Some musical directors have more chutzpah. They pick up the phone and talk people into giving. I prefer to call and say 'thank you' after the money has been contributed.
Zubin MehtaRead
Go to the young conductors who are not making it, and you will hear how we shouldn't push ourselves or sell ourselves, how they don't have the right connections and the right opportunities. Well, you can be sure they've had the opportunities.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Success often requires seizing opportunities and perseverance rather than solely relying on connections.
In this quote, Zubin Mehta highlights the often heard excuses from young conductors who feel held back in their careers. He suggests that many of them blame the lack of connections or opportunities for their struggles, yet he emphasizes that they likely have had opportunities that they didn't capitalize on. This underscores the idea that success is not just about having the right connections, but also about effort and initiative in pursuing one's goals.
Themes
SuccessOpportunityEffortConnectionsPerseverance
In practice
Example use cases
During a motivational speech to aspiring musicians.
More from Zubin Mehta
All quotes →In truth, I became a conductor because deep down I wanted to conduct Brahms's four symphonies and Richard Strauss's tone poems.
Zubin MehtaRead
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