--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started working at age thirteen. I'm a…" description: "\"I started working at age thirteen. I'm a product of public schools, I'm a product of a public university. I started my first company when I was 21. I'v..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/victor-mitchell-34219_age_i-started-working-at-age-thirteen-i-m-a_2681205.jpg" --- # I started working at age thirteen. I'm a product of public… ![“I started working at age thirteen. I'm a product of public schools, I'm a product of a public university. I started my first company when I was 21. I've subsequently never worked for anybody else. I started that first business when I was still in college.” quote by Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/victor-mitchell-34219_age_i-started-working-at-age-thirteen-i-m-a_2681205.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/victor-mitchell-34219_age_i-started-working-at-age-thirteen-i-m-a_2681205.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/5ad/victor-mitchell-34219_age_i-started-working-at-age-thirteen-i-m-a_2681205.jpg) > “I started working at age thirteen. I'm a product of public schools, I'm a product of a public university. I started my first company when I was 21. I've subsequently never worked for anybody else. I started that first business when I was still in college.” [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Starting work early and building businesses independently showcases self‑reliance and public‑education success. **In simple terms:** Early work leads to independent success. Key Takeaway Leverage education for entrepreneurship. Themes entrepreneurship self‑reliance education Mood motivational practical Type advice inspirational When to use this quote - college incubators - mentor programs - networking events Key Concepts public school impact startup culture career development Questions to Reflect On - What resources helped you start? - How can others replicate this path? A Different Perspective Risk of burnout is high. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Age](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Public schools](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/public-schools/) [University](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/university/) ## Related quotes > [When I was just 13, we went from being middle class to lower middle class and finally lower class, as someone close to my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nana-patekar/when-i-was-just-13-we-went-from-being-middle-class-to-lower-middle/) [Nana Patekar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nana-patekar/) > [I started working at the age of 16 and since then my mother has been my guide. She has always advised me.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/madalsa-sharma/i-started-working-at-the-age-of-16-and-since-then-my-mother-has-been/) [Madalsa Sharma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/madalsa-sharma/) > [I really enjoyed being in the community of theater makers at university. So I started doing some performance as well and eventually, theater sort…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/emma-d-arcy/i-really-enjoyed-being-in-the-community-of-theater-makers-at/) [Emma D'Arcy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/emma-d-arcy/) > [ The Babson Institute, which is now an actual university, was started by this guy \[my father\] who also had a problem with believing in… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-laffoley/the-babson-institute-which-is-now-an-actual-university-was-started-by/) [Paul Laffoley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-laffoley/) > [I mean, there's a sense wherein you skip a part of childhood, too, when you start working at that age I did; I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ben-mendelsohn/i-mean-there-s-a-sense-wherein-you-skip-a-part-of-childhood-too-when/) [Ben Mendelsohn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ben-mendelsohn/) > [Work is transformative. It gives you a greater chance of a greater income. You can affect your life while you're of working age, so…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/work-is-transformative-it-gives-you-a-greater-chance-of-a-greater/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [My view is pensioners don't have the one option that people of working age have. They can't really increase their income, because they are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/iain-duncan-smith/my-view-is-pensioners-don-t-have-the-one-option-that-people-of/) [Iain Duncan Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/iain-duncan-smith/) > [I missed quite a lot of school because I was working from the age of 11.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natalia-vodianova/i-missed-quite-a-lot-of-school-because-i-was-working-from-the-age-of/) [Natalia Vodianova](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natalia-vodianova/) > [Because I'm in an adult world and I'm really working, my age is just a number. It's not really who I am.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mandy-moore/because-i-m-in-an-adult-world-and-i-m-really-working-my-age-is-just-a/) [Mandy Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mandy-moore/) > [Let's make sure that we are working for age-appropriate sex education in our school system.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wendy-davis/let-s-make-sure-that-we-are-working-for-age-appropriate-sex-education/) [Wendy Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/wendy-davis/) > [ I actually met one of my business partners \[Neal Dodson\] at the Governor's School summer program, so we've known each other since we were… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/zachary-quinto/i-actually-met-one-of-my-business-partners-neal-dodson-at-the/) [Zachary Quinto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/zachary-quinto/) > [As someone who started a company with an idea of creating a luxury brand with a soul, I needed to learn more about how…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/prabal-gurung/as-someone-who-started-a-company-with-an-idea-of-creating-a-luxury/) [Prabal Gurung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/prabal-gurung/) > [When we first started the company, I didn't have any thoughts of franchising. We just had company-owned stores.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fred-deluca/when-we-first-started-the-company-i-didn-t-have-any-thoughts-of/) [Fred DeLuca](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fred-deluca/) > [We started the company out of frustration with the employer that we had because we were building great stuff and there was no way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-warnock/we-started-the-company-out-of-frustration-with-the-employer-that-we/) [John Warnock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-warnock/) > [Most of my life, I thought that I would end up a novelist. But then, in New York City, after college, I started a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-spaihts/most-of-my-life-i-thought-that-i-would-end-up-a-novelist-but-then-in/) [Jon Spaihts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-spaihts/) ## More by Victor Mitchell > [My son's a West Point cadet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/my-son-s-a-west-point-cadet/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [I had a 100 percent voting record with the NRA, but I don't believe in bazookas in our schools.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/i-had-a-100-percent-voting-record-with-the-nra-but-i-don-t-believe-in/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [My mother has a tremendous amount of pride and self-respect. She won't take assistance from anybody.