Amazon founder Jeff Bezos: I always advise to young people, 'Go work at ...'

Amazon founder Jeff Bezos has an important and surprising piece of advice for young people who are dreaming of entrepreneurial success . Bezos said ‘Go work at McDonald’s .’ As reported by Fortune, in a recent interview, Bezos stressed on the importance of early work experience especially in the fast-paced, customer-facing environment. “I always advise young people: Go work at McDonald’s,” Bezos said. “You learn responsibility. You learn how to show up. You learn how to deal with people. You learn how to hustle.”

From fry station to fortune
For those unaware, Bezos started Amazon out of his garage in 1994. He believes that entry-level jobs such as those at McDonald’s tech foundational skills which are important for long term success. He emphasised that such small roles are necessary as they instill skill like discipline, resilience and the ability to handle pressure. These are the traits that many Gen Z entrepreneurs may overlook in their rush to build startups.

The comments by Bezos come at a time when debate is growing over the value of traditional work experience versus the allure of instant digital success. With platforms like TikTok and YouTube offering rapid fame and monetization, Bezos’ advice serves as a reminder that grit and consistency still matter.

Real-world lessons over instant gratification
Bezos also stressed that the working environments like McDonald’s exposes Gratification. He noted that the working environment such as McDonald’s expose young people to real world challenges such as managing time, dealing with customers and working as part of a team. Bezos argue that these experiences are more valuable than any theoretical knowledge or online hustle. “You don’t need to start a company at 20,” he added. “You need to learn how the world works first.”