---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If start-up activity is the true engine…"
description: "\"If start-up activity is the true engine of job creation in America, one thing is clear: our current educational system is acting as the brakes. Simply ..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg"
---

#  If start-up activity is the true engine of job creation in…

![“If start-up activity is the true engine of job creation in America, one thing is clear: our current educational system is acting as the brakes. Simply put, from kindergarten through undergraduate and grad school, you learn very few skills or attitudes that would ever help you start a business.” quote by Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg)

> “If start-up activity is the true engine of job creation in America, one thing is clear: our current educational system is acting as the brakes. Simply put, from kindergarten through undergraduate and grad school, you learn very few skills or attitudes that would ever help you start a business.”

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

## About This Quote

This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.

The current education system fails to teach entrepreneurial skills, acting as a brake on job creation and business startups.

**In simple terms:** Education doesn’t teach enough business skills.

Key Takeaway

Advocate for practical, entrepreneurial learning.

Themes

education entrepreneurship policy

Mood

critical hopeful

Type

analytical policy‑oriented

When to use this quote

- high school curricula
- college programs
- workforce development

Key Concepts

human capital innovation ecosystems

Questions to Reflect On

- How can schools integrate real‑world business projects?
- What policies could incentivize entrepreneurial education?

A Different Perspective

Changing curricula is politically and institutionally challenging.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [America](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/america/) [Attitude](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/attitude/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/creation/) [Educational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational/) [Educational system](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/educational-system/) [Grad school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grad-school/) [Job creation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/job-creation/) [Jobs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jobs/) [Kindergarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kindergarten/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Skills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skills/) [Undergraduate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/undergraduate/)

## Related quotes

> [I think the main thing is to find something you care about. A cause. I think it starts with others. Who do you look…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-carver/i-think-the-main-thing-is-to-find-something-you-care-about-a-cause-i/)

[Max Carver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-carver/)

> [If we meet somebody who has never made a mistake, lets help them start a religion. Until then, were just going to meet other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gil-scott-heron/if-we-meet-somebody-who-has-never-made-a-mistake-lets-help-them-start/)

[Gil Scott-Heron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gil-scott-heron/)

> [Nobody wanted to help me get my start, not to mention it's tough being a female in a man's world of stand-up comedy. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anjelah-johnson/nobody-wanted-to-help-me-get-my-start-not-to-mention-it-s-tough-being/)

[Anjelah Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anjelah-johnson/)

> [Before we venture out and proclaim to save the world and those who are in need of help, we must start by saving ourselves…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kareem-vcover/before-we-venture-out-and-proclaim-to-save-the-world-and-those-who/)

Kareem VCover

> [Learning to code at a young age opened my eyes to the incredibly exciting world of technology and entrepreneurship. Our youth deserve the opportunity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-benioff/learning-to-code-at-a-young-age-opened-my-eyes-to-the-incredibly/)

[Marc Benioff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-benioff/)

> [Sometimes it's an external approach where one can learn the skills required, let's say, learn to play the trumpet and in that process other…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-gere/sometimes-it-s-an-external-approach-where-one-can-learn-the-skills/)

[Richard Gere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-gere/)

> [Making community college more accessible means more of our high school graduates can learn the skills they need to get good paying jobs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roy-cooper/making-community-college-more-accessible-means-more-of-our-high/)

[Roy Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roy-cooper/)

> [That's what I like about acting. When you're preparing for a role, you do your research, and the bonus is you get to learn…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/parminder-nagra/that-s-what-i-like-about-acting-when-you-re-preparing-for-a-role-you/)

[Parminder Nagra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/parminder-nagra/)

> [The future belongs to those who learn more skills and combine them in creative ways.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-greene/the-future-belongs-to-those-who-learn-more-skills-and-combine-them-in/)

[Robert Greene](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-greene/)

> [I definitely felt by the time I got to grad school - which was a great experience - I was like, Whats the difference…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-schilling/i-definitely-felt-by-the-time-i-got-to-grad-school-which-was-a-great-2/)

[Taylor Schilling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-schilling/)

> [I did a lot of theater in college, and I knew that not many people make it, but I just figured, 'Well, I really…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hank-azaria/i-did-a-lot-of-theater-in-college-and-i-knew-that-not-many-people/)

[Hank Azaria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hank-azaria/)

> [I went straight into grad school out of college.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jessica-tarlov/i-went-straight-into-grad-school-out-of-college/)

[Jessica Tarlov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jessica-tarlov/)

> [ I was trying to release emotions, exercise emotions, and then I entered the art world. Even after grad school, some of \[the earlier works\]… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kalup-linzy/i-was-trying-to-release-emotions-exercise-emotions-and-then-i-entered/)

[Kalup Linzy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kalup-linzy/)

> [As frustrating as my time in grad school felt, it also helped tremendously because it challenged me to figure out what it was I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-d-agata/as-frustrating-as-my-time-in-grad-school-felt-it-also-helped/)

[John D'Agata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-d-agata/)

> [As an actor I kind of do. I started out doing voice overs in the mid 80s when I was in grad school.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-haden-church/as-an-actor-i-kind-of-do-i-started-out-doing-voice-overs-in-the-mid/)

[Thomas Haden Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-haden-church/)

## More by Michael Ellsberg

> [There's no question that increased formal credentials can give you an advantage. The question is, is it the best advantage you can buy with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/there-s-no-question-that-increased-formal-credentials-can-give-you-an/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

> [You don't see a lot of MBAs as CEOs. The MBAs tend to get hired by the CEOs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/you-don-t-see-a-lot-of-mbas-as-ceos-the-mbas-tend-to-get-hired-by-the/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

> [Great brand, no resume - no problem. Great resume, no brand? Welcome to position #347 of the stack of five hundred equally great resumes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/great-brand-no-resume-no-problem-great-resume-no-brand-welcome-to/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

> [If you can get people who don't know about you to know about you (marketing), and you can convert them into customers (sales), and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/if-you-can-get-people-who-don-t-know-about-you-to-know-about-you/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

> [In my experience, the skill of success breaks down into three things. The skill of marketing. The skill of sales. And the skill of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/in-my-experience-the-skill-of-success-breaks-down-into-three-things/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

> [Learning is available at the library for free; under a tree with a dog-eared paperback; at a job with a boss who gives you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/learning-is-available-at-the-library-for-free-under-a-tree-with-a-dog/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

> [The essence of building your own brand. People having heard of you - and having a positive impression - before you've even met them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/the-essence-of-building-your-own-brand-people-having-heard-of-you-and/)

[Michael Ellsberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

[Explore all 8 Michael Ellsberg quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/)

## More Acting quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/)

Ryan Newman

> [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/)

[Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/)

> [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/)

[Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "If start-up activity is the true engine of job creation in America, one thing is clear: our current educational system is acting as the brakes. Simply put, from kindergarten through undergraduate and grad school, you learn very few skills or attitudes that would ever help you start a business.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michael Ellsberg"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine-of-job-creation-in-america/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine-of-job-creation-in-america/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/475/michael-ellsberg-47066_acting_if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine_2753083.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“If start-up activity is the true engine of job creation in America, one thing is clear: our current…” — Michael Ellsberg",
                "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": "Michael Ellsberg",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ellsberg/"
                },
                {
                    "@type": "ListItem",
                    "position": 4,
                    "name": "If start-up activity is the true...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine-of-job-creation-in-america/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ellsberg/if-start-up-activity-is-the-true-engine-of-job-creation-in-america/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
