When we reached out to our incredible CarolRoth.com contributor network of business owners, experts, advisors and entrepreneurs last month to find out their favorite entrepreneurship quotes, we received such an amazing response! It was so amazing that we decided to run the article in two parts, since you can never have too many words of wisdom to help guide you in your business endeavors. So, here are even more of their favorite entrepreneurship quotes, which are presented below in no particular order.
1. What Do You Let Control You?
"I've learned that you shouldn't be afraid to change; instead, be afraid to stay where you are... If you let fear of change rule you, you will live never knowing there is a fuller life out there that is yours for the taking."
-George Foreman
2. Something My Dad Always Said
"When you are green you grow, when you are ripe you rot." -Thomas Murphy
3. You Should Be Embarrassed
Reid Hoffman once said, "If you aren't embarrassed by the first version of your product, you’ve launched too late."
I've interviewed 100 entrepreneurs for IndieHackers.com. By far, the biggest issue is that founders with a perfectionist bent lose motivation after toiling away for months. Much better to release your product the quick and dirty way, so you can start getting customer feedback immediately. Nothing is more motivational than hearing customers complain about your baby.
4. Ideas are Easy
"Ideas are easy, execution is a bitch." -Betty Brennan
Have you ever had someone tell you a great idea for your business? Ideas often come rolling in; it's implementing them that is hard.
5. Show Me the Money... & Fail
“A business that makes nothing but money is a poor business.”
–Henry Ford, founder Ford Motor Company
Sounds contradictory at first glance, but it’s all about creating value for us. Value in the relationships we forge, value in the services we provide, value in the integrity we establish. If your business is all about you and how much you can make, you'll fail. Money is great, but you can’t build a business on money alone.
6. Make Better Mistakes
Anyone involved in the entrepreneur field can tell you that mistakes are inevitable. Being a senior member of a former start-up marketing and PR agency, I saw a fair share of stumbles and mishaps. However, when we realize our errors, our C.E.O. Flynn Zaiger reminds the team that the purpose of providing dynamic marketing solutions means that mistakes will occur. The best thing we can do is try to "make better mistakes." We acknowledge, we learn, and keep trying to be innovative.
7. The World Craves Authenticity
"When you make a mistake it means you started, it means you're trying." -Unknown
8. Do What You Love!
“You can fail at what you don’t want, so you might as well take a chance at doing what you love.” -Jim Carrey
Thanks to: Lori Cheek of
Cheekd.
9. Every Brain in the Game
My favorite business quote is from Jack Welch: "You pay a person for his or her hands, but they'll give you their brains and their hearts for free. All you have to do is ask!" He also called this "get every brain in the game". You never know when one of your employees will have the idea that sparks 1,000% growth or 50% savings from a vendor. It also makes them a part of the team for real instead of lip service.
10. Definition of Success
I once interviewed Dean Williams of Williams & Williams, a successful real estate auction company that he built from the ground up, and asked him how he defined success now that he had such a rapidly growing company. His answer has always stuck with me:
“The more successful I am, the less I have to do the things I don’t like to do.”
I loved that because it represents success as a place where you get to more of the things you love to do, and less of the things you don’t.
11. Coco Chanel's Lipstick Armor
"If you're sad, add more lipstick and attack." -Coco Chanel
We all know that the entrepreneurial journey can have us soaring one moment and crashing down the next. It's what we do at our lowest points, when we want to hide under our duvets that matter most. I think of this quote in those moments - I add my 'lipstick' (my armor, my 'fake-it-til-I-make-it') and I get out there and attack!
12. Live Your Life Work
My favorite quote: “Aspire to inspire before you expire!”
―Eugene Bell
13. Still-Poignant Classic
"I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have." -Thomas Jefferson
Tired platitudes about working smarter and not harder are just that--tired platitudes. It's not enough to have good ideas or see opportunities. Being an entrepreneur is about doing the work, day after day, regardless of who is around or what the work is. That work pays dividends in myriad ways, but not the least of which is feeling like luck is on your side.
Thanks to: Robert Russo of
Keycode.
