Looking for a little inspiration to jumpstart your day? Look no further than these 50 inspirational business quotes from some of the world's most successful and influential people.
Whether you're seeking motivation to tackle a new project, navigate a challenging situation, or simply stay focused on your goals, these quotes are sure to provide the inspiration and encouragement you need to keep pushing forward.
So, without further ado, let's dive into these powerful words of wisdom!
Enjoy!
50 Inspirational Business Quotes
1. "The biggest risk is not taking any risk." - Mark Zuckerberg
Quote N°1 explained
When Mark Zuckerberg said, "The biggest risk is not taking any risk," he was essentially saying that if you don't take any risks in life, you won't grow or achieve anything meaningful.
In other words, if you always play it safe and never venture outside of your comfort zone, you might miss out on opportunities for personal or professional growth.
Taking risks can really be scary and uncertain, but it's often necessary for achieving success and reaching your goals.
Zuckerberg's quote is a reminder that sometimes it's better to take a chance and see where it leads, rather than always playing it safe and never knowing what could have been. So, don't be afraid to take some calculated risks and leave your comfort zone, because that's where growth and progress often happen.
2. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
3. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
4. "Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
5. "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it." - Estée Lauder
Quote N°5 explained
When Estée Lauder said, "I never dreamed about success. I worked for it," she was essentially saying that success doesn't just come to those who dream about it or wish for it - it's something that has to be earned through hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
Simply having aspirations and goals isn't enough to achieve success. You have to put in the effort and take action towards making those aspirations a reality. Success requires consistent effort, discipline, and a willingness to overcome obstacles and challenges along the way.
Success isn't something that is handed to you on a silver platter; it's something that you have to actively pursue and work hard for. So, if you have dreams and aspirations of your own, remember that they won't become a reality unless you're willing to put in the effort and work towards making them happen.
6. "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
7."If you want to achieve greatness, stop asking for permission." - Unknown
8. "I attribute my success to this: I never gave or took any excuse." - Florence Nightingale
9. "Believe you can and you're halfway there." - Theodore Roosevelt
10. "The most important thing is to be true to yourself and those you love and to work hard." - Anna Wintour
Quote N°10 explained
When Anna Wintour said, "The most important thing is to be true to yourself and those you love and to work hard," she was essentially saying that in order to lead a fulfilling life, it's important to stay true to yourself and your values, and to put in the effort and hard work required to achieve your goals.
Anna Wintour is emphasizing the importance of authenticity, integrity, and diligence. She believes that it's crucial to remain true to your personal beliefs and values, as well as to the people who matter most to you, such as your family and close friends. Additionally, she stresses the importance of hard work, recognizing that success doesn't come without putting in the necessary effort.
Wintour's quote is remind us that living a meaningful and fulfilling life requires a combination of staying true to yourself, nurturing your relationships, and working hard towards your goals and stay focusued. By embodying these principles, you can create a life that is authentic, purposeful, and rewarding.
11. "The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams." - Eleanor Roosevelt
12. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
13. "If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they have planned for you? Not much." - Jim Rohn
14. "Believe in yourself and all that you are. Know that there is something inside you that is greater than any obstacle." - Christian D. Larson
15. "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela
Quote N° 15 explained
When Nelson Mandela said, "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall," he was essentially saying that true greatness and achievement doesn't come from never experiencing failure, but rather from the ability to persevere and rise up again after falling.
He is emphasizing the importance of resilience and determination in the face of adversity. He recognizes that everyone experiences setbacks and failures in life, but what truly matters is how we respond to those challenges. Rather than being defined by our failures, we should strive to use them as opportunities to learn, grow, and become stronger.
Success isn't defined by how many times we fall down, but rather by how many times we get back up. By cultivating resilience and determination, we can overcome even the greatest challenges and achieve greatness in our lives.
16. "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." - Thomas Edison
17. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: It is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
18. "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Albert Schweitzer
19. "I'm convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance." - Steve Jobs
20. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
Quote N° 20 explained
When Steve Jobs, the co-founder of Apple, said "The only way to do great work is to love what you do," he was emphasizing the importance of passion and enthusiasm in achieving greatness in your work.
Steve Jobs believed that if you truly love what you do, you're more likely to put in the effort, time, and dedication required to excel and achieve success in your ventures.
When you're passionate about your work, it doesn't feel like a chore - it's something that you enjoy doing and that brings you a sense of fulfillment and purpose. When you love what you do, you're more likely to be innovative, creative, and driven to push the boundaries and achieve new heights.
To achieve greatness in your work, it's not enough to simply be good at what you do - you also need to have a genuine passion and love for it.
By pursuing work that you're truly passionate about, you can unlock your potential and achieve success that goes beyond just a paycheck.
21. "It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen." - Scott Belsky
22. "If you're not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business." - Ray Kroc
23. "If you're not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late." - Reid Hoffman
24. "The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new." - Socrates
25. "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today." - Will Rogers
Quote N° 25 explained
When Will Rogers, the American actor and humorist, said "Don't let yesterday take up too much of today," he was emphasizing the importance of living in the present and not dwelling too much on past mistakes or regrets.
