--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: When I was starting out, being a young…" description: "\"When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was not fashionable. Parents would ask, 'When are you going to get a real job?'\" — Kevin Harrington" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/kevin-harrington-36338_asks_when-i-was-starting-out-being-a-young-en_113486.png" --- # When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was… ![“When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was not fashionable. Parents would ask, 'When are you going to get a real job?'” quote by Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/kevin-harrington-36338_asks_when-i-was-starting-out-being-a-young-en_113486.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/kevin-harrington-36338_asks_when-i-was-starting-out-being-a-young-en_113486.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b8b/kevin-harrington-36338_asks_when-i-was-starting-out-being-a-young-en_113486.png) > “When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was not fashionable. Parents would ask, 'When are you going to get a real job?'” [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early entrepreneurship often lacked social approval, with families urging conventional careers. **In simple terms:** Starting a business can feel socially risky. Key Takeaway Entrepreneurship challenges norms. Themes entrepreneurship social expectations career choice Mood defiant hopeful Type motivational personal anecdote When to use this quote - pitching a startup to skeptical parents - choosing a non‑traditional career path Key Concepts risk perception generational values Practical Applications - frame entrepreneurship as a viable career early on Questions to Reflect On - How can we reframe entrepreneurial risk for families? - What support helps young founders feel accepted? ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur/) [Entrepreneur Fashionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/entrepreneur-fashionable-1341490/) [Fashionable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fashionable/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Parent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parent/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Real](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real/) [Real job](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-job/) [Real jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/real-jobs/) [Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting/) [Starting out](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-out/) [Starting Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-young-465391/) [Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young/) [Young Entrepreneur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-entrepreneur-1341489/) [Young entrepreneurs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/young-entrepreneurs/) ## Related quotes > [When you're aware, from a young age, of how something plays in public, it makes you a young entrepreneur, whether you like it or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yara-shahidi/when-you-re-aware-from-a-young-age-of-how-something-plays-in-public/) [Yara Shahidi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yara-shahidi/) > [The most challenging thing for a young entrepreneur is to think long-term. When you are 22 years old, it’s hard to think in 22-year…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-feld/the-most-challenging-thing-for-a-young-entrepreneur-is-to-think-long/) [Brad Feld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-feld/) > [I've never had a real job in my life. I didn't learn anything, I was terrible at school. It was just this thing. Music…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hans-zimmer/i-ve-never-had-a-real-job-in-my-life-i-didn-t-learn-anything-i-was/) [Hans Zimmer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hans-zimmer/) > [...we do not simply get showered with Hollywood money because we happened to write a little story about wizards one day. It's not winning…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joanne-harris/we-do-not-simply-get-showered-with-hollywood-money-because-we/) [Joanne Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joanne-harris/) > [My aunt could never understand how writing could be a full-time job. She'd keep asking when I'd get a real job!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-spillman/my-aunt-could-never-understand-how-writing-could-be-a-full-time-job/) [Ken Spillman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-spillman/) > [I never had a real job. I started acting in high school, and then I started working. So, I never got to have that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zoe-kravitz/i-never-had-a-real-job-i-started-acting-in-high-school-and-then-i/) [Zoe Kravitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zoe-kravitz/) > [I don't go to conferences quite as much as I used to: having a child and movin away from the university leaves me with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-don-t-go-to-conferences-quite-as-much-as-i-used-to-having-a-child/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [I always say three things make a writer: inspiration, obviously; perspiration, doing the work. But the third is desperation. I'm not really fit for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harlan-coben/i-always-say-three-things-make-a-writer-inspiration-obviously/) [Harlan Coben](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harlan-coben/) > [Middle names are kind of like vice presidents: It's a fine distinction and certainly an honor, but you're never not aware that someone else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-reiser/middle-names-are-kind-of-like-vice-presidents-it-s-a-fine-distinction/) [Paul Reiser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-reiser/) > [I've never really had a real job. When I was young doing stand-up, I'd get 50 bucks a week here or 100 bucks a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth-rogen/i-ve-never-really-had-a-real-job-when-i-was-young-doing-stand-up-i-d/) [Seth Rogen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth-rogen/) > [I knew I wanted to be an actor. I just kept saying, "Until somebody tells me to stop, until I have to go get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-mchale/i-knew-i-wanted-to-be-an-actor-i-just-kept-saying-until-somebody/) [Joel McHale](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-mchale/) > [I've been employed by the University of Helsinki, and that has been paying my bills. Obviously a ''real job'' pays better than most universities…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linus-torvalds/i-ve-been-employed-by-the-university-of-helsinki-and-that-has-been/) [Linus Torvalds](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linus-torvalds/) > [IF YOUR JOB IS CUSTOMER SATISFACTION, YOUR REAL JOB TITLE IS PROBLEM SOLVER.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/if-your-job-is-customer-satisfaction-your-real-job-title-is-problem/) [Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/) > [Everybody has a calling. And your real job in life is to figure out as soon as possible what that is, who you were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/everybody-has-a-calling-and-your-real-job-in-life-is-to-figure-out-as/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [I always assumed that at some point I would have to quit making jokes, get a real job and do something meaningful and productive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dave-barry/i-always-assumed-that-at-some-point-i-would-have-to-quit-making-jokes/) [Dave Barry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dave-barry/) ## More by Kevin Harrington > [I understand that finance can be very complex.