35 Short Motivational Quotes For Success In Entrepreneurship And Small Business

One of the things we all want and should always strive for is to find success in life.

Life comes with its ups and downs, so who doesn’t need that extra push from a trusted friend, family member, or influential people to make it to the top?

We hope you draw inspiration from these quotes and that you’ll find the content helpful as you continue on your entrepreneurial journey.

The thoughts we have each day matter.

Our thoughts and beliefs affect how we perform. They’re the foundation of our success as an entrepreneur, manager or leader.

If you need some inspiration to get you through the day, these quotes will help you push through my most challenging moments, and with the right attitude, you can conquer anything! So, without much ado, below is a list of the best motivational quotes.

Without this motivational quote by Zig Ziglar, our list of the best motivational quotes would have been incomplete.

Why you may ask?

Simply because it informs you that your motivation doesn’t last.

It’s for this reason that we recommend you restore your motivation daily. After all, there is no better investment than in yourself!

So when you’re feeling unmotivated, try to remember why you started this quest in the first place. For example, think about how much happier you will be when your business succeeds or how amazing it’ll feel to have a healthy body.

Zig Ziglar quote

Although you need people to boost your motivation, true motivation can only come from within.

It’s the only motivation that comes from within that can drive you to get to the point where you want to be in your life.

When your motivation is coming from within, you’ll easily overcome the challenges that will be thrown your way. You should be able to motivate yourself if you want to be successful in whatever you do.

Quote by Stephen Covey

It’s important to remember that when you’re doing something, you should do it with passion. If you like what you do, then the task becomes much enjoyable.

Even when times are tough, you know what they say, “Life is too short to be serious all the time.” So make sure you enjoy yourself as much as possible on your way to success.

I’ve read that a successful person usually works harder than someone else. Therefore I think it’s important to set goals when you have a big project. You should shoot for the moon, but if you miss, at least you’ll land on the stars!

Quote by Dale Carnegie

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned in life is that I was not built just to stay safe in a harbor but to navigate in the deep seas and oceans of life while living life at its fullest.

Most of the time, we like to play it safe and not go out of our comfort zone because there is a chance of failure. We are afraid that we might never succeed.

That’s why we prefer to enjoy the safety provided by the “harbors” in our lives.

However, once we get out of our comfort zone, we can experience the thrill of life and might even become very successful. That is precisely how successful people enjoy tremendous success.

Quote by William G.T Shedd

This is one of the best inspirational quotes that will change how you perceive some things around you.

When you want to change yourself and everything around you, you should start by changing your mind. There is no way that you can be able to change things when your thoughts remain the same.

When you get rid of all the evil thoughts and replace them with good ones, you’ll be able to make yourself better. You’ll make significant changes that will make everything better for you.

If you refuse to change your mind, on the other hand, everything will remain the same. You’ll not be able to do anything that will create a positive change.

Quote by George Bernard Shaw

Life is about making the most of every day, and that’s what we ought to love about it.

This quote reminds us that life is full of surprises. Sometimes, we may fail, but as long as we don’t give up, there will always be a next time to try again.

Quote by Lolly Daskal

When I think about John Lennon’s quote, I get confused, most likely just like you’re right now. Aren’t we supposed to make plans? Don’t you and I live, right?

So, what is John trying to tell us?

Then it all dawns on me; it’s a paradox.

We all enjoy the present moment, yet we can’t help but make future plans or clamor on missed opportunities that passed us by.

As much as you and I need to be secure about the future by planning for it, the actual experience of being alive goes beyond these plans. After all, things do tend to change.

I let life happen. You, too, should.

We should get rid of the “What If” mentality and let our fears disappear.

This simple awareness of the present makes a big difference.

Quote by John Lennon

In life, there are a limitless number of things we can achieve.

However, as things always turn out, not all of us stand tall. Obstacles stand in our way. How do we overcome them? Should we be put off by any setback?

No, we shouldn’t!

I will share with you Steve’s story that relates to this quote.

Below, he narrates his personal experience. . .

When I graduated from University with a degree in computer science, I knew what I wanted to do with my life. I wanted to do what I love, i.e., writing programs and web designing.

I started applying for IT jobs advertised by Companies.

Although I was delighted to be invited for interviews, recruiters had an issue with my experience. It put me behind other potential employees who did get experience.

