--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When we started, we were in a van and…" description: "\"When we started, we were in a van and looking for change under the seats so we could buy food. We went from that to having a hit and getting to do thin..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/tony-kanal-5444_change_when-we-started-we-were-in-a-van-and-loo_2891732.jpg" --- # When we started, we were in a van and looking for change… ![“When we started, we were in a van and looking for change under the seats so we could buy food. We went from that to having a hit and getting to do things like make music videos with million-dollar budgets.” quote by Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/tony-kanal-5444_change_when-we-started-we-were-in-a-van-and-loo_2891732.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/tony-kanal-5444_change_when-we-started-we-were-in-a-van-and-loo_2891732.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/613/tony-kanal-5444_change_when-we-started-we-were-in-a-van-and-loo_2891732.jpg) > “When we started, we were in a van and looking for change under the seats so we could buy food. We went from that to having a hit and getting to do things like make music videos with million-dollar budgets.” [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting from poverty, hard work and perseverance can lead to massive success and high‑budget projects. **In simple terms:** Hard work can turn a van life into a hit career. Key Takeaway Invest effort and stay adaptable for growth. Themes perseverance success humility growth Mood hopeful pragmatic Type motivational reflective When to use this quote - music production - startup funding - career transitions Key Concepts entrepreneurship creative industries Questions to Reflect On - What sacrifices were made along the way? - How does early struggle shape later decisions? A Different Perspective Success stories may overlook systemic advantages. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Change](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) [Food](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/food/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Music video](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music-video/) ## Related quotes > [I don't know where I'm going but I know where I've been I went from having a little to having a lot. I came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kottonmouth-kings/i-don-t-know-where-i-m-going-but-i-know-where-i-ve-been-i-went-from/) [Kottonmouth Kings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kottonmouth-kings/) > [“Stories are wonderful, enjoyable, and scrumptious things. In the old days, they were served on thin plates called pages. You ate them with your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nury-vittachi/stories-are-wonderful-enjoyable-and-scrumptious-things-in-the-old/) [Nury Vittachi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nury-vittachi/) > [I didn't just eat hot dogs. I studied how the food went into your system and how it would be digested.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joey-chestnut/i-didn-t-just-eat-hot-dogs-i-studied-how-the-food-went-into-your/) [Joey Chestnut](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joey-chestnut/) > [I'd been travelling in Romania. It was 1990, just after the revolution and you couldn't buy anything so we'd been eating basic food. We…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-mack/i-d-been-travelling-in-romania-it-was-1990-just-after-the-revolution/) [Lee Mack](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-mack/) > [I feel I am good at getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/poonam-dhillon/i-feel-i-am-good-at-getting-things-done/) [Poonam Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/poonam-dhillon/) > [I'm not about talking and finger-pointing and complaining. I'm about getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christine-quinn/i-m-not-about-talking-and-finger-pointing-and-complaining-i-m-about/) [Christine Quinn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christine-quinn/) > [Do it yourself. Keep going. Many people have said these things to me many times and both are good pieces of advice. I like…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-norris/do-it-yourself-keep-going-many-people-have-said-these-things-to-me/) [Richard Norris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-norris/) > [Getting things done in this country, if you want to build something, if you want to start a company, it's getting to be virtually…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donald-trump/getting-things-done-in-this-country-if-you-want-to-build-something-if/) [Donald Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donald-trump/) > [Washington is not good at getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlos-lopez-cantera/washington-is-not-good-at-getting-things-done/) [Carlos Lopez-Cantera](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlos-lopez-cantera/) > [Getting all the things down game-management wise, that's what I want to excel at.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-foles/getting-all-the-things-down-game-management-wise-that-s-what-i-want/) [Nick Foles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-foles/) > [The secret of getting things done is to act!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dante-alighieri/the-secret-of-getting-things-done-is-to-act/) [Dante Alighieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dante-alighieri/) > [I love getting new things. I don't like BUYING new things, but I do love getting things given to me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathy-griffin/i-love-getting-new-things-i-don-t-like-buying-new-things-but-i-do/) [Kathy Griffin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathy-griffin/) > [Management is the art of getting things done through people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-parker-follett/management-is-the-art-of-getting-things-done-through-people/) [Mary Parker Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-parker-follett/) > [“He learns that getting things done doesn’t get him much credit, which demotivates him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-orlov/he-learns-that-getting-things-done-doesn-t-get-him-much-credit-which/) [Melissa Orlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-orlov/) > [If you are having fun on the set, you are not getting things done.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eli-roth/if-you-are-having-fun-on-the-set-you-are-not-getting-things-done/) [Eli Roth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eli-roth/) ## More by Tony Kanal > [If the audience is bringing it, it always goes up 10 notches.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/if-the-audience-is-bringing-it-it-always-goes-up-10-notches/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [I think we all realize that, if anyone left, it wouldn't be No Doubt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/i-think-we-all-realize-that-if-anyone-left-it-wouldn-t-be-no-doubt/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [Gwen is someone that girls can look up to and feel like they know. She is very Everygirl.