Will Rogers is encouraging us to focus on the here and now, rather than being consumed by negative thoughts or emotions from the past. He recognizes that it's easy to get caught up in regret, guilt, or disappointment over past actions or decisions, but doing so can prevent us from fully enjoying and making the most of the present moment.
We can't change the past, but we do have control over our thoughts and actions in the present. By letting go of past mistakes and focusing on the opportunities and possibilities of today, we can create a better future for ourselves. So, don't let the mistakes or regrets of yesterday hold you back - focus on the present moment and make the most of it.
26. "Success is not the absence of failure; it's the persistence through failure." - Aisha Tyler
27. "Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower." - Steve Jobs
28. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." - Wayne Gretzky
29. "Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning." - Bill Gates
30. "Done is better than perfect." - Sheryl Sandberg
Quote N° 30 explained
When Sheryl Sandberg said "Done is better than perfect," she was emphasizing the importance of taking action and making progress, even if it means accepting imperfections along the way.
In other words, Sandberg is acknowledging that it's easy to get bogged down in the pursuit of perfection, which can sometimes lead to delays, missed opportunities, or even failure. Instead, she believes that it's better to focus on getting things done and making progress, even if it means that things aren't 100% perfect as they should.
Sandberg's quote is a reminder that sometimes, the pursuit of perfection can actually hold us back from achieving our goals.
By accepting imperfections and focusing on progress, we can take action towards achieving our objectives and making a real difference, rather than getting stuck in an endless cycle of perfectionism.
Her beautiful quote encourages us to embrace a mindset of progress over perfection, recognizing that taking action and making progress, even if it's not perfect, is ultimately what leads to success.
31. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
32. "You can't build a reputation on what you are going to do." - Henry Ford
33. "If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time." - Steve Jobs
34. "A goal without a plan is just a wish." - Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
35. "The biggest challenge in business is not the competition, it's what goes on inside your own head." - Barbara Corcoran
Quote N° 35 explained
Barbara Corcoran was emphasizing the importance of mindset and the role that our own thoughts and beliefs can play in determining our own success.
While there may be external challenges and competitors to contend with in business, our own internal thoughts, beliefs, and fears can often be the biggest obstacle to achieving our goals. Negative self-talk, limiting beliefs, and self-doubt can all hold us back from taking calculated risks, pursuing opportunities, and achieving success.
To succeed in business, it's important to cultivate a positive and growth-oriented mindset. By recognizing and overcoming our own internal barriers and limitations, we can build the confidence and resilience needed to overcome external challenges and competition.
The author of the quote highlights the importance of self-awareness and the role that our own thoughts and beliefs play in determining our success in business and in life. By cultivating a positive mindset, we can achieve great things and overcome even the toughest challenges.
36. "The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary." - Vidal Sassoon
37. "The best way to predict the future is to create it." - Peter Drucker
38. "If you don't value your time, neither will others. Stop giving away your time and talents. Value what you know and start charging for it." - Kim Garst
39. "Success is not in what you have, but who you are." - Bo Bennett
40. "You don't have to be great to start, but you have to start to be great." - Zig Ziglar
Quote N° 40 explained
This quote means that you don't need to have all the skills, knowledge, or resources to be successful when you start something new. What's important is that you take the first step and begin the process of learning and improving. By starting, you open yourself up to the possibility of becoming great.
The quote is meant to inspire people to take action and not let fear or self-doubt hold them back from pursuing their goals.
In essence, the quote is saying that it's not necessary to have everything perfectly lined up before starting a new endeavor. You may not feel ready, confident or experienced enough to succeed, but the act of starting is what ultimately sets you on the path to greatness. It's about taking that first step towards your goal, regardless of how small it may be, and building momentum from there.
41. "The greatest danger for most of us is not that our aim is too high and we miss it, but that it is too low and we reach it." - Michelangelo
42. "Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful." - Herman Cain
43. "The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will." - Vince Lombardi
44. "I never dreamed about success, I worked for it." - Estée Lauder
45. "The only limit to our realization of tomorrow will be our doubts of today." - Franklin D. Roosevelt
Quote N° 40 explained
This quote from Franklin D. Roosevelt is all about the role that self-doubt and lack of confidence can play in limiting our potential for success. Roosevelt is suggesting that our own doubts and fears about what we can achieve can become a self-fulfilling prophecy, preventing us from reaching our desired goals and realizing our dreams.
The wonderful quote is a powerful reminder for all of us, that we are often our own worst enemies when it comes to achieving success. It encourages us to believe in ourselves, to have faith in our abilities, and to take action towards our goals, even in the face of uncertainty and self-doubt.
At its core, this quote is a call to action to overcome our fears and to take control of our own destiny. It reminds us that we have the power to create a better future for ourselves and our loved ones, but that we must first have the courage and confidence to take the necessary steps towards achieving our goals. Ultimately, it's about taking responsibility for our own success and refusing to let our doubts and fears hold us back from achieving our full potential. Never quit!
46. "The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." - Nelson Mandela
47. "The only way to do great work is to love what you do." - Steve Jobs
48. "Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts." - Winston Churchill
49. "Success is stumbling from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm." - Winston Churchill
50. "The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus." - Bruce Lee
Thanks for reading,
Laurence Zimmermann
More information about our Web Design services and pricing here.
