My very, very first professional job was when I was 19 years old - I got a job doing an educational industrial film on Shell Motor Oil's oil products. I really put my heart into it - I wrote a script for it, I did a lot of research.

What I learned most was how to tell a story in 15 seconds or 30 seconds or 60 seconds - to have some kind of goal of what to try to do and make it happen in that time.

In Finland, getting a university degree is the first thing that you expect your kids to do.

I loved cutting together simple commercials about margarine or soft drinks - all kinds of silly products - but I tried to make the commercials different.

I grew up poor. I never had any money. I was a hobo, you know, ride the freights.

I am damn good with money.

One of the things we have to understand is that federal transportation dollars require a local match. If that money isn't there, that money goes to another state.

Like having your own licence to print money.