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/my-mother-has-a-tremendous-amount-of-pride-and-self-respect-she-won-t/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [I don't think that attorneys should be in any way running for governor.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/i-don-t-think-that-attorneys-should-be-in-any-way-running-for-governor/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [I lived in New York until I was eleven years old, when my mother left my two older sisters and my father. My mother…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/i-lived-in-new-york-until-i-was-eleven-years-old-when-my-mother-left/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [The voters of Colorado deserve honest, straight-talking elected officials.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/the-voters-of-colorado-deserve-honest-straight-talking-elected/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [My wife and I have very deep roots in Colorado, and we can't see ourselves living anywhere else.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/my-wife-and-i-have-very-deep-roots-in-colorado-and-we-can-t-see/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [The war on drugs has made government more powerful, citizens less free, and hasn't helped users or addicts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/the-war-on-drugs-has-made-government-more-powerful-citizens-less-free/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [I would consider myself conservative but sensible and pragmatic.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/i-would-consider-myself-conservative-but-sensible-and-pragmatic/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [We've got to stop pandering and start leading.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/we-ve-got-to-stop-pandering-and-start-leading/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [I want to stop piling people into prisons and stop branding people with a felony for a personal weakness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/i-want-to-stop-piling-people-into-prisons-and-stop-branding-people/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [We are very committed to putting forward a really bold message for the state of Colorado.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/we-are-very-committed-to-putting-forward-a-really-bold-message-for/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) > [There is no reason why any public school district in our state should be on a four-day school week. If anything, we should be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-mitchell/there-is-no-reason-why-any-public-school-district-in-our-state-should/) [Victor Mitchell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) [Explore all 14 Victor Mitchell quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-mitchell/) ## More Age quotes > [I need a bath." He chuckled. "You smell of smoke, as do I." The duke turned, leaning heavily on his cane. "Jameson, open the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-hawkins/i-need-a-bath-he-chuckled-you-smell-of-smoke-as-do-i-the-duke-turned/) [Karen Hawkins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-hawkins/) > [While we've youth in our hearts, we can never grow old.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/while-we-ve-youth-in-our-hearts-we-can-never-grow-old/) [Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-wendell-holmes-jr/) > [It's easier to change a law than an age-old mentality. Deep down, many prejudices, many hostilities, many fears persist. But if we take a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dacia-maraini/it-s-easier-to-change-a-law-than-an-age-old-mentality-deep-down-many/) [Dacia Maraini](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dacia-maraini/) > [When I first started writing, when I was 15, I would go to work with people and they would tell me my lyrics were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sabrina-claudio/when-i-first-started-writing-when-i-was-15-i-would-go-to-work-with/) [Sabrina Claudio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sabrina-claudio/) > [Real people speak in my books about the main events of the age, such as the war, the Chernobyl disaster, and the downfall of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/svetlana-alexievich/real-people-speak-in-my-books-about-the-main-events-of-the-age-such/) [Svetlana Alexievich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/svetlana-alexievich/) > [As a child I was very involved with sports and I knew at age 9 that I wanted to be an Olympic champion.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marion-jones/as-a-child-i-was-very-involved-with-sports-and-i-knew-at-age-9-that-i/) [Marion Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marion-jones/) > [If there is any period one would desire to be born in, is it not the age of Revolution; when the old and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ralph-waldo-emerson/if-there-is-any-period-one-would-desire-to-be-born-in-is-it-not-the/) [Ralph Waldo Emerson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ralph-waldo-emerson/) > [By making conscious choices in our behavior and where we focus our attention, we can transform our experience of our body, decrease our biological…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/by-making-conscious-choices-in-our-behavior-and-where-we-focus-our/) [Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/) > [I am just enjoying the dream of being Milan coach at the age of 40.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gennaro-gattuso/i-am-just-enjoying-the-dream-of-being-milan-coach-at-the-age-of-40/) [Gennaro Gattuso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gennaro-gattuso/) > [Age is an accumulation of life and loss. Adulthood is a series of lines crossed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ellen-goodman/age-is-an-accumulation-of-life-and-loss-adulthood-is-a-series-of/) [Ellen Goodman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ellen-goodman/) > [I calculated that if I live up to the age of 80, then I end up using 450 toothbrushes in my life. All that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dia-mirza/i-calculated-that-if-i-live-up-to-the-age-of-80-then-i-end-up-using/) [Dia Mirza](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dia-mirza/) > [Why is wisdom so fair? Why is beauty so wise? Because all else is temporary, while beauty and wisdom are the only real and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vera-nazarian/why-is-wisdom-so-fair-why-is-beauty-so-wise-because-all-else-is/) [Vera Nazarian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vera-nazarian/) > [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/) > [That old man dies prematurely whose memory records no benefits conferred. They only have lived long who have lived virtuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-brinsley-sheridan/that-old-man-dies-prematurely-whose-memory-records-no-benefits/) [Richard Brinsley Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-brinsley-sheridan/) > [We have started to make music at age seven. That was a hard work.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-kaulitz/we-have-started-to-make-music-at-age-seven-that-was-a-hard-work/) [Bill Kaulitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-kaulitz/) [Browse all 18,948 Age quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/age/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started working at age thirteen. I'm a product of public schools, I'm a product of a public university. I started my first company when I was 21. I've subsequently never worked for anybody else. 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