In high school, I used to teach guitar and fix computers by the hour. I was looking for some way to make some cash, so I actually learned how to play guitar in order to try to teach it.

In this quote, Jon Oringer reflects on his early entrepreneurial efforts during high school, where he sought ways to make extra money. He describes how he began teaching guitar and offering computer repair services by the hour as a way to earn cash. The interesting twist in his story is that he learned how to play the guitar specifically so he could teach it to others, demonstrating his resourcefulness and willingness to learn new skills to meet a financial need.

Oringer’s approach highlights a self-starting attitude, where he didn’t have prior expertise in guitar playing, but instead, he took the initiative to learn it in order to create a new income stream. This mindset of leveraging skills to solve practical problems became a hallmark of his entrepreneurial journey. By offering both guitar lessons and computer repair services, Oringer showed an early ability to recognize opportunities and tap into market needs, even at a young age.

The origin of this quote comes from Jon Oringer, the founder of Shutterstock, a leading stock photo and video platform. His background in entrepreneurship and his experiences from his youth shaped his perspective on business and innovation. Oringer’s early ventures, like teaching guitar and repairing computers, were foundational experiences that helped him develop the entrepreneurial mindset that would later drive his success in the tech and digital content industries.

Ultimately, Oringer’s quote emphasizes the value of self-reliance and learning new skills to create opportunities. His experience of teaching guitar and repairing computers reflects his proactive attitude toward solving problems and making the most of available resources, which would later contribute to his achievements as a business founder and innovator.