The 26 Ultimate Inspirational Quotes from Successful Entrepreneurs

Entrepreneurs are a hard-working and brave lot. Think about it: they have the cojones to start businesses in the face of turbulent economic conditions, are constantly brainstorming to solve problems in new ways, and withstand tons of adversity. Yet, they still come out on the other end as thriving survivors.

Their power resides in their unrelenting tenacity. Their drive to keep a business alive. To make a better life for themselves and their families. Entrepreneurs are all heart.

But I’m going to let you in on a little secret: even the most successful entrepreneurs are completely human. They have failures and make mistakes. There are days where they are filled with doubt and feel fraudulent. Even the most prominent and renowned professional sometimes needs a pick-me-up or a gentle nudge to get them over a hump.

Been feeling stifled or frustrated by your business lately? Now’s your chance to be revived. Here are thirty-four inspirational quotes from entrepreneurs who know exactly what you’re going through.

Motivation

1.”To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.”
— Thomas Watson, Sr., former CEO, IBM

2. “Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.”
– Oprah Winfrey, media proprietor

3. “There’s nothing wrong with staying small. You can do big things with a small team.”
– Jason Fried, founder of 37signal

4. “Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.”
– Howard Schultz, CEO Starbucks

5. “When I’m old and dying, I plan to look back on my life and say ‘wow, that was an adventure,’ not ‘wow, I sure felt safe.’”
– Tom Preston-Werner, Github co-founder

6. “Embrace what you don’t know, especially in the beginning, because what you don’t know can become your greatest asset. It ensures that you will absolutely be doing things different from everybody else.”
– Sara Blakely, founder SPANX

7. “We led with our conviction rather than rational, because rational said it was impossible.”
– Daniel Ek, co-founder and CEO Spotify

8. “If you’ve got an idea, start today. There’s no better time than now to get going. That doesn’t mean quit your job and jump into your idea 100 percent from day one, but there’s always small progress that can be made to start the movement.”
– Kevin Systrom, Instagram

Mistakes and Failure

9. “Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom.”
― William George Jordan, writer/editor

10. “Recognize that there will be failures, and acknowledge that there will be obstacles. But you will learn from your mistakes and the mistakes of others, for there is very little learning in success.”
– Michael Dell, founder and CEO Dell Inc.

11. “Failure is an option here. If things are not failing, you are not innovating enough.”
– Elon Musk, founder, CEO and CTO of SpaceX; co-founder, CEO and product architect of Tesla Motors

12. “Everyone has ideas. They may be too busy or lack the confidence or technical ability to carry them out. But I want to carry them out. It is a matter of getting up and doing it.”
– James Dyson, inventor of Dyson Vacuum

13. “The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement. The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow”
– Ingvar Kamprad, founder Ikea

14. “Failure is not about insecurity, it’s about lack of execution.”
– Jeffery Gitomer, business trainer

15. “Show me a person who never made a mistake, and I will show you a person who never did anything.”
– William Rosenberg, founder Dunkin’ Donuts

16. “Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”
– Napoleon Hill, author

Running a Business

17. “Wonder what your customer really wants? Ask. Don’t tell.”
– Lisa Stone, co-founder and CEO BlogHer

18. “I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody.”
– Herbert B. Swope, American Journalist

19. “The minute you’re satisfied with where you are, you aren’t there anymore.”
– Tony Gwynn, Hall of Fame Baseball player

20. “Make your team feel respected, empowered and genuinely excited about the company’s mission.”
– Tim Westergen, Pandora Founder

21. “Happy employees lead to happy customers, which leads to more profits.”
— Vaughn Aust, EVP of Integrated Solutions, MarketStar

22. “I think not focusing on money makes you sane, because in the long run it can probably drive you crazy.”
– Kevin Systrom, co-founder and CEO Instagram

23. “Micromanage the process, not the people.”
– Joe Apfelbaum, Ajax Union

24. “Employees who are controlled cannot respond caringly, you need superior knowledge and real leadership, not management. Because of this we specifically developed a selection process for leaders; we don’t hire managers.”
– Horst Schulze, Former Ritz Carlton President

25. “Employees want to feel inspired by their leaders…hire individuals who will lead by example.”
— Jody Kohner, VP of Employee Marketing & Engagement, Salesforce

26. “Your ability to communicate is an important tool in your pursuit of your goals, whether it is with your family, your co-workers or your clients and customers.”
– Les Brown, Author and Motivational Speaker