Ronald Burkle Quotes

I wasn't born with a silver spoon in my mouth; I came from really humble beginnings - the projects of New York City - and I worked my way to get to where I am.

I think it's good that I had some experience of the real world before I became successful. You know, having to get up in the morning and going to work in construction.

When I got outta High School I was driving a truck. I was just a poor boy from Memphis, Memphis.

First and foremost, I enjoy working. I'm not at that level where I can pick and choose anything. When I get hired, I take it, and I'm like, 'Let's go!'

I want to be an example of a guy who made something of himself out of nothing. A guy who overcame the odds of a tough childhood, who worked hard, who didn't let his surroundings get the best of him and lead him to jail or the graveyard. Where I ended up - being a comedian, a TV star, and a movie actor - might be unique, but my story is not.

My dad had an eighth grade education, and everything that he did in his life was just stuff that he went out and did - figured out what he needed to know and read. Very successful, a union contractor.

I grew up in the projects in Brooklyn, and I consider myself lucky and blessed to be where I am - just working.

I'm a simple man. Grew up in a small town. Came from humble beginnings. No silver spoon.

I just want to make it very clear that I come from very humble beginnings, and I worked for everything!

I had to work to put myself through school, so I always worked in the heaviest industries I could find because that's who paid the best.

I did a bunch of blue-collar jobs, because I knew I'd wind up with a white-collar job at some point, and I wanted to, I don't know, I just wanted to taste life. I dug graves for a while, I worked as a stock boy in a big department store, I worked in a bank.

I'm not from a political family and didn't grow up dreaming of being George Washington. I started working in 8th grade and have held every odd job possible - working in a gravel pit, weighing big wheelers, ticket sales, data base management - but I knew if I worked hard and got experience, I could apply that experience to my next endeavor.

I was raised as a real worker: you know, you get out and get a real job.

My grandfather was a Pullman porter, and my father put his way through college by cleaning floors at night in the libraries. I understand that working people are in some way the bedrock of my existence and the existence of many people here.

My parents came from lower-class British backgrounds. But they worked hard and, without formal education, made it where they are today.

It started with Dragon Gate USA, where I started as a guy on the pre-show and wasn't promised anything. I kept coming and doing what I do and ended up on the main show and eventually won their championship.

I think a lot of blue collar people related to me because a lot of people work for their money.

I am proof that the American dream still exists.

I came to the country [U.S] without speaking a word of English, without a penny, worked full time, 40 hours a week, went to school full time, opened my own small business, ended up being a multi-millionaire. If I can do it, without even knowing the language, anybody can do it. All it takes is determination, perseverance, and like Winston Churchill said: 'Never, never, never, never give up.'"

Desperation is the secret to my steady employment. I am not interested in downtime. I really like to keep working all the time and I always feel like I'm in the mail room of life; working up.

My own father held down two jobs, barely affording the little rented house I grew up in. My dad worked hard, lifted heavy things, and got his hands dirty. The only soap we had at my house was Lava. Heck, I was in college before I found out it wasn't supposed to hurt to take a shower.

I was a teenager doing teenager things, and now I have the honor of being on tour with musical giants Enrique Iglesias and Pitbull. I'm doing my music and performing in my own concerts! It just goes to show that anything is possible with hard work.

I love being around people who work with their hands, who do the hard things to keep our country going. They're just my kind of people.

You build a successful career, regardless of your field of endeavor, by the dozens of little things you do on and off the job.

When you're a coach you've got to go up the ladder, you've got to be ready to travel. That's the nature of coaching