-when-developing-relationships-and-establishing-new/)

Dr. Glen A. Staples

> [Developing relationships is a very important part of doing business, and I see more similarities than differences when I travel the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-quayle/developing-relationships-is-a-very-important-part-of-doing-business/)

[Dan Quayle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-quayle/)

> [Associate only with positive, focused people who you can learn from and who will not drain your valuable energy with uninspiring attitudes. By developing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sharma/associate-only-with-positive-focused-people-who-you-can-learn-from/)

[Robin Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sharma/)

> [I like developing relationships.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/booger-mcfarland/i-like-developing-relationships/)

[Booger McFarland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/booger-mcfarland/)

> [I'm going to stop when I'm 100. I put a limit on myself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-bryan/i-m-going-to-stop-when-i-m-100-i-put-a-limit-on-myself/)

[David Bryan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-bryan/)

> [Once you have a kid, it's amazing how quickly people ask, 'So are you going to stop at just one?'](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ned-vizzini/once-you-have-a-kid-it-s-amazing-how-quickly-people-ask-so-are-you/)

[Ned Vizzini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ned-vizzini/)

> [I have been married three times and it just keeps better and better, but I'm going to stop here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-mankoff/i-have-been-married-three-times-and-it-just-keeps-better-and-better/)

[Robert Mankoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-mankoff/)

## More by Tommy Dorfman

> [I thought my first few jobs would just be off, off, off, off, off broadway. And by chance and how the world works, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-thought-my-first-few-jobs-would-just-be-off-off-off-off-off/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [Maybe I've limited my opportunities by being so open about my sexuality, but my thinking is that, if I come out of the gates…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/maybe-i-ve-limited-my-opportunities-by-being-so-open-about-my/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [It's really rare that you find a designer who's willing to dress people who maybe present more masculine in their womenswear.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/it-s-really-rare-that-you-find-a-designer-who-s-willing-to-dress/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I can cook, but I just don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-can-cook-but-i-just-don-t/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> ['13 Reasons Why' was my first professional job out of college, so I don't have much to compare it to.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/13-reasons-why-was-my-first-professional-job-out-of-college-so-i-don/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I love when an outfit embodies the fluidity of my gender - it makes me feel the most confident and grounded, especially when attending…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-love-when-an-outfit-embodies-the-fluidity-of-my-gender-it-makes-me/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I love just being in the moment, and the most present I feel in my work is with theatre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-love-just-being-in-the-moment-and-the-most-present-i-feel-in-my/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [It's important for teenagers, young adults, parents, teachers, really everyone to see what the true High School experience is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/it-s-important-for-teenagers-young-adults-parents-teachers-really/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [There is no Cura Gay, there's just gay. Or not. Or however you identify, and nobody should have say over something so personal and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/there-is-no-cura-gay-there-s-just-gay-or-not-or-however-you-identify/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I've been wearing makeup for as long as I can remember. I started by playing with my mom's lipsticks, then in ballet I would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-ve-been-wearing-makeup-for-as-long-as-i-can-remember-i-started-by/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I always hated that clothing was gendered when I was young.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-always-hated-that-clothing-was-gendered-when-i-was-young/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I was an acting major.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-was-an-acting-major/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I think for me, I just love that trust you have with theater and your ensemble and people you are working with.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-think-for-me-i-just-love-that-trust-you-have-with-theater-and-your/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [This idea that you can 'cure' homosexuality is appalling and simply not true.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/this-idea-that-you-can-cure-homosexuality-is-appalling-and-simply-not/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

> [I loved experimenting with eyeshadow and lip gloss in my tween years.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-loved-experimenting-with-eyeshadow-and-lip-gloss-in-my-tween-years/)

[Tommy Dorfman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

[Explore all 55 Tommy Dorfman quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/)

## More Developing quotes

> [Although religion might be useful in developing a solid moral framework - and enforcing it - we can quite easily develop moral intuitions without…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-winston/although-religion-might-be-useful-in-developing-a-solid-moral/)

[Robert Winston](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-winston/)

> [The risk of developing carcinoma of the lung increases steadily as the amount smoked increases. If the risk among non-smokers is taken as unity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-doll/the-risk-of-developing-carcinoma-of-the-lung-increases-steadily-as/)