14. The Final Five Yards
"If your customers don't know about your unique advantage - it doesn't exist." -Tom Borg
15. Distractions Cause Delays
"If you chase two rabbits, you'll end up catching none." (Proverb)
Stay focused! It's easy to get distracted with the many opportunities that are out there, but distractions can cause lengthy delays to your end goal or even cause you to lose your focus completely.
We only have so much time and energy. Set your course, know where you want to go, and do not allow yourself to get distracted.
16. Persistence & Resilience Wins
"Great CEOs face the pain. They deal with the sleepless nights, the cold sweats, and what my friend the great Alfred Chuang ... calls “the torture.” Whenever I meet a successful CEO, I ask them how they did it. Mediocre CEOs point to their brilliant strategic moves or their intuitive business sense or a variety of other self-congratulatory explanations. The great CEOs tend to be remarkably consistent in their answers. They all say, “I didn’t quit.”
-Ben Horowitz
17. Best Entrepreneurship Quote
No quote rings more true when it comes to starting your own business. My grandfather told me this quote when I was 12 years old.
"There are 3 8-hour work days in one 24 hour day. Pick which two you want to work and you will be successful."
18. Life
"You will remain average, until you do what average people won't do."
-Ryan Reed
19. Work Hard To Distance Yourself
"Work like there is someone working 24 hours a day to take it all away from you." -Mark Cuban
20. Execution is the Real Game
"It took thirty-eight years before 50 million people gained access to radios. It took television thirteen years to earn an audience that size. It took Instagram a year and a half." -This quote by Gary Vaynerchuk from his book 'Jab, Jab, Jab, Right Hook' inspired me to do more. It signifies the rapid growth we as entrepreneurs are facing in this era and how important it is to change with the trends and put plans to work.
21. Best Quote for Entrepreneurs
"Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it." -Henry David Thoreau
22. Don't Let Fear Rule You
"A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new." -Albert Einstein
23. Be As Great As You Want
This quote by Vince Lombardi, the great American football player, motivates me every day in my work and business leadership: "A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done."
24. Never Stop Believing
“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”
–Mary Kay Ash, Founder Mary Kay Cosmetics
25. Focus on Culture
"Managing results? Great - that’s half the entrepreneur’s job. The other half? Managing your organization’s culture. When people are consistently treated with trust, respect, and dignity, they commit fully to your company’s success." -S. Chris Edmonds, CEO of The Purposeful Culture Group and author of "The Culture Engine."
26. Play Big & Free Others!
"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure... You are a child of God. Your playing small will not serve the world... We were born to manifest the glory that is within us. And as we let our light shine we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." -Marianne Williamson
27. Go Beyond
"Promise a lot; deliver more." I wish I had said it first, but truly I don't know who did. It is a powerful statement of my philosophy. I always want to deliver more than expected. I want my clients to be blown away. I like the experience of when a major client, who was paying my bill said, "Mitch, raise your fee." What a rush. I always want to capture that moment every time. Satisfied customers will advertise for you.
Thanks to: Mitch Carnell.
28. Never Give Up
I have always shared the sentiment of Babe Ruth when he said, “It's hard to beat a person who never gives up.” Being an entrepreneur means that you are relying solely on your personal drive, no matter what setbacks you face, making it that much more important to bounce back from challenges and always keep moving forward.
29. Good Leadership is a Sport
"Good leadership is more like a sports camp than a history course. Our leadership abilities grow when we practice new skills. Like physical training, we need to practice the principles we learn." –L. David Marquet, Author of "Turn the Ship Around."
This quote reminds me to practice my leadership skills on a daily basis just like I used to practice football, basketball and golf. If I don't, my skills will diminish, and I won't be at the competitive level I need to be successful.
30. Adopt a Helping Mindset
That's a tricky question but one that stands out from the rest for me is something Zig Ziglar said:
"You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want."
While this quote does apply to entrepreneurship - it should apply to all aspects of our lives as well.
