Tim O'Reilly

Money in a business is like gas in a car. You have to pay attention to filling the tank. In business, you should have a purpose that's bigger than money. And if you do, then you're just trying to find a way to finance that purpose.

Money in a business is like gas in a car. You have to pay attention to filling the tank. In business, you should have a purpose that's bigger than money. And if you do, then you're just trying to find a way to finance that purpose.

My only jobs before I started my own company, I had been a janitor at a home for the mentally retarded. I had been a cemetery caretaker at Arlington National Cemetery, you know, mowing lawns. I started my company with $500. Win big or go home is just part of the myth of Silicon Valley.

My only jobs before I started my own company, I had been a janitor at a home for the mentally retarded. I had been a cemetery caretaker at Arlington National Cemetery, you know, mowing lawns. I started my company with $500. Win big or go home is just part of the myth of Silicon Valley.

For thousands of years, people have started businesses with whatever they can scrape together, and they basically grow bigger.

For thousands of years, people have started businesses with whatever they can scrape together, and they basically grow bigger.

Three things. One was...

Three things. One was...

Oh, thank you for having me. And I'm glad that the books didn't put you off and that you kept going.

Oh, thank you for having me. And I'm glad that the books didn't put you off and that you kept going.

Certainly reading. I was a total nerd. I basically, I lived very close to my school, less than a block away. We had an hour for lunch and I ran home and spent the entire time reading books. So I was not terribly well socialized. I was fairly blind and my older brother had this idea that if we wore our glasses, we'd become dependent on them.

Certainly reading. I was a total nerd. I basically, I lived very close to my school, less than a block away. We had an hour for lunch and I ran home and spent the entire time reading books. So I was not terribly well socialized. I was fairly blind and my older brother had this idea that if we wore our glasses, we'd become dependent on them.

So I did not wear, even though without my glasses, I was the equivalent of legally blind. And I didn't wear them until I was in high school. I basically wore them when I suddenly, you know, you're in high school and you start having friends and people would say, hi, Tim. And I was like, who was that? And I would turn around and try to figure out who it was who just said hi.

So I did not wear, even though without my glasses, I was the equivalent of legally blind. And I didn't wear them until I was in high school. I basically wore them when I suddenly, you know, you're in high school and you start having friends and people would say, hi, Tim. And I was like, who was that? And I would turn around and try to figure out who it was who just said hi.

And I realized, my gosh, that was the stupidest advice from my brother ever.

And I realized, my gosh, that was the stupidest advice from my brother ever.

Yeah, well, I would keep them in my pocket and I would put them on when I needed to see the blackboard. But it definitely... Hurt my sports career. I didn't really take up sports until I was in my 30s. That's when I learned to play basketball and soccer.

Yeah, well, I would keep them in my pocket and I would put them on when I needed to see the blackboard. But it definitely... Hurt my sports career. I didn't really take up sports until I was in my 30s. That's when I learned to play basketball and soccer.

My only jobs before I started my own company, I had been a janitor at a home for the mentally retarded. Ha! I had been a cemetery caretaker at Arlington National Cemetery, mowing lawns. And I'd been a dishwasher in a deli that we referred to as the greasy spoon. Those are my three jobs, right? And then I had a student job at Harvard and a student job being a janitor. But I never had any other job.

My only jobs before I started my own company, I had been a janitor at a home for the mentally retarded. Ha! I had been a cemetery caretaker at Arlington National Cemetery, mowing lawns. And I'd been a dishwasher in a deli that we referred to as the greasy spoon. Those are my three jobs, right? And then I had a student job at Harvard and a student job being a janitor. But I never had any other job.