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If I just want to 'start a conversation,' I don't need to run for office. As a matter of fact, it could be argued that many people are more open to hearing you if you're not running for office.

You don't run for public office unless you have a specific vision. You are driven by ideas and a vision.

I'm not one of the people who have to be in public office.

A presidential debate is a job interview. And voters look for certain traits in people applying to be president.

People who assume I want to run for elected office may be dealing from a bad assumption.

It's a very tough thing to run for office, but it's also the way the American people get to know you.

I didn't intend to run for public office. I didn't really think about it.

If I were to run for president, then people would debate the pros and cons of what's wrong with me in increasingly aggressive 140 character tweets and Facebook status updates, and, inevitably, everyone would end up fighting.

I've often been asked to run for office. I have no desire to do that, I would not want my time with the family or the company restricted because of the demands of an elected position.

If you believe you can make a difference, not just in politics, in public service, in advocacy around all these important issues, then you have to be prepared to accept that you are not going to get 100 percent approval.