31. Mistakes Are Vital
“You can't worry about the mistakes, because you're going to make a lot of them. You've got to be thinking about your next move.” -Ben Horowitz
As frustrating as it can be to make mistakes as a business leader, they are vital building blocks for future success. Mistakes are inevitable; the only way you can grow is to make them and learn.
32. Learn From The Turtle
The quote that infuses everything I do is a Native American proverb:
"Learn from the turtle--it only makes progress when it sticks its neck out."
In order to get what you want in business--and life--you have to take risks. You have to have the courage to change. You have to seize the opportunities that are presented to you and make them your own. If you stay in your shell, those opportunities will pass you by. The only way to move forward is to stick your neck out and take the risk.
33. Entrepreneurship Quote
My favorite entrepreneurship quote is from Confucius. And I quote, "Choose a job that you like, and you will never work a day in your life."
That is my favorite quote because it inspired me to become a small business owner and launch my own private label apparel brand. It resonates with my beliefs because I am very passionate about the fashion industry. I am extremely blessed to wake up every day and call my passion a job.
34. Pursue Your Dreams
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the strange pull of what you really love. It won't lead you astray." -Rumi
35. Dylan-Inspired Business
“A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.” —Bob Dylan
36. Quote
"I want to put a ding in the universe." -Steve Jobs
Thanks to: Robert Sollars.
37. Inspirational Quote
"There is no sacrifice in pursuits of the heart." -Mark Allen, 6x Hawaiian Ironman World Champion
38. Be Strong, Fearless and Wise
"I am strong because I have been weak.
I am fearless because I have been scared.
I am wise because I have been foolish."
-Unknown
It is an important reminder that stumbling is part of the journey to success. As an entrepreneur you just have to keep going and pick yourself up and be smarter every time you get up and try again. It was true for Thomas Edison, Steve Jobs, Sara Blakely and it is true for me too!
39. Don't Be Afraid To Fail
"A failed attempt provides an opportunity to try again, with better odds of success." -Kristoffer Howes
40. A Professor of the Jungle
I recently read the biography of General Vo Nguyen Giap, the commanding general of the Vietnamese military during the Vietnam war.
When asked how did he defeat the most powerful army in the world, his response was simple:
"I was a professor of the jungle."
His wisdom applies to the realm of entrepreneurship, as entrepreneurs must be masters of their domain.
41. The BEST Quote for You!
I’m addicted to quotes and I must say, the best one for entrepreneurs is Lori Greiner’s quote: "Entrepreneurs are the only people who will work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a week." It keeps on reminding me that as an entrepreneur we never count the hours we work, we focus on the dream we’re creating.
I hope this quote will inspire more entrepreneurs – especially when they are burning the midnight oil to turn their dream into reality!
42. Favorite Creative Quote
"The idea is not to live forever, it is to create something that will." -Andy Warhol
43. What's the Secret?
Entrepreneurship isn't an easy road. It's a life choice full of sacrifices and extreme highs and lows. When we hear a great success story, we want to know how they did it. What's the secret to their success? "It's not about money or connections, it's the willingness to outwork and outlearn everyone when it comes to your business. And if it fails, you learn from what happened and to do a better job next time." Mark Cuban's words inspire me to believe my success truly lies in my own hands.
44. Courage as Told By Hemingway
Hemingway was a writer, but he could have been a CEO. "Courage is grace under pressure" is
one of my favorite quotes of his because adopting this approach has saved me many times. Despite the fact that I used to be quite impulsive and rash in my decision-making, considering these words has helped me focus on what true courage looks like - composure and finesse in the context of very difficult circumstances.
45. "Turnover is Vanity..."
The business quote that motivates me is the following by Duncan Bannatyne: “Turnover is vanity, profit is sanity.” What you really should be looking at is liquidity. It’s a big part of thinking like a true entrepreneur. Turnover and number of customers don't matter. You can’t lead an organic business if you don’t go through everything and know what your liquidity is. What matters is that you can invest, continuously, in your business and your growth.
46. Listen 2X More Than You Talk
As I handle Communications, it is very easy to get carried away and start talking about yourself and your product. When dealing with customers, the best thing to do is to let them share their story and see where you can be of any help. So, I always remind myself this quote by Epictetus: "We have two ears and one mouth so that we can listen twice as much as we speak."
