--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My life has two modes. One is sitting…" description: "\"My life has two modes. One is sitting around writing and contemplating or building things. The other is execution mode. It takes a while to switch from..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/trent-reznor-1853_around_my-life-has-two-modes-one-is-sitting-aro_2800942.jpg" --- # My life has two modes. One is sitting around writing and… ![“My life has two modes. One is sitting around writing and contemplating or building things. The other is execution mode. It takes a while to switch from one to the other.” quote by Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/trent-reznor-1853_around_my-life-has-two-modes-one-is-sitting-aro_2800942.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/trent-reznor-1853_around_my-life-has-two-modes-one-is-sitting-aro_2800942.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ef1/trent-reznor-1853_around_my-life-has-two-modes-one-is-sitting-aro_2800942.jpg) > “My life has two modes. One is sitting around writing and contemplating or building things. The other is execution mode. It takes a while to switch from one to the other.” [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Creative work alternates between contemplation and execution; switching between modes takes time. **In simple terms:** Two modes: thinking and doing; transition isn’t instant. Key Takeaway Plan transitions between thinking and doing. Themes creativity productivity balance Mood focused determined Type motivational practical When to use this quote - software development - music composition - project management Key Concepts Flow state task switching Questions to Reflect On - How can you smooth the shift? - What rituals aid your transition? A Different Perspective Switching may cause loss of momentum. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Execution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/execution/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Modes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/modes/) [Writing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/writing/) ## Related quotes > [I have never found, in anything outside of the four walls of my study, an enjoyment equal to sitting at my writing desk with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/i-have-never-found-in-anything-outside-of-the-four-walls-of-my-study/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [I've been writing books because it's been my way of dealing with the demons. The act of sitting down and writing the books down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jimmy-barnes/i-ve-been-writing-books-because-it-s-been-my-way-of-dealing-with-the/) [Jimmy Barnes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jimmy-barnes/) > [I write early in the morning. I just wake up whenever I feel awake and I have to be sitting and writing pretty soon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-cahill/i-write-early-in-the-morning-i-just-wake-up-whenever-i-feel-awake-and/) [Tim Cahill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-cahill/) > [I just like to entertain myself by sitting down and writing songs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-thompson/i-just-like-to-entertain-myself-by-sitting-down-and-writing-songs/) [Richard Thompson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-thompson/) > [I like sitting and writing with my buddies.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-sandler/i-like-sitting-and-writing-with-my-buddies/) [Adam Sandler](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-sandler/) > [I carry around, like, a little journal with me and just write all the time. Not necessarily, like, actually sitting down and writing lyrics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/i-carry-around-like-a-little-journal-with-me-and-just-write-all-the/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [When I'm sitting writing, I know that something works if I've made myself cry, or laugh, or have a visceral emotion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brit-marling/when-i-m-sitting-writing-i-know-that-something-works-if-i-ve-made/) [Brit Marling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brit-marling/) > [Anytime you're sitting there writing a book about yourself, it's a pretty self-fulfilling prophecy, I guess.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samoa-joe/anytime-you-re-sitting-there-writing-a-book-about-yourself-it-s-a/) [Samoa Joe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samoa-joe/) > [It is a singular reaction, this sitting still and writing, writing, writing, or ruminating at length, which is much the same, really.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vladimir-nabokov/it-is-a-singular-reaction-this-sitting-still-and-writing-writing/) [Vladimir Nabokov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vladimir-nabokov/) > [The moment you know, life just sucks; sitting alone, writing the Eulogies for your Soul Mate and your daughters. In many ways, I'm still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eric-nickel/the-moment-you-know-life-just-sucks-sitting-alone-writing-the/) [Eric Nickel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eric-nickel/) > [You write by sitting down and writing. There's no particular time or place—you suit yourself, your nature. How one works, assuming he's disciplined, doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernard-malamud/you-write-by-sitting-down-and-writing-there-s-no-particular-time-or/) [Bernard Malamud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernard-malamud/) > [“Sitting and writing and talking to no one is how I wish I could spend the better part of every day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-schumer/sitting-and-writing-and-talking-to-no-one-is-how-i-wish-i-could-spend/) [Amy Schumer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-schumer/) > [I feel confident writing on my feet with improv, but it's different when you're sitting down and writing it out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-sedaris/i-feel-confident-writing-on-my-feet-with-improv-but-it-s-different/) [Amy Sedaris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-sedaris/) > [When I wrote 'Dear Fatty,' I realised that sitting and writing alone is an absolute joy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dawn-french/when-i-wrote-dear-fatty-i-realised-that-sitting-and-writing-alone-is/) [Dawn French](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dawn-french/) > [I just hate sitting and writing - I had to do that in school. Plus, I have terrible handwriting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-kripke/i-just-hate-sitting-and-writing-i-had-to-do-that-in-school-plus-i/) [Saul Kripke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-kripke/) ## More by Trent Reznor > [What I was concerned about when I wrote the 'Downward Spiral' record was being a self-centred destructive force. The point was tearing down everything…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/what-i-was-concerned-about-when-i-wrote-the-downward-spiral-record/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Perfect little dream, The kind that hurts the most.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/perfect-little-dream-the-kind-that-hurts-the-most/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Sometimes the worst thing that can happen is, 'Oh, I'm on stage playing a song,' because you're daydreaming about something else, you're on autopilot.