--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My father was a self-employed…" description: "\"My father was a self-employed, commission-only salesman. He sold double-glazing and fitted kitchens, amongst other things. As he never declared himself..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/neil-oliver-28285_benefits_my-father-was-a-self-employed-commission_2228456.jpg" --- # My father was a self-employed, commission-only salesman… ![“My father was a self-employed, commission-only salesman. He sold double-glazing and fitted kitchens, amongst other things. As he never declared himself unemployed, there was never recourse to benefits, so if money was tight, money was tight. It taught me that we were a closed unit, and that we had…” quote by Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/neil-oliver-28285_benefits_my-father-was-a-self-employed-commission_2228456.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/neil-oliver-28285_benefits_my-father-was-a-self-employed-commission_2228456.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6dc/neil-oliver-28285_benefits_my-father-was-a-self-employed-commission_2228456.jpg) > “My father was a self-employed, commission-only salesman. He sold double-glazing and fitted kitchens, amongst other things. As he never declared himself unemployed, there was never recourse to benefits, so if money was tight, money was tight. It taught me that we were a closed unit, and that we had to be resourceful.” [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker learned resourcefulness and family cohesion from a father who avoided unemployment benefits by staying self‑employed. **In simple terms:** Family taught me to be resourceful. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑reliance and teamwork. Themes family resourcefulness self‑employment financial resilience Mood reflective pragmatic Type narrative lesson When to use this quote - tight budgets - entrepreneurial ventures - family decision‑making - benefit navigation Key Concepts economics psychology social dynamics Questions to Reflect On - How does self‑employment affect family dynamics? - What alternatives exist for financial security? A Different Perspective The story may overlook systemic issues that make such self‑reliance necessary. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Benefits](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/benefits/) [Declared Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/declared-unemployed-5003066/) [Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/employed/) [Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/father/) [Ifs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ifs/) [Kitchen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kitchen/) [Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money/) [Money Tight](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/money-tight-914753/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Recourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/recourse/) [Resourceful](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/resourceful/) [Salesman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/salesman/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Self Employed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self-employed-552318/) [Taught](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/taught/) [Tight Money](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tight-money-938634/) [Unemployed](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed/) [Unemployed Recourse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/unemployed-recourse-5003065/) [Units](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/units/) ## Related quotes > [On tight money: It reflects a reversion to the old idea that the tree can be fertilized at the top instead of at the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-s-truman/on-tight-money-it-reflects-a-reversion-to-the-old-idea-that-the-tree/) [Harry S. Truman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-s-truman/) > [A tight-money policy reinforces inequality in two ways. Its high interest rates disproportionately reward the rich, and the resulting unemployment disproportionately punishes the poor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/linda-mcquaig/a-tight-money-policy-reinforces-inequality-in-two-ways-its-high/) [Linda McQuaig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/linda-mcquaig/) > [It's not easy to be my sons because we're very high profile. We try so hard to give them a normal life. I'm very,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zhang-xin/it-s-not-easy-to-be-my-sons-because-we-re-very-high-profile-we-try-so/) [Zhang Xin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zhang-xin/) > [But I've always been accused of being a bit tight with money, so it hasn't particularly changed my lifestyle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-deacon/but-i-ve-always-been-accused-of-being-a-bit-tight-with-money-so-it/) [John Deacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-deacon/) > [It is a well known urban myth that the French don't trust banks and store their money under their mattress. It's not that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janine-di-giovanni/it-is-a-well-known-urban-myth-that-the-french-don-t-trust-banks-and/) [Janine di Giovanni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janine-di-giovanni/) > [Both my parents were entrepreneurs and built a nice leisure business. But money was tight when I was growing up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deborah-meaden/both-my-parents-were-entrepreneurs-and-built-a-nice-leisure-business/) [Deborah Meaden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deborah-meaden/) > [There were many low points and times I doubted myself at work. I've heard no many more times than I've heard yes and there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melanie-nicholls-king/there-were-many-low-points-and-times-i-doubted-myself-at-work-i-ve/) [Melanie Nicholls-King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melanie-nicholls-king/) > [I'm a big toy collector. I've been slowing down because my money's been tight, but I collect toys, too.