1. Catherine Cook, co-founder of MyYearbook
“To any entrepreneur: if you want to do it, do it now. If you don’t, you’re going to regret it.” It is the thing we don’t accomplish in life that we often regret the most. Cook implores you to pursue your ambitions rather than remain inactive and later in life contemplate what might have been achieved if you had done so.
2. Ben Weissenstein, CEO of Grand Slam Garage Sales
“Everything started as nothing.” Don’t be discouraged by the daunting task ahead of you. The famous quote, ‘Rome wasn’t built in day,’ bears great relevance here. Work diligently and greatness will come. Don’t expect it on day one!
3. Vince Lombardi, head coach of the Green Bay Packers 1959-1967
“The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” Lombardi offers great sporting advice which is applicable to all areas of life. Irrespective of your personal ambition; if you persevere and work diligently, you can achieve pride in your accomplishments.
4. Vince Lombardi
“Winners never quit and quitters never win.” Once again Lombardi implores that hard work and determination are key to any success; entrepreneurial or otherwise. “One of the huge mistakes people make is that they try to force an interest on themselves. You don’t choose your passions; your passions choose you.” Jeff Bezos encourages young entrepreneurs to work out what inspires and drives them most in life and pursue it. Entrepreneurs cannot make other peoples’ passions and ambitions suit them.
6. Peter Drucker, writer, professor, and management consultant
“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” You are the orchestrator of your own fate. Work out what you want from life and go out and get it, otherwise it will not come to you.
7. Walt Disney, co-founder of The Walt Disney Company
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” Planning will only get you so far. You need to go out and achieve your success. No-one is going to hand it to you.
8. Donald Trump, chairman of The Trump Organization, the Trump Plaza Associates, LLC, and the Trump Atlantic City Associates
“Watch, listen, and learn. You can’t know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity.” Don’t assume that you know everything. You should glean vital information from experienced colleagues. Work with people and listen to their contributions. If you listen and learn you can achieve far greater than you would have achieved by going it alone.
9. Wilson Luna, author and international business adviser
“It hurts your business.” (talking about ‘ego’) If you are ego-centric, you discourage others from helping you or investing within your company/idea. Wilson Luna encourages young entrepreneurs to accept that they don’t know everything and could stand to learn something.
10. Duncan Bannatyne, entrepreneur, author and TV personality
“Everyone should pull their finger out and start a business and to believe in themselves. There is nothing else to it. Anyone can make a £100m. But most people don’t go out and try. They just stand in the pub and complain.”
If you never try, you will never succeed. If you don’t believe in yourself, how can you expect other people to believe in you? If you act with confidence and determination, you will accomplish more and inspire others to invest in your future.
Featured photo credit: Flickr via flickr.com