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/sometimes-the-worst-thing-that-can-happen-is-oh-i-m-on-stage-playing/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [To switch right into creativity usually takes a bit of time, and this came up right at that juncture where I thought, okay, here's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/to-switch-right-into-creativity-usually-takes-a-bit-of-time-and-this/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [After coming from a major label, I realized the entire business has been decimated, and you can't look to labels to try to figure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/after-coming-from-a-major-label-i-realized-the-entire-business-has/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I had to come to terms about becoming an addict, which, for a long time, I lied to myself about the status of until…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-had-to-come-to-terms-about-becoming-an-addict-which-for-a-long-time/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Left to my own devices, in the face of the climate change deniers, the madness and the greed-based decision-making, and propaganda that's been floating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/left-to-my-own-devices-in-the-face-of-the-climate-change-deniers-the/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [It probably wasn't until Nine Inch Nails played the first Lollapalooza that I actually went to a festival.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/it-probably-wasn-t-until-nine-inch-nails-played-the-first/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The band Grizzly Bear, I think they're excellent. There's a beauty and a musicality there that I wish would have been in vogue in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-band-grizzly-bear-i-think-they-re-excellent-there-s-a-beauty-and/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [I'll be honest, watching the music industry collapse has been demoralizing and disheartening at times.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/i-ll-be-honest-watching-the-music-industry-collapse-has-been/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Schoolwork came easy to me. I learned to play piano effortlessly. I was coasting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/schoolwork-came-easy-to-me-i-learned-to-play-piano-effortlessly-i-was/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [Lots of people can have girlfriends. But I can throw around guitars onstage! That'll be my epitaph: 'He never had a girlfriend, but you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/lots-of-people-can-have-girlfriends-but-i-can-throw-around-guitars/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [My experience with record labels throughout my career has generally fallen into wishing I could do things that they're not built to do, whether…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/my-experience-with-record-labels-throughout-my-career-has-generally/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [If you have something to say, then say it. Express yourself and break the rules.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/if-you-have-something-to-say-then-say-it-express-yourself-and-break/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) > [The first set of lyrics for the first songs I ever wrote, which are the ones on 'Pretty Hate Machine,' came from private journal…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trent-reznor/the-first-set-of-lyrics-for-the-first-songs-i-ever-wrote-which-are/) [Trent Reznor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) [Explore all 203 Trent Reznor quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trent-reznor/) ## More Around quotes > [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/) [Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/) > [I guess, it's a father's dream for his daughter to be known around the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liza-soberano/i-guess-it-s-a-father-s-dream-for-his-daughter-to-be-known-around-the/) [Liza Soberano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liza-soberano/) > [I've been to Manchester enough to know it's a real place. It's not Factory Records and the Smiths bicycling around. I get it. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-murphy/i-ve-been-to-manchester-enough-to-know-it-s-a-real-place-it-s-not/) [James Murphy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-murphy/) > [I guess I'm attracted to things that are fun. I guess what is fun about this role in 'Suburgatory' is that there's a lot…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-tudyk/i-guess-i-m-attracted-to-things-that-are-fun-i-guess-what-is-fun/) [Alan Tudyk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-tudyk/) > [When I was a teen, I would draw a really, really long line around my eyes with eyeliner, like Lola Flores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rosalia/when-i-was-a-teen-i-would-draw-a-really-really-long-line-around-my/) [Rosalia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rosalia/) > [I think the issues around diversity of all kinds are really a huge problem in the startup world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-lyons/i-think-the-issues-around-diversity-of-all-kinds-are-really-a-huge/) [Daniel Lyons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-lyons/) > [You always hear actors say, 'Theater is my first love,' and it is. It's a time when you really get to do what you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-landecker/you-always-hear-actors-say-theater-is-my-first-love-and-it-is-it-s-a/) [Amy Landecker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-landecker/) > [Not having drops and not taking plays off, if I do that it will make everyone around me better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/demaryius-thomas/not-having-drops-and-not-taking-plays-off-if-i-do-that-it-will-make/) [Demaryius Thomas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/demaryius-thomas/) > [I can look around a room and tell you if there are hidden cameras or not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-ash/i-can-look-around-a-room-and-tell-you-if-there-are-hidden-cameras-or/) [Lauren Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-ash/) > [You couldn't get me to go travel around and sit in a hotel room again. I have no interest in doing that. So everybody's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-everly/you-couldn-t-get-me-to-go-travel-around-and-sit-in-a-hotel-room-again/) [Phil Everly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/phil-everly/) > [I drink maple syrup. Then I'm hyper so I just run around like crazy and work it all off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rachel-mcadams/i-drink-maple-syrup-then-i-m-hyper-so-i-just-run-around-like-crazy/) [Rachel McAdams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rachel-mcadams/) > [Music is almost like a therapy for me. It helps keep me centered and think straight. Before I discovered it, I was walking around,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banks/music-is-almost-like-a-therapy-for-me-it-helps-keep-me-centered-and/) [Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banks/) > [I have to say, I grew up with fashion because my mother was a seamstress, and she had an atelier. She would cut the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/donatella-versace/i-have-to-say-i-grew-up-with-fashion-because-my-mother-was-a/) [Donatella Versace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/donatella-versace/) > [Curiosity is the essence of human existence. 'Who are we? Where are we? Where do we come from? Where are we going?'... I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/curiosity-is-the-essence-of-human-existence-who-are-we-where-are-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I became an MP in 2017 and have been around to watch Liberal Democrat party membership soar.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/layla-moran/i-became-an-mp-in-2017-and-have-been-around-to-watch-liberal-democrat/) [Layla Moran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/layla-moran/) Browse all 7,275 Around quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "My life has two modes. One is sitting around writing and contemplating or building things. 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