“My parents were immigrants who started a nursery as a way to get us ki...” — Jack Dangermond Quote

My parents were immigrants who started a nursery as a way to get us kids through school. I learned around the dinner table about customer service and cash flow and paying bills.

I don't understand why young entrepreneurs feel this pressure to take venture capital or go public. Don't get me wrong: Public companies are A-OK with me. I just think there is another way. Staying private is a lot more sane.

You have to be very fast-thinking, creative, and mobile. It is key to making a business move.

GIS is the only technology that actually integrates many different subjects using geography as its common framework.

I save money when I'm working so that I never have to take a role simply to pay the bills.

I grew up playing guitar and writing music, and I always wanted to be a songwriter and a singer and play the guitar. But while I was finishing college, my drag became lucrative, so I had to pursue what was going to pay the bills - and doing comedy as Trixie was something that I was able to market.

I very rarely use a credit card, but I do if I know I have big bills coming and I need to stagger payment.

I spent three years working at the White House and wanted to do something that wasn't about passing bills and resolutions.

Writing isn't manual labor. Nor is it emptying the dishwasher or paying bills. It's work, sure, but sometimes it should be fun.