--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I didn't have the patience to wait to…" description: "\"I didn't have the patience to wait to take a degree before starting work, because I wanted to run my own business.\" — Ted Waitt" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/ted-waitt-9480_business_i-didn-t-have-the-patience-to-wait-to-ta_599498.jpg" --- # I didn't have the patience to wait to take a degree before… ![“I didn't have the patience to wait to take a degree before starting work, because I wanted to run my own business.” quote by Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/ted-waitt-9480_business_i-didn-t-have-the-patience-to-wait-to-ta_599498.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/ted-waitt-9480_business_i-didn-t-have-the-patience-to-wait-to-ta_599498.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fdb/ted-waitt-9480_business_i-didn-t-have-the-patience-to-wait-to-ta_599498.jpg) > “I didn't have the patience to wait to take a degree before starting work, because I wanted to run my own business.” [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. He prioritized practical experience over formal education to launch his entrepreneurial venture. **In simple terms:** He chose work over a degree to start his business. Key Takeaway Consider real‑world experience when starting a venture. Themes entrepreneurship education risk‑taking Mood determined optimistic Type advice motivational When to use this quote - starting a startup - career planning - skill acquisition - network building Key Concepts pragmatism self‑directed learning Questions to Reflect On - What skills could you gain from a degree that might accelerate your business? - How might a degree affect investor perception? A Different Perspective Formal education can provide foundational knowledge and credibility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Degree Starting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-starting-4891959/) [Didn Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/didn-patience-1021920/) [Own](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/own/) [Patience](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patience/) [Run Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/run-business/) [Starting Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/starting-work-2042289/) [Wait](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait/) [Wait Degree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wait-degree-4891958/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) ## Related quotes > [Before starting work go thru all the former material. Many things of vital importance have been lost sight of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-e-burchfield/before-starting-work-go-thru-all-the-former-material-many-things-of/) [Charles E. Burchfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-e-burchfield/) > [“starting any work discussing the should you know that.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-malpani/starting-any-work-discussing-the-should-you-know-that/) [Akshay Malpani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-malpani/) > [I just turned 66, and I'm starting to work again.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lee-majors/i-just-turned-66-and-i-m-starting-to-work-again/) [Lee Majors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lee-majors/) > [I would say take any work you can get. Don't pass on something if it's a commercial. Take it. Work really does lead to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/allison-jones/i-would-say-take-any-work-you-can-get-don-t-pass-on-something-if-it-s/) [Allison Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/allison-jones/) > [When things are starting to work, you get up at five in the morning thinking, what are we going to do today? You stay…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/annie-lennox/when-things-are-starting-to-work-you-get-up-at-five-in-the-morning/) [Annie Lennox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/annie-lennox/) > [I turned down a lot of easier opportunities in order to go for the things that I really and ultimately wanted to do. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-oyelowo/i-turned-down-a-lot-of-easier-opportunities-in-order-to-go-for-the/) [David Oyelowo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-oyelowo/) > [“I didn’t have patience for grudges. My years on the street had taught me that it was pointless to whine and moan about what…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-riordan/i-didn-t-have-patience-for-grudges-my-years-on-the-street-had-taught/) [Rick Riordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-riordan/) > [There was a solid year and a half, perhaps two years, after making 'Temple Grandin,' when I didn't do anything. I just didn't have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/claire-danes/there-was-a-solid-year-and-a-half-perhaps-two-years-after-making/) [Claire Danes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/claire-danes/) > [I knew I didn't have the patience to be a teacher.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/quinta-brunson/i-knew-i-didn-t-have-the-patience-to-be-a-teacher/) [Quinta Brunson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/quinta-brunson/) > [Honestly, I didn't have the patience for biology or history in an academic sense, but I always liked the kind of big questions.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/andrew-bird/honestly-i-didn-t-have-the-patience-for-biology-or-history-in-an/) [Andrew Bird](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/andrew-bird/) > [“I’d always wanted to play an instrument myself, but my folks didn’t have the dough to buy me one, and I didn’t have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/i-d-always-wanted-to-play-an-instrument-myself-but-my-folks-didn-t/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [My grandfather didn't have any patience for little kids or their needs.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-l-trump/my-grandfather-didn-t-have-any-patience-for-little-kids-or-their-needs/) [Mary L. Trump](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-l-trump/) > [I've been into gear for a long time, but I never saw myself as a producer because I didn't have the patience to finish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jamie-woon/i-ve-been-into-gear-for-a-long-time-but-i-never-saw-myself-as-a/) [Jamie Woon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jamie-woon/) > [I wanted my own rock band and stuff like that, but things didn't work out. I didn't have the patience to write my own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prateik-babbar/i-wanted-my-own-rock-band-and-stuff-like-that-but-things-didn-t-work/) [Prateik Babbar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prateik-babbar/) > [I wrote three stories on spec because I didn't have the patience to convince people I could write.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kanika-dhillon/i-wrote-three-stories-on-spec-because-i-didn-t-have-the-patience-to/) [Kanika Dhillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kanika-dhillon/) ## More by Ted Waitt > [The complexity increases exponentially when you try and combine two companies that both need to be restructured in their own right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/the-complexity-increases-exponentially-when-you-try-and-combine-two/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I kind of became apolitical.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-kind-of-became-apolitical/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [PCs will go the cell-phone subsidy route.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/pcs-will-go-the-cell-phone-subsidy-route/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Intel's a great company, and Microsoft is a great company. Everybody seems to do a lot better when there is competition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/intel-s-a-great-company-and-microsoft-is-a-great-company-everybody/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We think the right categorization for digital devices is something you hold in your hand, a mobile-type product, and something you sit two feet…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-think-the-right-categorization-for-digital-devices-is-something/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We have to have a successful box business if we are going to go beyond the box.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-have-to-have-a-successful-box-business-if-we-are-going-to-go/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Our biggest risk is ourselves.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/our-biggest-risk-is-ourselves/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [If you buy a CD and want to put your favorite songs on one CD, you should be able to do that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/if-you-buy-a-cd-and-want-to-put-your-favorite-songs-on-one-cd-you/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [Being a smaller, nimbler company is better for our customers, employees and shareholders.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/being-a-smaller-nimbler-company-is-better-for-our-customers-employees/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We hope to be a leader in the convergence of consumer electronics and communications.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-hope-to-be-a-leader-in-the-convergence-of-consumer-electronics-and/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [We want a Gateway to be the last computer our clients will ever buy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/we-want-a-gateway-to-be-the-last-computer-our-clients-will-ever-buy/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [You don't know the impact of Windows XP. You don't know what the economic impact is going to be.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/you-don-t-know-the-impact-of-windows-xp-you-don-t-know-what-the/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [The entertainment industry always chooses to fight things out through the courts and legislation. Technology people always think there's a business solution.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/the-entertainment-industry-always-chooses-to-fight-things-out-through/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I was fascinated to see that if you knew what you were doing, you could sell a $3,000 computer system over the phone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-was-fascinated-to-see-that-if-you-knew-what-you-were-doing-you/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) > [I'd be lying to you if I said I had not done some soul searching.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ted-waitt/i-d-be-lying-to-you-if-i-said-i-had-not-done-some-soul-searching/) [Ted Waitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) [Explore all 72 Ted Waitt quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ted-waitt/) ## 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. 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