--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I'm a blue-collar kid who went on to…" description: "\"I'm a blue-collar kid who went on to become a successful entrepreneur. I was the youngest CEO in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. Now I've s..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-delaney-23755_business_i-m-a-blue-collar-kid-who-went-on-to-bec_448168.jpg" --- # I'm a blue-collar kid who went on to become a successful… ![“I'm a blue-collar kid who went on to become a successful entrepreneur. I was the youngest CEO in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. Now I've served my country for six years in the House of Representatives.” quote by John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-delaney-23755_business_i-m-a-blue-collar-kid-who-went-on-to-bec_448168.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-delaney-23755_business_i-m-a-blue-collar-kid-who-went-on-to-bec_448168.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/368/john-delaney-23755_business_i-m-a-blue-collar-kid-who-went-on-to-bec_448168.jpg) > “I'm a blue-collar kid who went on to become a successful entrepreneur. I was the youngest CEO in the history of the New York Stock Exchange. Now I've served my country for six years in the House of Representatives.” [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A narrative of rising from modest beginnings to high achievement in business and public service, highlighting perseverance and ambition. **In simple terms:** From humble start to high success through hard work. Key Takeaway Embrace hard work and aim high. Themes ambition perseverance public service entrepreneurship Mood determined proud Type inspirational motivational When to use this quote - starting a business - running for office - overcoming socioeconomic barriers - building a network Key Concepts social mobility leadership career progression Questions to Reflect On - What personal habits helped you transition between fields? - How can others replicate this trajectory? A Different Perspective Success may overlook systemic obstacles that limit similar paths for others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Country](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/country/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [History](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/history/) [New york](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/new-york/) [Stock exchange](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stock-exchange/) [Success](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/success/) [York Stock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/york-stock/) ## Related quotes > [“Revelation Chapter 18 details the many goods which are sold through the Daughter of Babylon’s ports. The lengthy list appears in Revelation 18:11-13. 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But what's good for the New York Stock Exchange might…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-mcchesney-martin/what-s-good-for-the-united-states-is-good-for-the-new-york-stock/) William McChesney Martin > [The borrowers of America and all the world turn to New York…It is to the quotations on the New York Stock Exchange that men…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-a-beard/the-borrowers-of-america-and-all-the-world-turn-to-new-york-it-is-to/) [Charles A. 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I temped at Chanel and the New York Stock…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-konner/i-was-like-i-don-t-get-out-of-bed-for-less-than-21-an-hour-i-temped/) [Jennifer Konner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-konner/) > [On the New York Stock Exchange, all buy and sell orders are routed through a single 'specialist,' guaranteeing that most small trades can be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alex-berenson/on-the-new-york-stock-exchange-all-buy-and-sell-orders-are-routed/) [Alex Berenson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alex-berenson/) > [“This fall, Alibaba Group Holdings will go public on the New York Stock Exchange, and it could raise $20 billion, according to Bloomberg News,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-fall-alibaba-group-holdings-will-go-public-on-the-new-york-stock/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It is fundamentally important that Grasso resign so that the New York Stock Exchange can restore its moral authority.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/phil-angelides/it-is-fundamentally-important-that-grasso-resign-so-that-the-new-york/) Phil Angelides > [All this plan does is make everybody a capitalist. I know that the New York Stock Exchange says there are 25 million shareholders in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-o-kelso/all-this-plan-does-is-make-everybody-a-capitalist-i-know-that-the-new/) [Louis O. Kelso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-o-kelso/) > [I've been a woman in a man's world now for 30 years. I was the first person to broadcast from the floor of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-bartiromo/i-ve-been-a-woman-in-a-man-s-world-now-for-30-years-i-was-the-first/) [Maria Bartiromo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-bartiromo/) > [It has become cheaper to look for oil on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange than in the ground.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-boone-pickens/it-has-become-cheaper-to-look-for-oil-on-the-floor-of-the-new-york/) [T. Boone Pickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/t-boone-pickens/) > [Hidden behind the facade of pompous jargon and noble affections, there is more sheer larceny per square foot on the floor of the New…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ney/hidden-behind-the-facade-of-pompous-jargon-and-noble-affections-there/) Richard Ney ## More by John Delaney > [The term bipartisanship, that's a means to an end. That's not something that I think you run on. I think you run on solutions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/the-term-bipartisanship-that-s-a-means-to-an-end-that-s-not-something/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I am for a system of universal health care where every American has health care as a fundamental right because I think that's where…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-am-for-a-system-of-universal-health-care-where-every-american-has/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [My message is more about unity, solving problems and trying to bring the American people together around a notion of common purpose in terms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/my-message-is-more-about-unity-solving-problems-and-trying-to-bring/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I define socialism as the government controlling the means of production. I don't think the answer to some of the big vesting problems we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-define-socialism-as-the-government-controlling-the-means-of/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I know a moderate, more centered candidate like myself doesn't get as much attention as people who tend to say more extreme things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-know-a-moderate-more-centered-candidate-like-myself-doesn-t-get-as/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I had a very long and successful career as an entrepreneur, focused on the needs of small to midsize businesses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-had-a-very-long-and-successful-career-as-an-entrepreneur-focused-on/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [We really need to move to a bit of a post-partisan world where we actually start solving problems and stop kind of living in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/we-really-need-to-move-to-a-bit-of-a-post-partisan-world-where-we/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [The way you deal with automation is by upgrading people's skills so they can get the jobs of the future.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/the-way-you-deal-with-automation-is-by-upgrading-people-s-skills-so/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I think there's a disconnect between political leaders and young voters around a lot of things related to the private sector. For example, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-think-there-s-a-disconnect-between-political-leaders-and-young/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I was a big supporter of the Trans-Pacific Partnership. I worked very closely with President Obama on that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-was-a-big-supporter-of-the-trans-pacific-partnership-i-worked-very/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [So I think there's a potential to make tuition free at public universities as part as young people doing national service. I think that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/so-i-think-there-s-a-potential-to-make-tuition-free-at-public/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [And I'm running for president to get America working again so that we can actually fix health care, build infrastructure, improve public education, make…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/and-i-m-running-for-president-to-get-america-working-again-so-that-we/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [I leave Medicare alone. I create a new system for everyone under 65 where they get health care as a right. It's a basic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/i-leave-medicare-alone-i-create-a-new-system-for-everyone-under-65/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [The single-payer Medicare for All proposal is not only bad policy, but it's bad politics. It's bad politics for a very simple reason: More…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/the-single-payer-medicare-for-all-proposal-is-not-only-bad-policy-but/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) > [There are definitely problems with technology companies, mostly around privacy, in my opinion, and the fact that they don't protect our privacy and we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-delaney/there-are-definitely-problems-with-technology-companies-mostly-around/) [John Delaney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) [Explore all 25 John Delaney quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-delaney/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. 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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. 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