--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I've been a paperboy, a short-order cook…" description: "\"I've been a paperboy, a short-order cook, a warehouse clerk, and, eventually, a partner at IBM.\" — Thom Tillis" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/thom-tillis-4725_been_i-ve-been-a-paperboy-a-short-order-cook_1572433.jpg" --- # I've been a paperboy, a short-order cook, a warehouse… ![“I've been a paperboy, a short-order cook, a warehouse clerk, and, eventually, a partner at IBM.” quote by Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/thom-tillis-4725_been_i-ve-been-a-paperboy-a-short-order-cook_1572433.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/thom-tillis-4725_been_i-ve-been-a-paperboy-a-short-order-cook_1572433.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/cf3/thom-tillis-4725_been_i-ve-been-a-paperboy-a-short-order-cook_1572433.jpg) > “I've been a paperboy, a short-order cook, a warehouse clerk, and, eventually, a partner at IBM.” [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) ## 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 outlines a progression from low‑skill jobs to a senior role, emphasizing perseverance and diverse experience. **In simple terms:** Hard work and varied jobs led to success. Key Takeaway Embrace varied work to grow. Themes career perseverance growth Mood reflective inspirational Type biographical motivational When to use this quote - job hunting - career planning - skill acquisition - mentorship Key Concepts skill development social mobility networking Questions to Reflect On - What skills did each role teach you? - How can varied experience aid leadership? A Different Perspective Success may also need formal education or networking. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Clerk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clerk/) ## Related quotes > [“People like to make up stories about things they don’t understand, so there are over a thousand myths about the moon. 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Things are going to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/meanwhile-i-work-the-route-i-don-t-quit-i-don-t-complain-each-day-i/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [“Things I Used to Get Hit For: Talking back. Being smart. Acting stupid. Not listening. Not answering the first time. Not doing what I’m…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-thurber/things-i-used-to-get-hit-for-talking-back-being-smart-acting-stupid/) [Bob Thurber](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-thurber/) > [When I was 18, I went into the army as a payroll clerk because otherwise I was headed for Korea.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julian-bream/when-i-was-18-i-went-into-the-army-as-a-payroll-clerk-because/) [Julian Bream](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julian-bream/) > [“Who gets the change?" the clerk asked. "You or...your fella?" Oh, he's not my boyfriend," I said. "He's my mother.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wally-lamb/who-gets-the-change-the-clerk-asked-you-or-your-fella-oh-he-s-not-my/) [Wally Lamb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wally-lamb/) > [I did quite a lot of menial jobs. I was a waiter, an inventory clerk touring round properties listing cups and saucers, and a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-armitage/i-did-quite-a-lot-of-menial-jobs-i-was-a-waiter-an-inventory-clerk/) [Richard Armitage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-armitage/) > [The doctor who applied a stethoscope to my heart was not satisfied. I was told to get my papers with the clerk in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-forester/the-doctor-who-applied-a-stethoscope-to-my-heart-was-not-satisfied-i/) [C. S. Forester](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-forester/) > [A salesman minus enthusiasm is just a clerk.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harry-f-banks/a-salesman-minus-enthusiasm-is-just-a-clerk/) [Harry F Banks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harry-f-banks/) > [When I was in college my girl got me a job at the doctor's office she was working at. I was a file clerk.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-cole-2/when-i-was-in-college-my-girl-got-me-a-job-at-the-doctor-s-office-she/) [J. Cole](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-cole-2/) > [Caesar's double-bed is warm As an unimportant clerk Writes i do not like my work On a pink official form.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/w-h-auden/caesar-s-double-bed-is-warm-as-an-unimportant-clerk-writes-i-do-not/) [W. H. Auden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/w-h-auden/) > [“For sondry scoles maken sotile clerkis; Womman of manye scoles half a clerk is.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geoffrey-chaucer/for-sondry-scoles-maken-sotile-clerkis-womman-of-manye-scoles-half-a/) [Geoffrey Chaucer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geoffrey-chaucer/) > [For three months, when I was 23 years old, I worked as a clerk at Wandsworth Sewer.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sandi-toksvig/for-three-months-when-i-was-23-years-old-i-worked-as-a-clerk-at/) [Sandi Toksvig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sandi-toksvig/) > [I didn't finish high school - left home when I was 15. I moved away to Fresno and worked as a grocery clerk. I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joy-covey/i-didn-t-finish-high-school-left-home-when-i-was-15-i-moved-away-to/) [Joy Covey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joy-covey/) ## More by Thom Tillis > [If you just focus on producing good outcomes, all that other stuff sorts itself out.