47. Passion and Possibilities
I’ve been extremely fortunate in business, having been recognized with awards and commendations. There is one quote that has stayed with me throughout though. It lives on my desk, and serves as daily inspiration:
“Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.” -Jean de la Fontaine
It inspires both passion for the task at hand, and the idea that every problem is solvable. At Bright!Tax, both of these concepts are integral to our company ethos.
48. Time To Drop That Friend?
One of my favorite quotes is from motivational speaker Jim Rohn, who said that we are the average of the five people we spend the most time with.
It's really important for entrepreneurs to think about who we spend our time with. Are your five people motivating and inspiring? Or are your people the kind that always have an excuse for why they (and you!) can’t do something new? It's powerful to think about because you may find you need to make some changes in your circle.
49. Work 1/2 Days
As my father told me before I started my first business: "Work half days. Any 12 hours will do."
50. Make Mistakes!
My best advice to entrepreneurs is this: "Forget about making mistakes, just do it." -Ajaero Tony Martins
51. Love What You Do
Steve Jobs said, "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." This quote gave me the courage to quit my full-time job at Hewlett-Packard to pursue a career as an entrepreneur. Three businesses later, I couldn't be happier with my decision. Being my own boss is a significant factor in my love for my job, and I love that my businesses help others to also become their own bosses through e-commerce pursuits.
52. Take Educated Risks!
“If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”
–Martin Luther King, Jr.
This quote influences our mantra at Jungle Scout, it's all about taking action. The key to success is doing your research and doing it right, but there will always be an element risk. If you don't move forward with something, you will never get started!
53. Best Entrepreneurship Quotes
"You must CREATE to be able to CRITIQUE." - My brother Dan (Tubridy) first said this to me. I think of it daily and it helps me handle naysayers, pessimists and critics. It also inspires me to come up with solutions rather than complaining, because as another saying goes, "if you aren't part of the solution, you are part of the problem."
54. Dismiss the Ego
“There is no limit to the amount of good a man can do if he cares not who gets the credit." -G.W. Marshall
Building a business is about collaboration and trust. Sourcing credit builds egos, not strong organizations. I love this quote because it reminds me how much can be accomplished in a very short period of time when people work together for a common goal that does not include self-gratification. The more we all contribute, the more we all win.
55. Step into the Spotlight
My favorite quote is "It's better to be looked over than overlooked", by Hollywood legend Mae West. Her statement signifies the critical importance - for women in particular - of taking the stage, taking up space, and putting ourselves in the public eye. I love to deliver this quote in my workshops, with my own special Mae West impression. It motivates, entertains and teaches a lesson – all in one confident, iconic statement by a pioneering feminist, writer, performer and business woman.
56. Aim High
“The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark.”
-Michelangelo
This quote does a great job of describing the importance of setting ambitious goals. Many people do not have high goals because they are afraid of failure. However, entrepreneurship is a process that inevitably will include failure. You have to dream big if you want to create something big.
57. Learn From Failure
"Success is a lousy teacher. It seduces smart people into thinking they can't lose."
-Bill Gates
I love this quote. In business, some of the most valuable lessons can be learned from failure. Success can be very rewarding, but it doesn’t show you your weaknesses. Failure is what shows you opportunities for improvement.
58. Favorite Entrepreneur Quote
"A business without order is unable to survive. But a business without disorder is incapable of evolving."
-Bernard Nadoulek
59. Best Entrepreneurship Quote
My favorite quote that I use on a regular basis is "Communication Wins Championships". As a former football player, I think my football coach, Cam Cameron, came up with this quote. With 11 players on the field, if the team doesn't communicate, then we will fail. In my business, I currently have 11 employees and stress the importance of communication through the channel on a regular basis.
60. My Favorite Quote
"Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the Ark, professionals built the Titanic."
-Anonymous
61. Quote for Entrepreneurs
"Do it or not. There is no try."
