--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Before running for Congress, I was an…" description: "\"Before running for Congress, I was an innovator and entrepreneur who founded several high-tech businesses that created hundreds of jobs and schools tha..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg" --- # Before running for Congress, I was an innovator and… ![“Before running for Congress, I was an innovator and entrepreneur who founded several high-tech businesses that created hundreds of jobs and schools that found ways to serve those children that traditional schools couldn't.” quote by Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg) > “Before running for Congress, I was an innovator and entrepreneur who founded several high-tech businesses that created hundreds of jobs and schools that found ways to serve those children that traditional schools couldn't.” [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Entrepreneurial experience informs public service, emphasizing job creation and innovative education. **In simple terms:** Business background shapes political goals. Key Takeaway Leverage entrepreneurship in policy. Themes innovation education job creation public service Mood optimistic determined Type political inspirational When to use this quote - startup mentorship - education reform - economic development Key Concepts economics policy leadership Questions to Reflect On - How can entrepreneurial skills improve governance? - What challenges arise when scaling education innovations? A Different Perspective Business solutions may not translate directly to government. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Businesses Created](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/businesses-created-2182709/) [Children](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/children/) [Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress/) [Congress Innovator](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congress-innovator-2182707/) [Entrepreneur Founded](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur-founded-1464020/) [Found](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/found/) [Innovator Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/innovator-entrepreneur-2182708/) [Running Congress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/running-congress-480860/) [Those](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/those/) [Who](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/who/) ## Related quotes > [When you are an entrepreneur, you have founded your own firm, it is so easy to find that you exist - you are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-piketty/when-you-are-an-entrepreneur-you-have-founded-your-own-firm-it-is-so/) [Thomas Piketty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-piketty/) > [America's a country where you can come, you can be an entrepreneur, you can create great value. I don't think you ever want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-g-rubin/america-s-a-country-where-you-can-come-you-can-be-an-entrepreneur-you/) [Michael G. Rubin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-g-rubin/) > [After years of grueling recession, our businesses have created over six million new jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/after-years-of-grueling-recession-our-businesses-have-created-over/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Over the past five years, our businesses have created more than 11 million new jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barack-obama/over-the-past-five-years-our-businesses-have-created-more-than-11/) [Barack Obama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barack-obama/) > [Sometimes running for Congress is a four-year strategy in terms of getting out there and building a network.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/artur-davis/sometimes-running-for-congress-is-a-four-year-strategy-in-terms-of/) [Artur Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/artur-davis/) > [There are over 30 doctors running for the US Congress this year. That's going to be rather strange. Half the time these folks will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-leno/there-are-over-30-doctors-running-for-the-us-congress-this-year-that/) [Jay Leno](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-leno/) > [My son Emilio is running for Congress to continue the fight for social justice.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dolores-huerta/my-son-emilio-is-running-for-congress-to-continue-the-fight-for/) [Dolores Huerta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dolores-huerta/) > [I thought running for Congress paled in comparison to being a parent and being a mom - especially a single mom of three kids.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-porter/i-thought-running-for-congress-paled-in-comparison-to-being-a-parent/) [Katie Porter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-porter/) > [One of the rules of running for Congress is no matter where you go, you speak like you're speaking to the whole district.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-ossoff/one-of-the-rules-of-running-for-congress-is-no-matter-where-you-go/) [Jon Ossoff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-ossoff/) > [Veterans tend to want to be ultra-prepared. They want to know everything they possibly can before running for Congress. That's great... but don't undersell…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-crenshaw/veterans-tend-to-want-to-be-ultra-prepared-they-want-to-know/) [Dan Crenshaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-crenshaw/) > [I came here as an immigrant. We were poor. We went to flea markets to sell gifts to make ends meet. Just the mere…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-lieu/i-came-here-as-an-immigrant-we-were-poor-we-went-to-flea-markets-to/) [Ted Lieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-lieu/) > [That makes a difference when you have all these Asian faces running then getting elected. You have some 30 people, many of them Democrats,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mazie-hirono/that-makes-a-difference-when-you-have-all-these-asian-faces-running/) [Mazie Hirono](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mazie-hirono/) > [There's no way I can run a nonpartisan organization the same time I am running for Congress.