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/gwen-is-someone-that-girls-can-look-up-to-and-feel-like-they-know-she/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [On No Doubt's second visit to Paisley Park, sometime around 1999, we were working on a song with Prince called Waiting Room,' which would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/on-no-doubt-s-second-visit-to-paisley-park-sometime-around-1999-we/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [We came from that whole school of thinking that you give people 150 percent every time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-came-from-that-whole-school-of-thinking-that-you-give-people-150/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [It's not We're an awesome band.' The bottom line is, we're just very fortunate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/it-s-not-we-re-an-awesome-band-the-bottom-line-is-we-re-just-very/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [We've had lots of breaks, especially over the last 10 years, so to still be getting together and to be able to get on…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-ve-had-lots-of-breaks-especially-over-the-last-10-years-so-to/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [One of the best things about being in a band for so long and having any level of success is the opportunity to go…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/one-of-the-best-things-about-being-in-a-band-for-so-long-and-having/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [We've always found a muse for a record - something that's a unifying inspiration for the four of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-ve-always-found-a-muse-for-a-record-something-that-s-a-unifying/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [I'm just always impressed with what Gwen pulls off. She's amazing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/i-m-just-always-impressed-with-what-gwen-pulls-off-she-s-amazing/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [You don't bring people down to your show and expect them to stand there and look at your shoes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/you-don-t-bring-people-down-to-your-show-and-expect-them-to-stand/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [You don't have to be singing songs about angst and pain to be credible.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/you-don-t-have-to-be-singing-songs-about-angst-and-pain-to-be-credible/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [We wrote the early idea for Undone' but it just wasn't working. Then Gwen had to go to England for some family stuff and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-wrote-the-early-idea-for-undone-but-it-just-wasn-t-working-then/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [We've been through the experience of being in high school and starting a band. Then we were also a garage band, while we were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/we-ve-been-through-the-experience-of-being-in-high-school-and/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) > [Think about being onstage playing these songs. I'm opening my personal life up to all these people. But I just can't get attached. I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-kanal/think-about-being-onstage-playing-these-songs-i-m-opening-my-personal/) [Tony Kanal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) [Explore all 100 Tony Kanal quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-kanal/) ## More Change quotes > [Only within yourself exists the other reality for which you long. I can give you nothing that has not already its being within yourself.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/only-within-yourself-exists-the-other-reality-for-which-you-long-i/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I can't believe that I'm sitting in meetings with Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, and Annette Bening. I want to take on that responsibility to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-ross-williams/i-can-t-believe-that-i-m-sitting-in-meetings-with-steven-spielberg/) [Roger Ross Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-ross-williams/) > [“…progress isn't necessarily about change but about things turning out as we want them to”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-hogan/progress-isn-t-necessarily-about-change-but-about-things-turning-out/) Phil Hogan > [Nobody can tell me that no changes are necessary in Washington.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-weld/nobody-can-tell-me-that-no-changes-are-necessary-in-washington/) [William Weld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-weld/) > [If my campaign is not in the debate, we will not be talking about how we really fix this problem of endless and expanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jill-stein/if-my-campaign-is-not-in-the-debate-we-will-not-be-talking-about-how/) [Jill Stein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jill-stein/) > [When you walk down the street of Kabul your values for life changes, they do change.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marco-pierre-white/when-you-walk-down-the-street-of-kabul-your-values-for-life-changes/) [Marco Pierre White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marco-pierre-white/) > [Your world will change whether or not you choose to change, but you have the power to choose it's direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/your-world-will-change-whether-or-not-you-choose-to-change-but-you/) [Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/) > [I hope I continue to evolve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlotte-flair/i-hope-i-continue-to-evolve/) [Charlotte Flair](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlotte-flair/) > [“Stay focused on bringing people together and more on positive messaging so that you can be the change you wish to see in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/stay-focused-on-bringing-people-together-and-more-on-positive/) [Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/) > [The biggest change for me as a mom was realizing I needed to put someone else before me. Now the hardest part about the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kim-alexis/the-biggest-change-for-me-as-a-mom-was-realizing-i-needed-to-put/) [Kim Alexis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kim-alexis/) > [“After the funeral, my life changed. I felt as if time were suddenly precious, water going down an open drain, and I could not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/after-the-funeral-my-life-changed-i-felt-as-if-time-were-suddenly/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [You practice mindfulness, on the one hand, to be calm and peaceful. On the other hand, as you practice mindfulness and live a life…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-practice-mindfulness-on-the-one-hand-to-be-calm-and-peaceful-on/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Irish research will contribute to global progress and have the potential to help all countries realise the potential of their land sectors in addressing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/enda-kenny/irish-research-will-contribute-to-global-progress-and-have-the/) [Enda Kenny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/enda-kenny/) > [No man can change himself into anything from sheer reason; he can only change into what he potentially is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-jung/no-man-can-change-himself-into-anything-from-sheer-reason-he-can-only/) [Carl Jung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-jung/) [Browse all 33,920 Change quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/change/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When we started, we were in a van and looking for change under the seats so we could buy food. 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