Welcome to the world of Jim McKelvey’s wisdom, where innovation meets inspiration. Jim McKelvey, a renowned entrepreneur, inventor, and author, has left an indelible mark on the realms of technology, business, and creativity. Co-founder of Square, one of the most revolutionary payment platforms in recent history, McKelvey’s insights into entrepreneurship, innovation, and problem-solving have garnered admiration and respect worldwide.
Throughout his illustrious career, Jim McKelvey has shared invaluable insights that resonate with aspiring entrepreneurs, seasoned business leaders, and innovators alike. With a blend of wit, wisdom, and practical advice, his quotes encapsulate the essence of what it takes to thrive in today’s rapidly evolving landscape. Whether it’s navigating the challenges of building a startup, embracing failure as a stepping stone to success, or fostering a culture of innovation, McKelvey’s words serve as a guiding light for those embarking on their own entrepreneurial journey. Explore below for a collection of Jim McKelvey quotes that will inspire, motivate, and provoke thought.
Personally, I don’t want to do a lot of angel deals in a year. I get approached a lot. I’m becoming less and less polite, which doesn’t seem to be helping. A lot of the things I get pitched on are from people who just want to make money. Jim McKelvey
When I was 19 years old, I wrote my first book. I took a computer science class, and the book was garbage. I thought I could write a better one, so I did. Jim McKelvey
Art is what can’t be proven mathematically, right, it’s where science ends. It’s the part that makes you feel good, but you don’t know why. Jim McKelvey
At Square, we got our tech up and running in three weeks, but it took us 18 months to get licenses, banking relationships and everything else we needed to be able to move money. We had to partner up with major companies to do it. Jim McKelvey
Everyone needs someone to tell them not to wear so much Prada. Jim McKelvey
I’ve been totally replaced by people who are superior. I was doing, like, 15 different things. It’s very gratifying to watch your job done better. Jim McKelvey
If you can’t be persuasive to get people to believe your crazy idea, you can just go ahead and build it. Jim McKelvey
Glass really rewards risk. A lot of times with glass, you’re just waiting for the piece to cool down or for some temperature to adjust, and there’s split seconds where you’ve got a fraction of a second where you get to make a move a particular way, and you don’t get to repeat it if you do it wrong. Jim McKelvey
I am absolutely confident that St. Louis can attract major players in technology and make the companies that are here blossom. Jim McKelvey
When my son was born, I decided I wasn’t really into working 12 hours a day. That slowed me down a little bit. Jim McKelvey
In December 1989, my mother died very suddenly, and that sparked a re-evaluation of what I was doing, and I realized I was mediocre at everything. I was a mediocre IBM employee, I was a mediocre entrepreneur, I was a mediocre artist. I decided that, although my mom wouldn’t be around to see it, I wanted to be great at something. Jim McKelvey
I’m not particularly good at running things when once they get to a certain level. Once it gets routine, get me out of the way. Jim McKelvey
We tend to believe that things are impossible that are very possible. Jim McKelvey
It’s hard to shape glass. It took me years of practice, and as a result, I’ve never gotten bored with it. It’s difficult. Every time I come into the studio, I’ve got some sort of new challenge. And something that I would like to learn how to do better, and the material never disappoints me. Jim McKelvey
I don’t run any of my companies. I always partner with somebody who wants to operate. Jim McKelvey
This entrepreneurial energy that we have in the Midwest doesn’t have to go out to the coasts to get fed and watered. Jim McKelvey
It’s obvious that St. Louis has certain advantages compared to other cities: namely, a concentration of financial services. Jim McKelvey
St. Louis is a customer- and partner-rich environment for any financial tech startup. Jim McKelvey