14 Motivational Business Quotes That Will Keep You Pushing Forward
Starting a business is often stimulating, at least at the beginning. You’re full of motivation and perseverance to overcome any obstacle, which helps you push through any setbacks you encounter.
Unfortunately, for many entrepreneurs, that spark can fade over time. As you go from startup to established business, the struggles you face will change, and excitement can turn into drudgery.
If you’re feeling less motivated now than when you first started, we’re here to help. Here are 14 motivational business quotes that will help keep you pushing forward. Use them wisely.
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14 Motivational Quotes to Reignite That Spark
“Instead of freaking out about these constraints, embrace them. Let them guide you. Constraints drive innovation and force focus. Instead of trying to remove them, use them to your advantage.” – 37 Signals (aka Basecamp)
Sometimes, restrictions and setbacks are good things. If you didn’t have to overcome obstacles, you might never discover a better solution. Creativity thrives under pressure, so don’t try to avoid it. Leaning into those constraints can help you push farther than you might have thought possible.
"If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door." -Milton Berle
No one is going to hand you a bag of money and the lifestyle you want. As an entrepreneur, you have to make your success happen. While it would be nice to coast on your accomplishments, the fact is that there will always be new challenges to face. If you’re not proactive, you can fall behind.
“Some people dream of success, while other people get up every morning and make it happen.” – Wayne Huizenga, founder of AutoNation
This quote piggybacks on the idea of the one above. If you want your company to thrive, you need to put in the work. Yes, it can feel grueling and laborious at times, but that’s the price of success. If you’re not invested in your business, who else will be?
"I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance." - Steve Jobs
You will have every opportunity to quit. When things start to fall apart, or you feel like you’ve lost your motivation, the idea of quitting will seem pleasant and attractive. However, if you gave up, would you be at peace or full of regret? Perseverance in the face of adversity is a compelling virtue, both in business and your personal life.
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.” - Robert H. Schuller, motivational speaker
No matter how lackluster your energy for the job might seem right now, it will pass. Tough times always pass eventually. If you can keep your head up and push forward, you’ll reach a better point down the road. It’s just hard to see when you’re bogged down.
“Try, fail, repeat.” – Yali Saar, CEO of Tailor Brands
Failure is an essential part of life. You need to embrace failure and let it guide you instead of bringing you down. You may fail 100 times, but as long as you start again 101 times, you will wind up on top.
"If people are doubting how far you can go, go so far that you can't hear them anymore." - Michelle Ruiz, journalist and author
Sometimes, the spark can get diminished by other people trying to hold you back. When you have to face adversity from others, it can seem like the whole world is against you. This quote illustrates the benefit of moving forward despite what the naysayers tell you. Once you reach that goal, their words will drift away, like tears in the rain.
"Remember why you started." - Unknown
The further you are from the beginning of your journey, the harder it is to stay focused on what drove your passion in the first place. In many cases, entrepreneurs forget why they started, making their work feel exhausting and unending. By recapturing that ambitious spirit, you can reignite your spark.
“In the real world, the smartest people are people who make mistakes and learn. In school, the smartest people don’t make mistakes.” – Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad
As they say, experience is the best teacher. No matter how many missteps you may make, you can let them guide you on a better path forward.
"You never lose in business; either you win, or you learn." - Melinda Emerson, business coach
Reframing loss and setbacks as learning opportunities can help you overcome them more easily. Yes, a failure or costly mistake can feel overwhelming at first, but you can’t let it define you. This quote shows the value of a growth mindset instead of a fixed one.
“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred with dust and sweat; who strives valiantly, who errs and may fall again and again, because there is no effort without error or shortcoming.” - Teddy Roosevelt
Simply put, you can’t reach the top without a little blood, sweat, and tears. The more scars you have, the more your success will feel deserved and earned.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” – Confucius
One reason why you might feel less enthusiastic about your business is that you’ve lost a lot of that startup momentum. In the beginning, everything moves so fast that it’s hard to keep up. Over time, you’ll settle into a routine that can feel boring. Even if you’re only making incremental strides, something is better than nothing. have, the more your success will feel deserved and earned.
“An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew, hoping he’ll quickly learn how to chew it.” - Roy Ash, founder of Litton Industries
Once again, a growth mindset can help you achieve success where others might give up. Learning how to adapt to changes can help you overcome any obstacle, even internal ones.
“It’s not the load that breaks you down; it’s the way you carry it.” – Lou Holtz, football player
Finally, life can put a lot of heavy burdens on your shoulders. If you focus on the weight, you might collapse. If you shift your perspective, you can lighten the load and make it easier to carry.
Bottom Line: You're in Control Over Your Spark - Don't Let it Go Out
Hopefully, at least one of these quotes will speak to the position you’re in right now and make you feel more motivated. Whether you’re questioning your abilities or are just looking for something new and different, remember that you are in charge of your destiny. No one else can make these decisions for you – you’re in control. As long as you can find a path forward, you can figure out a way to walk it.
Do you want to build and maintain new habits? Get your free PDF version of the Don't Break The Chain calendar and start today!
Do you want to build and maintain new habits? Get your free PDF version of the Don't Break The Chain calendar and start today!
Author's Bio
Jessica Chapman is a writing editor from Chicago who enjoys traveling. She works with Australian Writings, and if you need programming assignment help, she is the best person you can ask. She is also into politics and sports.
