More from Carl Schramm

You don't have to be Bill Gates or Thomas Edison or Henry Ford to make a difference. Thousands of less famous entrepreneurs have done more than their part to enrich this country.

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Carl Schramm

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign Commencement 2009, 2009

The Story Behind This Quote

Near the end of his speech, Schramm encouraged graduates who might feel intimidated by the scale of famous entrepreneurs' achievements. He reminded them that Julia Child didn't write her first book until she was fifty, and Harlan Sanders started Kentucky Fried Chicken with his first Social Security check. Schramm broadened the definition of entrepreneurship beyond founding a groundbreaking company. Thousands of less celebrated entrepreneurs have used their talents inside existing businesses, remade companies like IBM and UPS, and provided the indispensable help that turns entrepreneurial dreams into reality. Whether large or small, every contribution matters.

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