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-foster/there-s-no-way-i-can-run-a-nonpartisan-organization-the-same-time-i/) [Bill Foster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-foster/) > [I was the last person to announce I was running for Congress in a big district, and I still won.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-quigley/i-was-the-last-person-to-announce-i-was-running-for-congress-in-a-big/) [Mike Quigley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-quigley/) > [You spend a couple million dollars running for Congress, people get tired of seeing your face.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-gohmert/you-spend-a-couple-million-dollars-running-for-congress-people-get/) [Louie Gohmert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-gohmert/) ## More by Jared Polis > [I have a horrible sense of direction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-have-a-horrible-sense-of-direction/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [I'm too busy thinking what I'm going to say next to remember what I've said, but my staff tells me I'm sometimes funny. Not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-m-too-busy-thinking-what-i-m-going-to-say-next-to-remember-what-i/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [We are a diverse country, but we are one country. And we are at our best when we come together as Americans, not despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/we-are-a-diverse-country-but-we-are-one-country-and-we-are-at-our/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [The federal government has an exceptionally poor record of behaving responsibly with Americans' personal information when entrusted with it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/the-federal-government-has-an-exceptionally-poor-record-of-behaving/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [My parents were active in the anti-war movement in the 1960s, so I grew up with a tradition of civic activism around our dinner…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/my-parents-were-active-in-the-anti-war-movement-in-the-1960s-so-i/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [I derive a lot of the values that I try to bring into the public sphere from my private faith.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/i-derive-a-lot-of-the-values-that-i-try-to-bring-into-the-public/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Big food companies have their priorities, which include selling cheap, unhealthy foods at high profits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/big-food-companies-have-their-priorities-which-include-selling-cheap/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Negotiating deals among members of Congress is an exercise in wearing masks, scaring up votes, and, oftentimes, bluffing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/negotiating-deals-among-members-of-congress-is-an-exercise-in-wearing/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [We need to prove to American voters, particularly independent voters who gave us this opportunity to lead, that this is not your grandfather's tax-and-spend…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/we-need-to-prove-to-american-voters-particularly-independent-voters/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Many rogue sites exist to make a profit and others are enormously expensive to maintain. If they don't have the resources to continue stealing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/many-rogue-sites-exist-to-make-a-profit-and-others-are-enormously/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Trying to enforce our out-of-touch laws is as foolish and impossible as trying to enforce a law requiring that water flow uphill.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/trying-to-enforce-our-out-of-touch-laws-is-as-foolish-and-impossible/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [You have 435 people in the United States House of Representatives trying to get along.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/you-have-435-people-in-the-united-states-house-of-representatives/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [Our students are the best investment we can make for our country and our future economic prosperity. It's in our best interest to ensure…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/our-students-are-the-best-investment-we-can-make-for-our-country-and/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [If my son had a baseless accusation made against him at a university, and it was making his life there miserable, I would suggest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/if-my-son-had-a-baseless-accusation-made-against-him-at-a-university/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) > [But parents and schools have their priorities; making sure our kids eat right because research shows a clear connection between nutrition and student performance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/but-parents-and-schools-have-their-priorities-making-sure-our-kids/) [Jared Polis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) [Explore all 116 Jared Polis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Before running for Congress, I was an innovator and entrepreneur who founded several high-tech businesses that created hundreds of jobs and schools that found ways to serve those children that traditional schools couldn't.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Jared Polis" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-innovator-and-entrepreneur-who/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-innovator-and-entrepreneur-who/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/854/jared-polis-4096_business_before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-inn_1009412.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Before running for Congress, I was an innovator and entrepreneur who founded several high-tech businesses…” — Jared Polis", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Jared Polis", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jared-polis/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Before running for Congress, I was...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-innovator-and-entrepreneur-who/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jared-polis/before-running-for-congress-i-was-an-innovator-and-entrepreneur-who/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```