What's one inspiring quote you live by as an entrepreneur?
When you've taken the leap to start a business, when you're down, when you're busy, and when you're stressed. What was the one quote that helped you become a better entrepreneur?
Your customer is your compass.
As a woman, I love the quote from Eleanor Roosevelt which says “A woman is like a tea bag – you can’t tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water”.
Both as a TV journalist or now as a business woman I’ve had to find that inner strength many times and that quote reminds me that resilience and determination wins out.
Interestingly, my other favourite quote comes from Eleanor Roosevelt’s husband, US President Theodore Roosevelt.
He talks about criticism in his famous daring greatly speech and says “the credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena”.
Once you’re in the arena you’re opening yourself up to comment and criticism by those who aren’t brave enough to step in and what I’ve realised is that they aren’t the people you need to waste time worrying about.
"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."
Said in the movie: Inception
Said by character: Eames
There Is No Such Thing As Failure... There Is Only Feedback. Take It and Run With It!
Henry Ford said - 'whether you believe you can or you believe you can't (achieve something) either way you are right.'
It always seems impossible until it is done.
I think it was by Nelson Mandela.
The day I stop learning is the day I do.
My grandmother told me this when I was 14 years old.
For me, this is more a way of thinking than a quote:
"Focus on the things you can change."
You cannot do much about the rest :)
'If opportunity doesn't knock... build a door'. I think this is what it's all about. Always looking for opportunities to connect, grow, make a difference. Love reading what inspires you @Bridget Puszka @Jill Brennan @Leisa Goddard @Maini Homer @Malcolm Dawes @Jef Lippiatt @Kathie Thomas @Phil Khor @Yee Trinh @Daniel Spark @Marcus Tjen @Jef Lippiatt @Tom Valcanis
My favourite quote of all time, as a human being not simply as an entrepreneur. Also, my favourite musical! (although this quote is from the book) Anyone know which it is? ;)
"Daring is the price of progress. All splendid conquests are the prize of boldness, more or less. For the Revolution to happen it was not enough that Montesquieu predicted it, that Diderot preached it, that Beaumarchais announced it, that Condorcet planned it, that Arouet paved the way for it, that Rousseau dreamed of it - it needed Danton to dare it.
The cry, 'Boldness!', is a Fiat Lux. If mankind is to advance there must be installed permanently at the head of its columns proud instances of courage. Acts of daring light the pages of history and the soul of man. The sunrise is an act of daring. To venture, to defy, to persevere, to be true to one's self, to grapple with destiny, to dismay calamity by not being afraid of it, to challenge now unrighteous powers and now victory run wild, to stand fast and hold firm - these are the examples that the peoples need, the spark that electrifies them. The same formidable lightnings issue from the torch of Prometheus and the raucous bellow of Cambronne."
From The Meditations of Marcus Aurelius, which is permanently bookmarked in my copy:
"At dawn, when you have trouble getting out of bed, tell yourself: “I have to go to work — as a human being. What do I have to complain of, if I’m going to do what I was born for — the things I was brought into the world to do? Or is this what I was created for? To huddle under the blankets and stay warm?”
— But it’s nicer in here…
So you were born to feel “nice”? Instead of doing things and experiencing them? Don’t you see the plants, the birds, the ants and spiders and bees going about their individual tasks, putting the world in order, as best they can? And you’re not willing to do your job as a human being? Why aren’t you running to do what your nature demands?
— But we have to sleep sometime…
Agreed. But nature set a limit on that — as it did on eating and drinking. And you’re over the limit. You’ve had more than enough of that. But not of working. There you’re still below your quota.
You don’t love yourself enough. Or you’d love your nature too, and what it demands of you. People who love what they do wear themselves down doing it, they even forget to wash or eat. Do you have less respect for your own nature than the engraver does for engraving, the dancer for the dance, the miser for money or the social climber for status? When they’re really possessed by what they do, they’d rather stop eating and sleeping than give up practicing their arts. (emphasis mine)
Is helping others less valuable to you? Not worth your effort?