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/i-understand-that-finance-can-be-very-complex/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [Nothing turns off an investor more than when an entrepreneur comes in with a ridiculous valuation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/nothing-turns-off-an-investor-more-than-when-an-entrepreneur-comes-in/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [You only stay in front by coming up with ideas your new competitors haven't thought of yet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/you-only-stay-in-front-by-coming-up-with-ideas-your-new-competitors/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [By definition startups usually do not turn a profit.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/by-definition-startups-usually-do-not-turn-a-profit/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [Reality TV is a totally different animal than the infomercial world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/reality-tv-is-a-totally-different-animal-than-the-infomercial-world/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [I did something rather innovative that my competitors didn't like: I took out a full-page advertisement in the Yellow Pages that listed an office…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/i-did-something-rather-innovative-that-my-competitors-didn-t-like-i/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [People must be realistic when evaluating their business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/people-must-be-realistic-when-evaluating-their-business/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [I've spent over 25 years in the television industry, the direct response industry. I met a lot of people and certainly learned the power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/i-ve-spent-over-25-years-in-the-television-industry-the-direct/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [One of the big problems entrepreneurs run into is they get too comfortable,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/one-of-the-big-problems-entrepreneurs-run-into-is-they-get-too/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [I have seen entrepreneurs ask for hundreds of millions of dollars on a concept and try to sell because of 'their passion' for an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/i-have-seen-entrepreneurs-ask-for-hundreds-of-millions-of-dollars-on/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [Being born into poverty does not mean you are condemned to spend the rest of your life in poverty.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/being-born-into-poverty-does-not-mean-you-are-condemned-to-spend-the/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) > [“The driver had been bringing in two full kegs, and then wheeling one empty and one full one back onto the truck. My dad’s…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-harrington/the-driver-had-been-bringing-in-two-full-kegs-and-then-wheeling-one/) [Kevin Harrington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) [Explore all 13 Kevin Harrington quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-harrington/) ## More Asks quotes > [If you ask an introvert a question, wait until she thinks about it. Introverts think before speaking, not through speaking. If you want to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurie-helgoe/if-you-ask-an-introvert-a-question-wait-until-she-thinks-about-it/) [Laurie Helgoe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurie-helgoe/) > [I don't wear a watch because I want my arms to weigh the same. So if somebody asks me what time it is, I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-hedberg/i-don-t-wear-a-watch-because-i-want-my-arms-to-weigh-the-same-so-if/) [Mitch Hedberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-hedberg/) > [I am a practicing Catholic, but my lineage is Jewish, so if someone asks me if I'm Jewish, I say yes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neve-campbell/i-am-a-practicing-catholic-but-my-lineage-is-jewish-so-if-someone/) [Neve Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neve-campbell/) > [Freedom in every sense but primarily political sense, a rise in repression that stems from a repression of sexuality. It's AIDS, it's herpes, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-nicholson/freedom-in-every-sense-but-primarily-political-sense-a-rise-in/) [Jack Nicholson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-nicholson/) > [Why did Erich von Stronheim leave Germany? Why did Hitchcock leave England? If you were a director you'd like to work in Hollywood too.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roman-polanski/why-did-erich-von-stronheim-leave-germany-why-did-hitchcock-leave/) [Roman Polanski](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roman-polanski/) > [There is nothing more I ask of this life than this moment, exactly so. And suddenly forever seems like too short a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-andreas/there-is-nothing-more-i-ask-of-this-life-than-this-moment-exactly-so/) [Brian Andreas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-andreas/) > [Success will come when the societal attitude changes and not a single woman in America asks herself the question 'What did I do?'.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-biden/success-will-come-when-the-societal-attitude-changes-and-not-a-single/) [Joe Biden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-biden/) > [The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-einstein/the-most-fundamental-question-we-can-ever-ask-ourselves-is-whether-or/) [Albert Einstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-einstein/) > [The rich people are apparently leaving America. They're giving up their citizenship. These great lovers of America who made their money in this country-when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bernie-sanders/the-rich-people-are-apparently-leaving-america-they-re-giving-up/) [Bernie Sanders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bernie-sanders/) > [There is a way to be a woman, ask for what we deserve and be able to negotiate.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracee-ellis-ross/there-is-a-way-to-be-a-woman-ask-for-what-we-deserve-and-be-able-to/) [Tracee Ellis Ross](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tracee-ellis-ross/) > [For someone to ask 'Who did you play for' and to be able to answer a single name 'Liverpool' that would be brilliant...I don't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-carragher/for-someone-to-ask-who-did-you-play-for-and-to-be-able-to-answer-a/) [Jamie Carragher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-carragher/) > [I have no hesitation in saying that although the American woman never leaves her domestic sphere and is in some respects very dependent within…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexis-de-tocqueville/i-have-no-hesitation-in-saying-that-although-the-american-woman-never/) [Alexis de Tocqueville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexis-de-tocqueville/) > [Ask God for temp'rance. That's th' appliance only Which your disease requires.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/ask-god-for-temp-rance-that-s-th-appliance-only-which-your-disease/) [William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/) > [I don't know how to say it exactly. Only...I want to die as myself. Does that make any sense?' he asks. I shake my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzanne-collins/i-don-t-know-how-to-say-it-exactly-only-i-want-to-die-as-myself-does/) [Suzanne Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzanne-collins/) > [Physicist Isador Isaac Rabi, who won a Nobel Prize for inventing a technique that permitted scientists to probe the structure of atoms and molecules…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-saul-wurman/physicist-isador-isaac-rabi-who-won-a-nobel-prize-for-inventing-a/) [Richard Saul Wurman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-saul-wurman/) [Browse all 7,138 Asks quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asks/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "When I was starting out, being a young entrepreneur was not fashionable. 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