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jason-mewes/i-m-a-big-toy-collector-i-ve-been-slowing-down-because-my-money-s/) [Jason Mewes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jason-mewes/) > [Money's tight. Times are hard. Here's you friggin birthday card.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/money-s-tight-times-are-hard-here-s-you-friggin-birthday-card/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Money was tight and Mum used to do two jobs to support us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/holly-valance/money-was-tight-and-mum-used-to-do-two-jobs-to-support-us/) [Holly Valance](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/holly-valance/) > [When something doesn't go exactly to plan, money is tight or a business is struggling - see it as a challenge rather than a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/when-something-doesn-t-go-exactly-to-plan-money-is-tight-or-a/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [When money's tight and is hard to get And your horse has also ran, When all you have is a heap of debt A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/flann-o-brien/when-money-s-tight-and-is-hard-to-get-and-your-horse-has-also-ran/) [Flann O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/flann-o-brien/) > [I've always been terrified about not having money. I've been a big saver and a big earner. When I've been out of work, I've…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cherie-lunghi/i-ve-always-been-terrified-about-not-having-money-i-ve-been-a-big/) [Cherie Lunghi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cherie-lunghi/) > [Being born not long after the war meant that money was tight. I grew up in a rural corner of Lincolnshire and my father…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoff-capes/being-born-not-long-after-the-war-meant-that-money-was-tight-i-grew/) [Geoff Capes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoff-capes/) > [Working 90 hours a week is easily racked up when you're self-employed and rely on portable tech to do your work; your train journeys,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-monroe/working-90-hours-a-week-is-easily-racked-up-when-you-re-self-employed/) [Jack Monroe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-monroe/) ## More by Neil Oliver > [It took me a while to get established - success didn't happen overnight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/it-took-me-a-while-to-get-established-success-didn-t-happen-overnight/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [I find it so easy to read qualified commentators who are 180 degrees opposed to each other.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/i-find-it-so-easy-to-read-qualified-commentators-who-are-180-degrees/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [“Ginger people! D'you know what they are? Our aborigines ... that's what! GINGERIGINES! Look at 'em ... they were 'ere first. All this is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/ginger-people-d-you-know-what-they-are-our-aborigines-that-s-what/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [I trust to luck. I am planning to be a millionaire before I die but I don't have a plan as to how that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/i-trust-to-luck-i-am-planning-to-be-a-millionaire-before-i-die-but-i/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [“Only the rock lasts forever”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/only-the-rock-lasts-forever/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [After I graduated from the University of Glasgow, I was a self-employed archaeologist going from dig to dig around Scotland, and it was not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/after-i-graduated-from-the-university-of-glasgow-i-was-a-self/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [My father's example taught me self-reliance, to make my own luck, and to work to make things happen.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/my-father-s-example-taught-me-self-reliance-to-make-my-own-luck-and/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [I have always been quite careful when I have been approached to do a television project to have the option of writing the accompanying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/i-have-always-been-quite-careful-when-i-have-been-approached-to-do-a/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [It is security that I crave and money provides security. What is that old line about money? "Some is good, more is better and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/it-is-security-that-i-crave-and-money-provides-security-what-is-that/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [Television came looking for me; it was never a plan to become a presenter.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/television-came-looking-for-me-it-was-never-a-plan-to-become-a/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [I worked on local papers, before taking a job as a webmaster with a very well known telecommunications company in London, as I thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-oliver/i-worked-on-local-papers-before-taking-a-job-as-a-webmaster-with-a/) [Neil Oliver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-oliver/) > [My wife has always supported me in my career, even when there were times when it was more sensible to get a job. 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