No decent career was ever founded on a public.
Interpretation
A meaningful career is built through personal effort, not public opinion.
F. Scott Fitzgerald's quote emphasizes that a successful career is not achieved merely through public recognition or approval, but rather through hard work, dedication, and personal integrity. It suggests that the true foundation of a fulfilling professional life is built on one's skills and character, rather than on the fleeting opinions of others.
In practice
In a motivational speech about career development.
Don't be so anxious about it,' she laughed. 'I'm not used to being loved. I wouldn't know what to do; I never got the trick of it.' She looked down at him, shy and fatigued. 'So here we are. I told you years ago that I had the makings of Cinderella.' He took her hand; she drew it back instinctively and then replaced it in his. 'Beg your pardon. Not even used to being touched. But I'm not afraid of you, if you stay quiet and don't move suddenly.
The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function.
It was about then [1920] that I wrote a line which certain people will not let me forget: "She was a faded but still lovely woman of twenty-seven."
The words seemed to bite physically into Gatsby.
But you can love more than just one person, can't you?
A sudden gust of rain blew over them and then another - as if small liquid clouds were bouncing along the land. Lightning entered the sea far off and the air blew full of crackling thunder. The table cloths blew around the pillars. They blew and blew and blew. The flags twisted around the red chairs like live things, the banners were ragged, the corners of the table tore off through the burbling billowing ends of the cloths.
To have a successful career, you have to approach it as an entrepreneur, even if you are working for someone else. Your career is your own private business. You have to market yourself and your abilities and knowledge just as you would a product or service.
When it comes to being badass nothing beats this It took me 17 years and 114 days to become an overnight success.
Success is a result of consistent practice of winning skills and actions. There is nothing miraculous about the process. There is no luck involved.
To understand KKR, I always like to say, don't congratulate us when we buy a company. Any fool can buy a company. Congratulate us when we sell it and when we've done something with it and created real value.
The secret of successful retailing is to give your customers what they want
Good results is not an entitlement. It has to be earned and earned each individual working day via the lens of humility.
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