Whether you’re just starting out or have been in business for twenty years or so, there is a universal truth in running your own business – it’s hard. Every once in a while, small business owners need a little push and motivation – and for those moments, here are 18 quotes to help you get through that rough patch and keep moving forward.
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“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.” -Thomas Edison, Inventor
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“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.
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“Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you.” –Tony Hsieh, Zappos CEO
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“If you’re not a risk taker, you should get the hell out of business.” – Ray Kroc, founder of McDonald’s.
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“Small business isn’t for the faint of heart. It’s for the brave, the patient, and the persistent. It’s for the overcomer.” – Unknown
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“Every time you state what you want or believe, you’re the first to hear it. It’s a message to both you and others about what you think is possible. Don’t put a ceiling on yourself.” – Oprah
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“Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.” – Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks.
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“Learn to say ‘no’ to the good so you can say ‘yes’ to the best.” – John C Maxwell
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“Early to bed, early to rise, work like hell and advertise.” -Ted Turner, Entrepreneur and Businessman
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“The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It’s as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer.” –Nolan Bushnell, Entrepreneur
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“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, Amazon Founder and CEO
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“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates, co-founder of Microsoft
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“The most dangerous poison is the feeling of achievement. The antidote is to every evening think what can be done better tomorrow.” —Ingvar Kamprad, IKEA founder
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“Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.” – Albert Einstein
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“What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: know your product better than anyone. Know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.” —Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s
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“Always deliver more than expected.” —Larry Page, Google co-founder
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“AltaVista existed before Google. Folgers existed before Starbucks. Budweiser existed before Sam Adams. MySpace existed before Facebook. Rio MP3 players existed before iPods. Where would we be if we listened to all the naysayers who said, ‘Why bother—somebody’s already doing it!’ It’s always being done, you can do it better.” —MJ DeMarco
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“Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” —Winston Churchill