Running out of juice? These entrepreneurial quotes from seasoned founders will set your adrenaline pumping
The entrepreneurial journey is saddled with lots of uncertainties and experiences which overtime, get newbies and even gurus, overwhelmed. Such experiences reflect in timeless entrepreneurial quotes from seasoned entrepreneurs who have made giant strides in this unnerving path.
Anyone starting on this lonely voyage will often encounter unforeseen occurrences and daunting thoughts that will question your very essence of setting out in the first place. Considering the glaring challenges, an inexhaustible source of inherent strength is required to charge the mind of everyone embarking on this fiery trip.
Thankfully, some amazing entrepreneurs have not only gone ahead, but forged lessons learned on their paths to building remarkable businesses. As we delve into these, try to look beyond the allure of interesting quotes and take them as expert advice from those who went, saw, conquered, and are still conquering.
#1. “Entrepreneurs must be willing to be misunderstood for long periods of time – Jeff Bezos
Extract: It’s in human nature to always doubt the first time and this is why it’s imperative to always keep your convictions higher than the doubts of the external world. As the Amazon founder tries to tell us with one of his most popular entrepreneurial quotes, your consistency and perseverance pay off in the long run when everyone comes running after your product/service because of its inevitable value in their lives.
#2. “Life is not fair, get used to it” – Bill Gates
Extract: The business world is filled with cruel /harsh realities tied to the exigencies of impending circumstances. More often than not, things don’t usually go exactly as planned. Know that while planning life, it’s safe to assume that life itself has got plans for you. You may be faced with daunting struggles at the start of your business but keep hold of your vision regardless. You can iterate the process but maintain the vision through patience and hard work.
#3 “Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.” – Steve Jobs
Extract: Perhaps, the distinction between quality and quantity is one of those entrepreneurial quotes which has transcended times. The reason for this isn’t far-fetched. Sustained business success, in the long run, is predicated upon your choice of quality over quantity. Satisfied clients yield high returns in profit. Quality output increases customer satisfaction, which in turn boosts your company’s value and product’s credibility.
#4. “Persevere, Never give up! Today’s world enjoys electricity because of those who did not give up!” – Folorunso Alakija
Extract: Rome was not built in a day. As you continue to patiently put in the hours to make ends meet, somewhere, somehow, you will make it. Folorunso remarks “I did not start from here. I started on a small scale. When I was working for someone else, I spent my weekend buying and selling. I sold jewellery. I sold scarfs. My husband was also doing some buying and selling. Yet, he is a lawyer.”
#5. “Success is walking from failure to failure with no loss of enthusiasm.” – Winston Churchill
Extract: You may be faced with a series of setbacks on a big and significant course but the lessons derived from such experiences can build you for better business advancement. Failure is an integral component in the pursuit of success, it is the seed of growth and progress in the entrepreneurial journey. Irrespective of the number of times you fail, never give up on your convictions.
#6. “Business has only two functions; ‘marketing and innovation’” – Peter Drucker
Extract: The end result of every business is to make a profit, and drive growth. Marketing tools are needed to arouse customers’ attention and satisfaction. Research and innovation translate into business growth.
#7. “African entrepreneurs must be the alternative government and take up the task of human capacity development …” – Olajumoke Adenowo
Extract: Be a leader who builds not only a business but a community. It’s time to take the bull by the horn and put on the golden shoes of governance to develop a wholesome nation of great potential. According to Olajumoke, Africa’s Starchitect, “we must see our staff, not just as resources for the business, but as human beings whose potential we are to discover, develop, and deploy”.
#8. “Formal education will make you a living; Self-education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn
Extract: What percentage of the things you learned in school is used in the real business world? The entrepreneurial world thrives upon personal development in becoming more valuable at the marketplace. Practical, hands-on experiences under the tutelage of experts/mentors are the birthplaces of innovative outcomes and progressive learning.
#9. “The function of true leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” – Ralph Nader
Extract: True leadership is evident in the reflective functionality of mentorship via appropriate tutelage and supervisory delegation, the precursors of outstanding efficiency and gross productivity.
#10. “Don’t be afraid. Be focused. Be determined. Be hopeful. Be empowered.” – Michelle Obama
Extract: The fear of uncertainties, unforeseen changes in business elements, and pressures of unstable economic policies will always surface in the entrepreneurial journey, especially at turbulent times, but a laser-focused approach coupled with a resolute hope will always be the empowering fuel to keep you going amidst the hurdles.
#11. “Be smart, don’t spend irresponsibly, the money won’t always be there.” – Anonymous
Extract: Cash flow is the bloodstream of every enterprise. Judicious spending of funds is imminent for the growth of your business. Like water, money flows; it flows from where there’s a problem to a place of the solution. Endeavour to keep your spending within every resource that increases the value of your firm.
#12 “Investing in yourself is the best investment you will ever make.” – Robin Sharma
Extract: Though this sounds simple, it’s still one of the most difficult tasks for a lot of folks. A lot of enterprise owners exert efforts on investing in the externals than in themselves forgetting that the pivotal hold of every business hinges on the visionary. Self-investment will not only improve your life, but also the lives of all those around you.
#14. “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit” – Will Durant
Extract: This saying by Durant is one of the most powerful entrepreneurial quotes that go in furtherance of any business goal. The importance of repeatedly making the right choices can never be overemphasised as we become what we do over and over again. Habits of excellence are developed following the continuous repetition of doing quality jobs.
#15. “Paying attention to simple little things that most men neglect, makes a few men rich.” - Henry Ford
Extract: Quality wealth rests on doing the right thing in the absence of onlookers. Simple little things like true values, upholding the right attitude, being creative and flexible, wearing a smile, responding to emails promptly, answering the phone properly, saying “Please,” “Thank You,” and “You’re Welcome.” Paying attention to simple little things require a clear understanding of where your focus lies as you constantly resist the urge to jump on what’s trending but not necessary.
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