An entrepreneur’s journey, though rewarding, is not an easy one. From the inception of an idea to the first sale, the road to success is often laden with obstacles — which can sometimes make quitting seem like a better option.
If you’re in need of some inspiration, here are 20 quotes from entrepreneurs to encourage you to forge ahead and turn your business dreams into reality.
“Have the end in mind, and every day make sure you’re working towards it.”
— Ryan Allis, entrepreneur and former CEO and Co-founder of iContact
Your business needs an ultimate goal. Whether that is hitting a certain revenue number, opening a brick-and-mortar store, or expanding your services, always look down the road to your long-term goal — and ensure that every action you take is in service of that.
“Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”
— Mary Kay Ash, Founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics
Many people are only limited by their own vision and belief in themselves. If you believe you can accomplish something, you’ll find a way to make it happen.
[Read more: 6 Essential Personality Traits of Successful Entrepreneurs]
“I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.”
— Jeff Bezos, Founder and Executive Chairman of Amazon
Most people only truly regret the opportunities they never went for.
“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, American businesswoman, philanthropist, and Founder of Spanx
There is so much to learn in the unknown. When you learn to accept this, you expand your opportunities tenfold.
“When things get hard (which they will), your WHY needs to be strong enough to keep you going.”
— Ali Bonar, Co-founder of OatHaus
Remember why you started your entrepreneurial endeavor in the first place. This should be your driving force through tough times.
“Do not be embarrassed by your failures, learn from them and start again.”
— Richard Branson, Founder of The Virgin Group
A failure is never a waste if you can learn from it and use it to get better.
"The most important thing to do if you find yourself in a hole is to stop digging."
— Warren Buffett, investor and CEO of Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
If your current plan isn’t working, go back to the drawing board and find a new solution to your problem.
“You don’t need to be a genius or a visionary or even a college graduate to be successful. You just need a framework and a dream.”
— Michael Dell, Founder of Dell Technologies
There are no résumé requirements to be a successful entrepreneur. As long as you have a passion and a plan, you can get there.
[Read more: 'Design Thinking' and 4 Other Ways to Spark Entrepreneurial Creativity]
“The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.”
— Debbi Fields Rose, Founder of Mrs. Fields Bakeries
Take a risk for the things you are passionate about, including your business. If you don’t try, you are guaranteed to fail — but if you take that chance, you can keep working toward success.
“When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.”
— Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motor Company
Facing a difficult challenge may be the exact thing you need to achieve a breakthrough.
“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
“To win big, you sometimes have to take big risks.”
— Bill Gates, businessman, philanthropist, and Co-founder of the Microsoft Corporation
If you stay in the same place, doing the same thing, you often lose opportunities for growth. Don’t be afraid to take (calculated) risks.
“No matter how brilliant your mind or strategy, if you’re playing a solo game, you’ll always lose out to a team.”
— Reid Hoffman, Co-founder of LinkedIn
You can’t go at your business endeavor alone. It’s helpful to build a team you can bounce ideas off of, rely on, and seek advice from.
“Fearlessness is like a muscle. I know from my own life that the more I exercise it the more natural it becomes to not let my fears run me.”
— Arianna Huffington, Co-founder of The Huffington Post Media Group and Founder and CEO of Thrive Global
Courage is a muscle, and the more you exercise it, the more you’ll see it grow.
“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”
— Steve Jobs, American inventor and Co-founder of Apple
Unsuccessful people give up when things get difficult, but the successful have found ways to continue pushing through.
“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 of Ikea
It’s easy to let complacency creep in once you feel like you’ve “made it.” This quote is a good reminder that there’s always something to improve and some area where you can grow.
“Don't judge yourself by others' standards. If you operate like this, you are living your life for others, not for you.”
— Maria Rios, CEO of Nation Waste
It’s OK if it’s taken you longer to get your business off the ground, or if you haven’t reached the same numbers as another entrepreneur you know. Focus on your path and your business and success will come.
[Read more: 7 Timesaving Apps for On-the-Go Entrepreneurs]
“Show me a person who never made a mistake, and I will show you a person who never did anything.”
— William Rosenberg, Founder of Dunkin’ Donuts
Failures and mistakes are part of the entrepreneurial process. Every closed door, failed product, and pivot is a learning experience and opportunity for long-term growth.
“Timing, perseverance and 10 years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.”
— Biz Stone, Co-founder of Twitter
It’s easy to look at someone else’s success and wonder how it seemed to happen so quickly and easily for them. This quote is a good reminder that we’ll never fully understand all the hard work that goes into building a successful business.
“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them!”
— Madam C.J. Walker, entrepreneur and first female self-made millionaire in the United States
Madam C.J. Walker is famous for saying, “I got my start by giving myself a start.” Don’t wait around for the right opportunity to show up — choose to be a self-starter.
“It doesn’t matter how far you might rise. At some point, you are bound to stumble. If you’re constantly pushing yourself higher and higher, the law of averages predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do, I want you to remember this: There is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction.”
— Oprah Winfrey, American television personality, actress, and entrepreneur
Don’t get discouraged when something doesn’t work out; it’s often a pivotal moment toward success. Take stock of the situation, determine what you can learn from it, and move forward.
Jamie Johnson contributed to this article.
CO— aims to bring you inspiration from leading respected experts. However, before making any business decision, you should consult a professional who can advise you based on your individual situation.
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