You already know that experience is the biggest obstacle many University graduates face when looking for their dream jobs.

As the days went by, I really had to find some means of earning an income. So I decided to test my web designing and programming skills by signing up for an account with a freelance website.

Here I was with no experience searching online for freelance programming and web designing jobs.

Would I make it?

Five years on, and I’m a testimony that my love for writing programs and web designing is all that made a difference in my career. I honed my skills while working for different clients, gained experience, and I’m still making money online freelancing.

The lesson of the story; Steve didn’t give up on doing what he loved doing just because recruiters had an issue with his experience.

Quote by Ella Fitzgerald

It’s a good idea to know what you want, but it’s also okay if you’re unsure. You don’t need to rush into making decisions because nothing is going to happen until you do.

Happiness is one of the essential things in life, but true happiness is hard to find. You can’t just wish for it or expect it to fall into your lap. Sometimes you have to put in the effort and work hard, and true happiness will come to those who vehemently seek it.

Abraham Lincoln quote

The following personal experience story is told by Becky.

When I was in University while pursuing my master’s, there was a time when I almost gave up. This was when my final year project was rejected.

I was stressed, and I felt like dropping out of University. But, after discussing with my friends, they advised me to go back to the department and request a chance to change the topic of my project.

This had many consequences. I had to wait for 8 months before my project would be assessed.

Fortunately, my request was granted. After that, I spent 8 months working on a new project, and finally, I was assessed, after which I graduated.

During the graduation ceremony, I met some of my friends who advised me to change the topic of my project, and they were delighted to see me graduate.

Other students had problems with their final year projects, and they gave up. And up to date, they have not graduated.

Life is full of challenges, but this motivational quote by Thomas Edison is there to remind us not to give up. Eventually, when we persist, we end up achieving success.

Quote by Thomas Edison

When you really want to achieve a goal, you have to follow the steps to help you achieve it.

You must be willing to work.

Nothing will come to us if we continue to sit there and do nothing.

When we’re willing to work to achieve a goal, it will just be a matter of time before we actually achieve it. But, first, we have to give up everything stopping us from getting what we want.

It will be much easier for us to achieve our goal when we let go of everything holding us back. So instead of sitting there and wishing good things to happen, set up your goal today and start pursuing it.

Remember, it’s the little things that we do daily that will actually take you to the place where you want to be in life.

Trina Paulus Inspirational Quotes

You will never succeed if you don’t try, and that’s why we need to start engaging in activities that will help us achieve the things we want to do.

If you want to be great, then expect greatness.

I firmly believe that positive energy is the key to positive actions. Therefore, we should spread this idea so people can be free of worries and live in happiness.

Quote by Michael Jordan

There is nothing more important in this life than doing what you love. So, do you love your job? For the time being, save that answer!

You see, when we do what we love, we’ll not only be successful but tend to also enjoy a feeling of satisfaction. But, most important, we won’t feel like we are working.

It’s a fact that those people who love what they’re doing never give up regardless of the challenges they encounter. Your happy life will start when you discover what you love, and you focus on it.

Some people believe that success will bring them happiness.

However, when we carefully look around, we’ll discover that many people are considered successful but not really happy with their lives.

When you stop chasing the money and do what you love to do very well, it’s the money that will start chasing after you.

You’ll always be happy to wake up every day to go and do what you enjoy doing.

Like other best motivational quotes, this quote by Albert Schweitzer will inspire you today to do what you love doing.

Quote by Albert Schweitzer

You’ll probably agree that quotes by Aristotle are some of the best motivational quotes for success. So let’s now discuss this quote briefly.

Social interaction is part of everyday life since we are surrounded by people wherever we go. This entails both positive and negative influences from peers, colleagues, friends, and family.

The same goes with the new media, where information and ideas sprout endlessly. It can sometimes be inevitable that external factors like various opinions, actions, events, and words we read, hear or see can affect our decisions and thoughts.

Careful consideration and critical thinking are essential to maintain our own standpoint while respecting other people’s views.

We can listen to what they say, but we must learn to say no if we reject it while still keeping an open mind.

Before making decisions, it’s best to consider facts, logic, and reasoning rather than simply going with the trend. But, most importantly, we must act with what complies with our own standards and beliefs, which everyone is bound to respect as well.