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/if-you-just-focus-on-producing-good-outcomes-all-that-other-stuff/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [In the Senate, I will work to shrink the size of our federal government to its core Constitutional role so the private sector can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/in-the-senate-i-will-work-to-shrink-the-size-of-our-federal/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [We already have two branches of federal government that factor political considerations into their decision-making, and our Founding Fathers determined long ago that we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/we-already-have-two-branches-of-federal-government-that-factor/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [Barack Obama and Kay Hagan think that the minimum wage needs to be the same in the mountains of North Carolina and in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/barack-obama-and-kay-hagan-think-that-the-minimum-wage-needs-to-be/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [You will never satisfy the far extremes on the Left and the Right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/you-will-never-satisfy-the-far-extremes-on-the-left-and-the-right/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [I just received the endorsement of the National Right to Life, and more than anybody else, more than any organization I can think of,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/i-just-received-the-endorsement-of-the-national-right-to-life-and/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [People who truly represent an extreme on either side have a very difficult time getting bipartisan support for what they're doing.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/people-who-truly-represent-an-extreme-on-either-side-have-a-very/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [In Washington, I will focus on creating a climate that helps create jobs and opportunities for Americans.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/in-washington-i-will-focus-on-creating-a-climate-that-helps-create/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [What I want to do is create jobs that make the minimum wage irrelevant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/what-i-want-to-do-is-create-jobs-that-make-the-minimum-wage-irrelevant/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [Republicans do need to communicate that we agree that there are serious health care issues among the American people that we need to solve.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/republicans-do-need-to-communicate-that-we-agree-that-there-are/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [I have immense respect for Loretta Lynch both personally and professionally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/i-have-immense-respect-for-loretta-lynch-both-personally-and/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [The heartaches of Obamacare don't have to be the norm.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/the-heartaches-of-obamacare-don-t-have-to-be-the-norm/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [Republicans should remember that when Trump campaigned, he wasn't holding up a conservative manifesto at every rally.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/republicans-should-remember-that-when-trump-campaigned-he-wasn-t/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [Americans from all walks of life have voiced their deep frustration with Washington's seeming inability to get anything constructive done. For decades, they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/americans-from-all-walks-of-life-have-voiced-their-deep-frustration/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) > [When officers' actions violate their duty, justice should be served in accordance with our legal system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-tillis/when-officers-actions-violate-their-duty-justice-should-be-served-in/) [Thom Tillis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) [Explore all 107 Thom Tillis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-tillis/) ## More Been quotes > [When I was trying to come up with a stage name, I thought 'Lord' was super rad, but really masculine - ever since I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lorde/when-i-was-trying-to-come-up-with-a-stage-name-i-thought-lord-was/) [Lorde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lorde/) > [I once told someone I could act. They totally bought it. I've been getting away with it ever since.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akshay-kumar/i-once-told-someone-i-could-act-they-totally-bought-it-i-ve-been/) [Akshay Kumar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akshay-kumar/) > [Amongst the financial Twitterati, the term 'muppets' has come to describe any client used and abused by some financial predator. I've adopted the term…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barry-ritholtz/amongst-the-financial-twitterati-the-term-muppets-has-come-to/) [Barry Ritholtz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barry-ritholtz/) > [Here's the reality. The image of a white Jesus has been used to justify enslavement, conquest, colonialism, the genocide of indigenous peoples. There are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tim-wise/here-s-the-reality-the-image-of-a-white-jesus-has-been-used-to/) [Tim Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tim-wise/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. 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If you've been investing in those, give it up. That game…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenneth-fisher/windmills-and-solar-cells-are-carbon-free-sources-of-electricity-but/) [Kenneth Fisher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenneth-fisher/) > [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/) > [I have never been in, nor have I had any strong particular desire to be in, what is termed a costume drama, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-freeman/i-have-never-been-in-nor-have-i-had-any-strong-particular-desire-to/) [Martin Freeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-freeman/) > [There has always been a feeling with people that they love my singing but not always the choice of material.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alison-moyet/there-has-always-been-a-feeling-with-people-that-they-love-my-singing/) [Alison Moyet](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alison-moyet/) > [I've always been a believer in research. 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