Terry Zwigoff Quotes

One thing young people have to always keep in mind when deciding what they want to do with their lives is, is it fun? Is it something that I'm interested in? Is it something I enjoy?

I actually went to study journalism at Northwestern, thinking that would be my Plan B for a career. But then I realized, if I'm going to struggle and make no money, I might as well do what I really want to do.

But I was going to be a teacher my entire life, so I wasn't counting on money to much.

When you're young, you don't think about your career or your future - you perform because you love it.

I recommend my students not to be professional unless they really have to be. I tell them, 'If you love music, sell Hoovers or be a plumber. Do something useful with your life.'

I think that the best career that someone can have is one that's reflective of their personal tastes.

I always say, 'I love producing, but directing is my passion,' and for a while, I had to produce to support my directing habit.

I would recommend, definitely, developing a 'day job' that you like - don't expect to make money writing!

I got a sociology degree and then had an opportunity to go to graduate school. But I said no, because I wanted to give songwriting a shot.

There are a lot of things that people love, they just can't do for a living.

In life, you have to weigh everything up, even when they are just decisions about your career.

Music is what I must do, business is what I need to do and politics is what I have to do.

I don't think one should ever come to my stage of life and have to look back and say, Gosh. I wish I hadn't spent all those years doing that job I was never really interested in.

Modeling is not a passion of mine. I have been having fun with it, but it's just to pay the bills.

I do want to be able to benefit from my work and make a good living, but I love it so much that I would do it for free.

I washed dishes so I could make movies. it was never a way for me to make money.

I think it's imperative to follow your heart and choose a profession you're passionate about, and if you haven't found that 'spark' yet, if you're not sure what you want to do with your lives - be persistent until you do.

Since I quit banking, all my major life decisions, when they could, have revolved around writing.

Life is just a set of experiences. As long as there are new experiences for me in a corporate job, I don't think I have to be an entrepreneur.

And the reason I came to IBM was I think - I always say at a really early age, I learned you've got to be passionate about what you do. No matter what it is, you put too much, your heart and soul in it, you have to be passionate about it. You make too many sacrifices.

Growing up, I was encouraged to get a good education, get a real job doing something I enjoyed, and, should the opportunity present itself, consider public service as just that: a chance to serve, not an end in itself.

Sometimes I wonder why I'm not working at McDonald's and how come I have the life I have. I don't know. But I'm happy that I have these choices. That's kinda sappy, huh? But whatever, acting beats pumping gas.

I never really planned a career. I've tried to avoid it. I've tried to do this stuff I felt for, the stuff I like. So, I've just been meeting these fantastic directors who've offered me a variation of different parts and different films.

My agents do not like my choice to work only in New York and Israel - it's not a good career move.

If you don't see something as a career but as an important part of your life, you don't know how you're going to feel about it.