Quote by Aristotle

If you want something in life, all you have to do is go out and try your best by learning and modeling from the best.

Of course, we can’t be naive; life will present its good and bad times. Therefore we shouldn’t have to feel discouraged because we’re not geniuses.

As long as we put in the hard work, determination, and effort required to become the best, I promise that it’ll pay off one day, and you’ll be successful.

Walt Disney, one of the most famous and passionate people in history, was a man who always was willing to share his thoughts and ideas with others. You might want to read some of his best motivational words and inspirational quotes.

Quote by Walt Disney

Most of the time, we do things because we hope to take the plaudits from our bosses, parents, and teachers at the end of it all.

However, one of the best motivational quotes about accomplishments and who gets the credit lends a fresh perspective to how we look at things.

I have found that I can achieve as much as I want without caring if I walk away with accolades or not.

After all, what really matters is that things get done, and whoever does them is unimportant aside from a story of epic human achievement.

Quote by Harry S. Truman

I know you have read some of the best motivational quotes, but have you taken your time to interpret this motivational quote by Napoleon Hill? Don’t bother to do it now, here is the interpretation. . .

One of the best ways to achieve success is to learn from someone already successful. For this reason, you might want to check out successful people in a field you want to succeed in.

For example, you might want to check biographies of the entrepreneurs behind big and successful companies. Find out what they have in common.

Here is a bit of a shortcut; most wealthy people would claim they never did it just because of the money and that they didn’t start their journey with a wish or hope.

The most successful people claim to have started with a burning desire.

When you start a journey to achieve success, you’ll need something more than a vision. You need a reason so big that it becomes a burning desire.

Once you find that burning desire, everything will fall into place.

It’s the burning desire that gets you to the ends of the world to find the answer. It’s another way of saying – if the “Why” is big enough, the “How” will take care of itself.

Quote by Napoleon Hill

Only by loving what you do can you truly accomplish great things.

There are many advantages to working in a job that you love. First, you’re much happier when you go to work each day. Second, you also get more done because it’s much easier to focus and be productive when you like what you do.

If you’re not sure what to do with your life, don’t give up.

There are a lot of possibilities for people who love solving problems and making things better. So keep searching until you find something that excites you!

Quote by Steve Jobs

In life, we all face disappointments in different ways and react to the same in different ways. For example, we might get angry, lose hope, give up or accept and move on during these challenging times.

Disappointments could be a minor mishap during an important event in our life, or we just got fired, or maybe, someone special didn’t reciprocate our feelings.

How should we deal with disappointments in our lives?

We should always learn that in life, things don’t always unfold in the right way.

In fact, one’s best success comes after their greatest disappointments.

How ready you’re to conquer and persevere after a disappointment is what brings success. Disappointments should motivate us towards a cause.

They’re the reason why we are likely to shine tomorrow and not today.

Quote by Henry Ward Beecher

If you’re searching for the best motivational quotes to inspire you not to lose your enthusiasm, then this is the quote you should read today.

Here is a story told by Jack; relate it with this quote by Winston Churchill.

After graduating from college, I decided to venture into a business. I was to rent a space where I would operate the business from.

The person to who I gave the money turned out not to be the actual owner. So I was deceived. Part of the capital, which I had set aside to pay as the rent was gone.

I managed to rent another space, this time being more careful to deal with the owner.

I ran the business making mistakes for six months, but I learned a lot from my mistakes. I came up with a strategy that saw my business gain a competitive advantage.

Unfortunately, as sales increased each month, flames broke out at the next shop, destroying all the other shops around, including mine.

All of my stock was entirely destroyed by fire.

I resisted the spirit of giving up and talked to my brother about the issue. He agreed to loan me some money so that I start my shop again. I opened the retail shop at another location.

At first, I had few customers. This meant the profit was not enough.

So I decided to do market research.

I included the best-selling items in my area of operation. Now my business is among the best in my neighborhood. As a result, I’m planning to expand my business.

Quote by Winston Churchill

A person with the right attitude can do anything they set their heart on to accomplish.

The best mindset for reaching our goals is to remain positive and take action. Then, once you achieve your goal, work hard to keep it.