Richard Doll

> [Developing expertise or assets that are not easily copied is essential; otherwise you're just a middleman.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-godin/developing-expertise-or-assets-that-are-not-easily-copied-is/)

[Seth Godin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-godin/)

> [I am sympathetic to developing countries’ concerns: because of our emissions it’s their crops that will disappear; because of our inaction, it’s their fields…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/i-am-sympathetic-to-developing-countries-concerns-because-of-our/)

[John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/)

> [One of the most powerful concepts, one which is a sure cure for lack of confidence, is the thought that God is with you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-vincent-peale/one-of-the-most-powerful-concepts-one-which-is-a-sure-cure-for-lack/)

[Norman Vincent Peale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-vincent-peale/)

> [Love is the supreme form of communication. In the hierarchy of needs, love stands as the supreme developing agent of the humanity of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ashley-montagu/love-is-the-supreme-form-of-communication-in-the-hierarchy-of-needs/)

[Ashley Montagu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ashley-montagu/)

> [Consider developing your whole self with the same raw focus and intensity that you develop a particular skill set. Get focused. Go out, have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-holden/consider-developing-your-whole-self-with-the-same-raw-focus-and/)

[Anthony Holden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-holden/)

> [She spent hours drawing on her own, trying to perfect her craft. And when she got into music, she had that same diligence in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-joplin/she-spent-hours-drawing-on-her-own-trying-to-perfect-her-craft-and/)

[Laura Joplin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-joplin/)

> [I've developed a huge regard for Toyota for its environmental awareness, for its immense commitment to research and development in this field, and for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-strong/i-ve-developed-a-huge-regard-for-toyota-for-its-environmental/)

[Maurice Strong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-strong/)

> [Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-kirubi/business-is-always-a-struggle-there-are-always-obstacles-and/)

Chris Kirubi

> [But tending machinery was one thing; defining what we were trying to do and why we were doing it, and developing ways to measure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elliot-richardson/but-tending-machinery-was-one-thing-defining-what-we-were-trying-to/)

[Elliot Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elliot-richardson/)

> [When you ask for patience, what you get is a line at the bank. In other words, life gives you the people, places, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-mcmillan/when-you-ask-for-patience-what-you-get-is-a-line-at-the-bank-in-other/)

[Tracy McMillan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracy-mcmillan/)

> [Developing fewer features allows you to conserve development resources and spend more time refining those features that users really need. Fewer features mean fewer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jakob-nielsen/developing-fewer-features-allows-you-to-conserve-development/)

[Jakob Nielsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jakob-nielsen/)

> [People say that globalisation has negative aspects, but I don't believe globalisation is bad. It's criticised from a western perspective, but if you put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tadashi-yanai/people-say-that-globalisation-has-negative-aspects-but-i-don-t/)

[Tadashi Yanai](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tadashi-yanai/)

> [Kids in the entertainment industry are at a risk of developing depression, as they see glamour at an early age.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/divyanka-tripathi/kids-in-the-entertainment-industry-are-at-a-risk-of-developing/)

[Divyanka Tripathi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/divyanka-tripathi/)

Browse all 1,836 Developing quotes

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince older, more established heads of studios or networks to understand me and get me, and focus more on developing relationships with people who already do.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Tommy Dorfman"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-trying-to-convince-older-more/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Developing"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-trying-to-convince-older-more/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1f2/tommy-dorfman-12435_developing_i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-tryin_431889.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I decided that I was going to stop trying to convince older, more established heads of studios or networks…” — Tommy Dorfman",
                "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
                "creator": {
                    "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
                }
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "BreadcrumbList",
            "itemListElement": [
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 1,
                    "name": "Home",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 2,
                    "name": "Quotes",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 3,
                    "name": "Tommy Dorfman",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tommy-dorfman/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "I decided that I was going...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-trying-to-convince-older-more/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tommy-dorfman/i-decided-that-i-was-going-to-stop-trying-to-convince-older-more/#breadcrumb"
        },
        {
            "@type": "WebSite",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "publisher": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization"
            }
        },
        {
            "@type": "Organization",
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization",
            "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes",
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/",
            "logo": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png",
                "width": 512,
                "height": 512
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
