Last Updated on June 24, 2019 by Micha McLain
Great moments are born from great opportunity. And that’s what you have here today, reader. That’s what you’ve earned here, today. One blog. If you read ten blogs, nine of them might be a waste of time. But not this blog. Not today. Today, you read something entertaining. Today, you learn something new. Today, your current internet browsing session won’t feel like time wasted, because it’s not!
You may find yourself asking, “Is this just a re-tread of the Kurt Russel-as-Herb Brooks pre-game speech in Miracle?”
Maybe. It certainly could be. Did it pump you up? Maybe? It certainly could have.
The point is, we could all use some inspiration from people who have achieved greatness in life. And if you’re a small business-owner chasing the dream, take some of these motivational quotes for when the daily grind starts getting you down. And if you’re just looking for a juicy dose of inspiration to get you rolling, we gotcha’ covered.
10 Motivational Quotes for Small Business Owners
1. “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Inc.
Can a list of motivational quotes related to entrepreneurs, tech, creativity, or [insert basically any business category] exist without a quip from Apple’s innovative leader? It’s been nearly a decade since Steve Jobs passed away, yet we can find his fingerprints on so many aspects of modern culture.
There’s a good chance you’re reading this article on an Apple device. You may have built your company’s website using an Apple device. If not, the odds are still good that whatever piece of tech you’re using was inspired in part by something Apple designed. If anyone can testify to the power of perseverance and persistence it’s Jobs, who dropped out of college and co-founded Apple out of his garage.
2. “We are really competing against ourselves, we have no control over how other people perform.” – Pete Cashmore, founder and CEO of Mashable
This quote comes in a similar vein to the popular idea of “always chasing your best self.” It can be easy, particularly in the world of small business, to worry too much about your competition. Simplify everything and focus on your own business growth. What’s one thing you can do today to improve? How far have you come in the last year, and where would you like to go in the next five?
Competitors will always exist, and sometimes they’ll outperform you. Be aware of them, acknowledge them, and learn from them where you can. But don’t lose sight of your goals as a business. Keep up the pursuit of your own self-improvement and growth.
3. “It is better to fail in originality than to succeed in imitation.” – Herman Melville, American author and poet
Throughout his prolific career as an author during the Romantic movement in literature, Melville saw his fair share of ups and downs. A critical darling early on, his later works (most notably Moby Dick) were not well-received and were not financially successful.
In this sense Melville definitely failed, yet he was always original. And he was eventually rewarded for his efforts. Almost thirty years after his death, around what would have been his 100th birthday, Melville’s work experienced a revival. And now much of his writings are considered classics.
4. “Be undeniably good. No marketing effort or social media buzzword can be a substitute for that.” — Anthony Volodkin, founder of Hype Machine
At Multiverse Media Group, we’re always staying on top of the latest trends. From the importance of content marketing, clean coding, and modern web design, we wholeheartedly believe the right digital marketing plan can make all the difference.
However, great marketing is not a cure-all. If your business has flaws, you’re inconsistent in your day-to-day operations, or your product simply isn’t up to par, your marketing efforts aren’t going to matter. Put the work in first and be undeniably good. Then give us a call.
5. “Someone else’s success does not equal a failure for you.” | “The universe rewards calculated risk and passion.” – Joe Rogan, comedian and podcast host
As someone who has three different, extremely successful, career paths as a stand-up comedian, host of one of the most popular podcasts, and a commentator for the UFC, it’s only fitting that Joe Rogan would give us a double-dose of motivational quotes.
Echoing previous ideas about competition, having the right mindset can make all the difference. Your competition might be more successful than you at times – but that doesn’t mean you’ve failed. Keep working in your own way, keep your passion alive, and take the right risks. Eventually you’ll see the outcome you’re working towards.
6. “Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn, entrepreneur, author and motivational speaker
An absolute classic from one of the business world’s front runners of motivational books and office posters. And that’s not a knock on Jim Rohn, there’s a lot of truth in what he’s said. There are going to be bumps along the way of owning your own business, and there are going to be some difficult days. If it were simple everyone would own their own business.
If there’s a theme in this list so far it’s perseverance and self-improvement. Do the work, make yourself and your business better, and learn to embrace and even enjoy the struggle. Sometimes the only way out is through.
7. “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 CEO of Amazon
Maybe you’re reading this list as someone who has yet to take that plunge in the pursuit of starting your own business. And if instead of taking the necessary steps to make your dreams reality you’re just searching for motivational business quotes, then maybe it’s time to really get after it. You’ll never know what your small business could be if you never actually pursuit it. If you fail, then at least you know. But if you never try, you’ll perpetually be number one on the top 10 list of your life’s what ifs.
8. “Wonder what your customer really wants? Ask. Don’t tell.” — Lisa Stone, co-founder and CEO of BlogHer
This quote from Lisa Stone makes a ton of sense for the modern small business owner. We live in an age where connection is so easy, and for small businesses it’s never been easier to communicate directly with your audience. Trying out a new product? Looking for general feedback on your business? The time is now.
Run surveys, get more online reviews, engage directly with customers on social media. Maybe there’s a void in your market that your business can fill, opening up brand new opportunities and revenue streams. You’ll never know if you don’t explore, and it could be as easy as getting to know your customers a little better.
9. “You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don’t do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it.” – Gary Vaynerchuk, entrepreneur, internet personality
Like Steve Jobs, it wouldn’t be a list of business quotes in 2018 without including the wildly successful, oft-viral, Gary V. And how appropriate for a list full of motivational quotes from famous entrepreneurs? All of these quotes are great and well-sourced, but they might not apply to you. Like Vaynerchuk, it’s important that you’re self-aware. Be original; better knowing yourself and your business will ultimately help you better know what will be successful.
10. “I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.” – G. K. Chesterton, English writer and philosopher
To piggy-back off the last idea further: most of the people on this list didn’t have a top 10 list of quotes they referred to throughout their journey. They all had a voice inside them that they followed. They trusted their guts, their partners, their ideas, and at the end of the day didn’t listen to doubters.
One of the beautiful things about owning your own business is that you don’t need to ask anyone else’s permission to make decisions you feel are right for your company. So take this advice and all of the above advice and use it to start building your empire…or don’t, and still build your empire!
Or, you know, you could always just get back to watching Miracle and try not to run through a brick-wall (thanks Kurt Russell!).
And if you hit any snags in your digital marketing, you could always reach out to us. At Multiverse Media Group, we know the challenges of starting and owning your own business. Connect with us and we can grow faster, together.