Not many people know this, but the strangest secret to success is to have a great time failing. If you fail, don’t be too hard on yourself. I mean, let’s face it: failure is a part of life. The best thing you can do is learn from your mistakes and try again!

Quote by Thomas Jefferson

Albert Einstein was the crème de la crème of science in his day. Yet, he firmly believed in the relentless power of dreams.

He did not dismiss illusions as mere figments of our imagination.

In my day-to-day activities, I sometimes find myself staring straight into the face of despair. I get to a point where everything I believe in seems surreal.

However, I’m motivated by the thought that the images that cross my mind can actually be actualized and that my thought process is capable of conjuring the seemingly impossible and turning it into reality through persistence.

In a world fraught with loss and despair, I find it incredibly sobering that one of the greatest minds in science believed firmly in the power of faith and determination.

It also helps to know that to succeed, all you have to do is to dream, create an illusion of success and keep at it until you obtain what you set out to achieve.

Quote by Albert Einstein

“I was motivated by my friend who shared a video on a social media site.

The person featured in that video explained how he started a small business. With time, he could make enough money to start the car dealership business, which, in my opinion, required a lot of money in terms of capital.

So instead, I decided to try farming on my up-country farm.

I was involved in horticulture. After one year, I took a loan which helped me to expand my farming activity. I bought two commercial greenhouses, and I went the extra mile to learn how to use technology in farming.

I also use the internet to gather helpful information. For example, I linked up with other agricultural entrepreneurs to reap many benefits, including influencing the market, mentorship, and financial support.

Instead of depending on rainfall, and luckily my farm being near a river that is not seasonal, I invested part of the profits in a drip irrigation system to supply water in my farm where it is needed.

After five years of active involvement in horticulture, I’m now earning a decent income. I have managed to buy a condo. I’m still aiming for significant investments.

Josphat’s story illustrates that there is nothing impossible to achieve if only we decide to develop confidence in ourselves. There is no doubt this quote is among the list of best motivational quotes that remind us to never give up the belief that we can’t achieve that which we set to do.

Quote by Robert Anthony

One way to achieve excellence is by facing our fears. By doing this, we learn that it’s okay to be scared sometimes – and that anxiety can be a good thing!

Next time you’re afraid to do something, remember that the things we’re most scared of doing often end up being the best thing that ever happened to us.

If you’re afraid that you lack talent, let us remind ourselves that there are people out there who have worked hard to get where they are today, and it’s because of their dedication that they’re successful.

Quote by Ralph Waldo Emerson

If you want to succeed in life, personal development is a must. Therefore, you must continuously improve yourself in each possible way you can.

One of the crucial things we must develop is our character so that we don’t have to worry about our reputation as it will take care of itself.

But how do we test our character?

It’s not like there is something such as a “Character Meter!”

One of the best ways to test our character is by observing how we treat other people, especially those who can do little or nothing in return for us.

Ann Landers Inspirational Quotes

Take control of your anger.

You should always think of this quote when you’re angry, and it will help you refrain from doing things that you’ll regret later.

Thanks to this quote, I usually sit, think and compose myself when I’m angry.

I have always made the right call despite being in so many situations that made me extremely angry. Bad things happen when things are done in anger.

Even if we really think that what we want to do is the right thing, when we’re angry, it’s better to wait until we calm down before finally deciding what we’re going to do.

Quote by Gautama Buddha

There are so many ways to improve the world. Whether it’s through volunteering, donating money, or simply helping others in your community, every little bit counts.

I don’t know about you, but I’m not going to wait for someone else to change the world. So let’s work together and make a difference, start to make the world better right now!

Quote by Anne Frank

Being among the best motivational quotes will definitely change the way you think about yourself. Indeed, the way we feel about ourselves will, in time, define us.

When you believe that you can achieve something, you’ll definitely achieve it.

On the other hand, when you think and believe that you’re incapable of doing something, then there is no way you’ll be able to do it.

Success depends on attitude.

The right attitude can make us achieve what we want to accomplish in life. Therefore, to be successful, we have to change how we think about ourselves.

People who have done great things before are just people like you and me.

There is nothing special about successful people except that they thought highly of themselves and started working towards what they believed they could achieve, so let’s do the same to achieve success.

Quote by Henry Ford

This is one of those best motivational quotes that will boost our self-esteem.

