Everyone dreams of being their own boss, and plenty of hard-working employees have turned into successful small business owners. Some business ideas are more likely to succeed than others — but that shouldn’t be a demotivation if you believe in yours. Things get rough sometimes, especially at the start. These quotes are here to help you stay positive and motivated when they do.
For a deeper look at business finance strategies, explore our business finance resources.
“Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.”
Napoleon Hill, Think and Grow Rich author
Failure isn’t the opposite of success — it’s often a step on the way there. The greatest successes are frequently preceded by the biggest failures. Keep going.
“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, CEO, & President of Amazon
Better to put in the effort and wait for results than to regret never trying at all.
“A big business starts small.”
Richard Branson, Founder of Virgin Group
Virgin Group, which now controls hundreds of companies globally, started as a small business. Starting small doesn’t cap how far you can go.
You may also find it helpful to read Must-Reads for Business Owners.
“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
Three simple things — and three ways to strengthen your business.
“To be successful, you have to have your heart in your business, and your business in your heart.”
Thomas Watson Sr, CEO and Chairman of IBM
Success tends to find those who put everything they have into it.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas Edison, American Inventor
Reframe failure and it turns into learning — and eventually, earning.
“Whether you think you can, or think you can’t, you’re right.”
Henry Ford, Founder of Ford Motor Co
The best motivation you’ll find is often just a change in mindset.
“Risk more than others think is safe. Dream more than others think is practical.”
Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
Getting more than you have usually means stepping outside your comfort zone.
“Good business leaders create a vision, articulate the vision, passionately own the vision, and relentlessly drive it to completion.”
Jack Welch, former Chairman & CEO of General Electric
Turning a vision into reality takes relentless follow-through — that’s the mark of a good leader.
“There is no finish line. There are only mile markers.”
Michael Ventura, Founder of Sub Rosa
Failures are just mile markers on the road, not reasons to stop.
“Good ideas are always crazy until they’re not.”
Elon Musk, Founder of SpaceX, Tesla Inc, and Neuralink
If others call your idea crazy, that’s your chance to prove them wrong.
You may also find The Debt Avalanche Method: A Smart Way to Tackle Business Debt Efficiently helpful for your business.
Sometimes your business needs more than motivation — it needs capital to keep things running smoothly. REIL Capital is a family-owned business that works with businesses of all sizes; apply now to see what we can do for you.