-Yoda
62. Entrepreneurship Quote
This isn't specifically an entrepreneurship quote, but the guiding line for my business has been "Be the change you want to see in the world." Sadly, I can't remember where I first heard it and though I was told it was something Gandhi said, it's actually a paraphrasing of his quote. When you run your company, you have a real and valuable opportunity to be a mover and shaker in the world. So when I conduct business, I focus on making sure it happens the way I would like other people to do it.
63. Take the Risk! Don't Quit!
“Achievement appears to be connected with action. Because successful men and women keep on moving. They make mistakes but they don’t quit.”
-From the famous hotelier and business mogul Conrad Hilton, founder of the international Hilton hotel chain.
Everyone feels like they are stuck in a rut sometimes, unable to move forward or do anything. That is true for entrepreneurs, as well. They take on all the risk to start a business, and on occasion, it may feel like it isn’t going anywhere.
64. Favorite Entrepreneur Quote
"If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business." –B. C. Forbes (Founder of Forbes)
65. It's Not for Everyone
"Entrepreneurship is not for everyone." -Guy Kawasaki
The more I walk the path of entrepreneurship, the more I realize Guy is right. Running a small business is not for the faint of heart. Yet, it's exhilarating, interesting, and a fit for me. I've had to learn that I'M not for everyone--I'm not the best fit for every client, and they aren't always the best fit for me. But, there's a meaningful synergy when you find the right places to apply your gifts and the right people with which to work.
66. Do the Right Thing
I came up with my own motto that inspires me every day: "Do the right thing for the right reasons and only the right thing can happen.”
67. Bring More "Good" to the World
The entrepreneurship quote that inspires me the most is by Jana Stanfield: "I cannot do all the good that the world needs, but the world needs all the good that I can do.” While I realize that my product is not changing the world, it is my contribution to bringing “good” to society… manufacturing in the USA and paying people enough; hiring developmentally disabled folk; giving a portion of my revenue to causes that make a difference in the world, and, ultimately, making people happier.
68. Follow Your Passion
My passion for jewelry design has been a driving factor in the success I have seen, and I feel that Albert Schweitzer's quote, “If you love what you are doing, you will be successful” perfectly describes my entrepreneurial journey. It is truly the excitement and emotion that comes with custom engagement ring design, for both me and my clients, that continues to drive me.
69. Design is How it Works
I love the quote by Steve Jobs: “Design is not just what it looks like. Design is how it works." When designing, our goal was to have a design element that not only looks good, but is easy to install, affordable, and a real room enhancer. Thankfully, we were able to accomplish all three and we'll keep on creating with this goal in mind.
70. Be Your Own SuperHero
"A great skincare product may change your skin, but if you change the way you feel about yourself, you can change the world!" -Daisy Jing
Thanks to: Daisy Jing of
Banish.
71. Most Inspirational Quote
“You will never write an extraordinary story until you realize you are the author.” -Anonymous
This is an incredible quote because it reminds me to enjoy my victories more and bounce back from my failures quickly. I know that even if there was a bit of perceived luck involved, it was my previous actions to inevitably lead to my victory. I am able to learn from my failures immediately because I take responsibility and reflect on how I could have
prevented the negative situation so it doesn't happen again.
72. Will Power
“Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, the mind can achieve.” –Dr. Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich. This is a very powerful affirmation that reminds us that where there’s a will, there’s always a way. It is inspiring, empowering and re-affirms that with action and dedication we can accomplish anything. This quote reinforces our ability to manifest success and wealth and to achieve BHAGs(Big Hairy Audacious Goals) that we would otherwise not have the courage to pursue.
73. Superwomen
"Superwomen find their voice by using it." -Maggie Georgopoulos, owner of MAGS Inspires Ltd
I like this quote because I believe it sums it up beautifully. If you are quiet, you don’t get heard and you don’t get seen. Whether it is as a women climbing the corporate ladder or one setting out to make the best of your own business venture, it is not about how much you do, it is about what you say and to whom.
Do you know a great entrepreneurship quote that wasn’t included? Please share it below. And as always, many thanks to everyone that contributed to this article!