--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In my early teens, I was working in a…" description: "\"In my early teens, I was working in a Wimpy Bar and delivering cab company cards to make cash. I also ran a tuck shop at school. I struggled academical..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/theo-paphitis-4567_business_in-my-early-teens-i-was-working-in-a-wim_2715528.png" --- # In my early teens, I was working in a Wimpy Bar and… ![“In my early teens, I was working in a Wimpy Bar and delivering cab company cards to make cash. I also ran a tuck shop at school. I struggled academically because of being dyslexic. When I saw other families and what they had, it inspired me. I thought, 'I can get that, too, if I work hard.'” quote by Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/theo-paphitis-4567_business_in-my-early-teens-i-was-working-in-a-wim_2715528.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/theo-paphitis-4567_business_in-my-early-teens-i-was-working-in-a-wim_2715528.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/32e/theo-paphitis-4567_business_in-my-early-teens-i-was-working-in-a-wim_2715528.png) > “In my early teens, I was working in a Wimpy Bar and delivering cab company cards to make cash. I also ran a tuck shop at school. I struggled academically because of being dyslexic. When I saw other families and what they had, it inspired me. I thought, 'I can get that, too, if I work hard.'” [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Early work experiences and dyslexia motivated him to pursue success through hard work. **In simple terms:** Hard work can overcome early disadvantages. Key Takeaway Believe in your ability to improve. Themes hard work determination overcoming adversity entrepreneurship self‑belief Mood inspirational reflective Type personal narrative motivational When to use this quote - starting a small business - seeking mentorship - setting long‑term goals - managing learning challenges Key Concepts growth mindset resilience social mobility Questions to Reflect On - What habits helped you rise above early challenges? - How can others support dyslexic learners? A Different Perspective Hard work alone may not address systemic barriers. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Academically Dyslexic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/academically-dyslexic-840443/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Cards](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cards/) [Dyslexic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexic/) [Dyslexic Saw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dyslexic-saw-2842192/) [Early](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/early/) [Hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard/) [School](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/school/) [Struggled](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled/) [Struggled Academically](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/struggled-academically-2842191/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/) [Work hard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work-hard/) ## Related quotes > [D.C. is a hard city to grow up in. I couldn't find my footing there. Also, I got a late start academically, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-theroux/d-c-is-a-hard-city-to-grow-up-in-i-couldn-t-find-my-footing-there/) [Justin Theroux](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-theroux/) > [At school I was really heavily dyslexic, so I really struggled academically with reading and writing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freya-ridings/at-school-i-was-really-heavily-dyslexic-so-i-really-struggled/) [Freya Ridings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freya-ridings/) > [I struggled academically throughout elementary school](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-carson/i-struggled-academically-throughout-elementary-school/) [Benjamin Carson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-carson/) > [I went to a private school, and I struggled academically. It was really disheartening to always be considered bad at that.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gia-coppola/i-went-to-a-private-school-and-i-struggled-academically-it-was-really/) [Gia Coppola](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gia-coppola/) > [Both my sons are dyslexic, and so, too, in a much milder form, is one of my daughters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/both-my-sons-are-dyslexic-and-so-too-in-a-much-milder-form-is-one-of/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [I cringe when I watch myself on camera. I'm not articulate, and I'm dyslexic, but somehow it works.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/i-cringe-when-i-watch-myself-on-camera-i-m-not-articulate-and-i-m/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [I love the English language, but I'm crap at it, so I might as well do what I'm good at. The same goes for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/i-love-the-english-language-but-i-m-crap-at-it-so-i-might-as-well-do/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [I was dyslexic as a child and it took me years to get passed that. I read a lot but it was hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-benton/i-was-dyslexic-as-a-child-and-it-took-me-years-to-get-passed-that-i/) [Robert Benton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-benton/) > [I am, myself, a very poor visualizer and find that I can seldom call to mind even a single letter of the alphabet in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-james/i-am-myself-a-very-poor-visualizer-and-find-that-i-can-seldom-call-to/) [William James](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-james/) > [That said, being dyslexic, I wasn't a great reader when I was kid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-ford/that-said-being-dyslexic-i-wasn-t-a-great-reader-when-i-was-kid/) [Richard Ford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-ford/) > [It caused more problems as a young kid, because the simple process of perceiving words on a piece of paper was hard for me.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bruce-jenner/it-caused-more-problems-as-a-young-kid-because-the-simple-process-of/) [Bruce Jenner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bruce-jenner/) > [With my recovery programme, I have to do a daily inventory of how my day has been. I am terribly dyslexic and have attention…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ozzy-osbourne/with-my-recovery-programme-i-have-to-do-a-daily-inventory-of-how-my/) [Ozzy Osbourne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ozzy-osbourne/) > [I was trouble - and always in trouble. Aged eight I still couldn't read. In fact, I was dyslexic and short-sighted. Despite sitting at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/i-was-trouble-and-always-in-trouble-aged-eight-i-still-couldn-t-read/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [Perhaps my early problems with dyslexia made me more intuitive: when someone sends me a written proposal, rather than dwelling on detailed facts and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-branson/perhaps-my-early-problems-with-dyslexia-made-me-more-intuitive-when/) [Richard Branson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-branson/) > [A lot of people say they are dyslexic; some have to realize that they are just stupid.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/a-lot-of-people-say-they-are-dyslexic-some-have-to-realize-that-they/) [Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/) ## More by Theo Paphitis > [The Internet means everything to everybody and it's growing by the day. You can't survive as a business, especially a small business, without having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-internet-means-everything-to-everybody-and-it-s-growing-by-the/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [I didn't have a great childhood, and neither did Debbie, my wife, so we both try to give the kids not only the material…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/i-didn-t-have-a-great-childhood-and-neither-did-debbie-my-wife-so-we/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [There are huge misconceptions about people on benefits. They are labelled scroungers or cheats. The reality is that many who need that level of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/there-are-huge-misconceptions-about-people-on-benefits-they-are/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [My whole business philosophy is based on a risk-reward ratio. But it's got to stack up. If it doesn't, don't do it. 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It has transformed the way we do business, entertain, communicate, and travel. In many ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/the-internet-has-heralded-a-revolution-in-our-society-it-has/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [One of the things I preach to all my staff is never be frightened to make a decision.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/one-of-the-things-i-preach-to-all-my-staff-is-never-be-frightened-to/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) > [A lot of multinationals have long, drawn-out processes and are pretty useless at putting products on the shelves quickly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theo-paphitis/a-lot-of-multinationals-have-long-drawn-out-processes-and-are-pretty/) [Theo Paphitis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) [Explore all 109 Theo Paphitis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theo-paphitis/) ## 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. 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