It will help us realize that we should not care so much about what others think of us. Instead, what we feel about ourselves is essential than what others think about us.

After all, only you know what you want in life and what to do with your life.

If we don’t think highly of ourselves, we should not expect others to think highly of us. But, on the other hand, if we believe that we are not as good as other people, others will see us as inferior.

No one has the power to make you feel inferior.

Let people think whatever they want to believe, but don’t ever let their thoughts affect you. Our downfall will start when we allow the terrible things that others think about us to influence how we run our life every day.

Quote by Eleanor Roosevelt

Taking the first step towards anything in this life can be really daunting.

Starting off into a new venture can mean a significant risk, whether putting ourselves, our name, reputation, money, time, and efforts on something we aren’t sure of.

Many people tend to think of the possibility of failure, and those worries seldom actually take place.

If this is our mindset, then we’ll never get to start any profitable venture in life; hence the possibility of success doesn’t open up.

As a result, we get stuck in life wondering what it could have been if we had made that first step to start.

We’ll never know unless we give it a try and give it our best shot!

This is one of the best motivational quotes that are short yet important in our lives.

Quote by Wayne Gretzky

Looking ahead into the next century, we have a lot to be excited about, even though it is clear that there are many problems to solve.

Tomorrow’s leaders are those who’ll guide other people to reach their goals. They lead by example and are usually motivating and helpful while they lead their teams.

Bill Gates Inspirational Quotes

It’s elementary for people to say that they have started on a mission to better themselves. For instance, “I believe I can lose 20 to 30 lbs of fat in 6 months!”

It’s a very inspiring goal, and these words can put many people up in a state of excitement to reach that goal. But then, after a few days, the very same people have lost interest or motivation to carry on with what they promised.

This quote simply sums it up in a significant way.

It inspired me to think of it this way. . .

It’s one thing to announce a life goal and yet another to actually see it to completion.

Actions do speak louder than words.

Thinking is great, but proving that an idea can be done is even more incredible! So, in short, it’s better to transform our concept into actions rather than just talk.

Quote by Robert Anton Wilson

Ten years ago, we sat down in a restaurant and thought of starting a business.

It was a hard decision to make.

We didn’t have enough capital. My partner came up with an idea and suggested that we should start an online business. After careful consideration, we agreed it was the most suitable venture to indulge in.

At first, it was full of challenges.

But after making several adjustments, the business finally picked up. Now it has grown to an extent where we can support our lives.

Our story is not unique; many inventions we now take for granted started as simple ideas launched by two founders or more.

A decade ago, I wasn’t sure that the business we were about to start would amount to anything as successful as it is now.

That simple idea has successfully transformed into a profitable business and source of income. It has also created jobs opportunities for other people.

Definitely, this quote by Margaret Mead makes to the list of the best motivational quotes that I see at work every single day.

Quote by Margaret Mead

There are many inspirational quotes by motivational speakers that speak a lot about how we can succeed in life, and nothing is wrong with that.

Like most things, success comes with a price.

One of those prices we have to pay is criticism.

When you rise above average, then you also become a target of envy. This is when other people start criticizing you for everything you do.

Dealing with criticism is one of the skills we have to learn. So, first, we must learn how to ignore negative criticism. It’s not easy at first, but practice makes perfect.

However, it’s also not wise to ignore all criticism.

We should really ponder positive criticism from our mentors.

Don’t be afraid of criticism but rather be a suitable recipient of positive criticism and master the art of letting negative criticism slide off you.

Quote by Elbert Hubbard

Don’t just complain about a particular situation. You can do something, even if it’s small, to make a difference.

The change we desire to see starts with you.

We all can make a difference no matter how big or small it is in the world. But, we must strive to bring that change with love and peace until we succeed.

If we all pitch in, I know that we can make this world a better place for everyone.

Quote by Mahatma Gandhi

It’s Your Turn Now, Share These Best Motivational Quotes

All the above inspirational quotes will motivate you in one way or another.

Besides, I’m sure you’ve heard the saying that everyone needs inspiration. And it’s true!

Sometimes we all get discouraged and feel dejected. However, it is good to remember that people will always listen to us and cheer us up when that happens.

I hope you found some of these quotes here to be helpful and encouraging.

Feel free to share them on your social networking sites.