Did you make a New Year’s Resolution, yet? We like to advocate for setting intentions instead of the usual resolutions. Intentions are meant to motivate and encourage you without the pressure of resolutions which can eventually leave you with a sense of guilt and failure when they don’t happen. This post is a collection of favourite quotes and approaches that have helped us on our own entrepreneurship journey. We consider these words of wisdom part of our toolkit. Sometimes, reading a few words of encouragement, sound reasoning, and common sense help put a situation into better perspective.
Our time is valuable. This is how we want to spend each day
The key is to keep company only with people who uplift you and whose presence calls forth your best.
Epictetus
Every job is a self-portrait of the person who does it. Autograph your work with excellence.
author unknown
You know how every once in a while, you do something and the little voice inside says, “There. That’s it. That’s why you’re here.” And you get a warm glow in your heart because you know it’s true? Do more of that.
Jacob Nordby
Look closely at the present you are constructing. It should look like the future you are dreaming.
Alice Walker
How we want to see and be seen
No work is insignificant. All labour that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.
Martin Luther King, Jr.
I’ll take character over reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.
AJ Perez
Inspiration for those dark times
When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it.
Henry Ford
Be willing to walk alone. Many who started with you won’t finish with you.
author unknown
The master has failed more times than the beginner has even tried.
Stephen McCranie
Don’t be afraid to start over. This time you’re not starting from scratch; you’re starting from experience.
Author Unknown
Encouragement when dealing with adversaries
People who repeatedly attack your confidence and self-esteem are quite aware of your potential, even if you are not.
Wayne Gerard Trotman
Anyone can find the dirt in someone. Be the one that finds the gold.
Proverbs 11:27
Most people don’t want to be part of the process; they just want to be part of the outcome. But the process is where you figure out who’s worth being part of the outcome.
Carey Lohrenz
Be an encourager. The world has plenty of critics already.
Dave Willis
Imitation is the highest form of flattery.
Charles Caleb Colton
The type of leaders we admire and strive to be
Great leaders are willing to sacrifice the numbers to save the people. Poor leaders sacrifice the people to save the numbers.
Simon Sinek
A leader is best when people barely know he exists. When his work is done and his aim fulfilled, they will say: we did it ourselves.
Lao Tzu
I know of no single formula for success. But over the years I have observed that some attributes of leadership are universal and are often about finding ways of encouraging people to combine their efforts, their talents, their insights, their enthusiasm and their inspiration to work together.
Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth II
And our current favourite
The mind that opens up to a new idea never returns to its original size.
Albert Einstein
We hope you find a nugget or two in our list and would love to hear what words of advice or wisdom hold special meaning for you. Please share with us!
