Words of Inspiration from Influential Business Leaders

Even the most successful entrepreneurs and influential business leaders have terrible days. They have doubts, worry about their future, and wonder whether they’re in the right business. 

What sets them apart, though, is their ability to face every hurdle with tenacity and look at challenges as growth opportunities. 

When you’re facing a difficult day, use these words of inspiration to motivate you towards greatness and remind you that once upon a time, these influential business leaders walked the same path you’re currently treading. 

Success Quotes from Influential Business Leaders

“I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” — Estée Lauder

“It’s not about ideas. It’s about making ideas happen.” – Scott Belsky

“Fail often so you can succeed sooner.” – Tom Kelley

“Timing, perseverance, and ten years of trying will eventually make you look like an overnight success.” – Biz Stone

Empowering Quotes from Influential Business Leaders

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

“I had to make my own living and my own opportunity. But I made it! Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.” – Madam C.J. Walker

“All humans are entrepreneurs, not because they should start companies, but because the will to create is encoded in human DNA, and creation is the essence of entrepreneurship.” – Reid Hoffman

“There’s lots of bad reasons to start a company. But there’s only one good, legitimate reason, and I think you know what it is: it’s to change the world.” – Phil Libin

“Whatever it is that you think you want to do, and whatever it is that you think stands between you and that, stop making excuses. You can do anything.” – Katia Beauchamp

“The fastest way to change yourself is to hang out with people who are already the way you want to be.” – Reid Hoffman

Perseverance Quotes from Influential Business Leaders

“I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.” – Virginia Rometty

I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs 

“No more romanticizing about how cool it is to be an entrepreneur. It’s a struggle to save your company’s life – and your own skin – every day of the week.” – Spencer Fry

“Everything started as nothing.” – Ben Weissenstein

“How you climb a mountain is more important than reaching the top.” – Yvon Chouinard

Lifelong Learning Quotes from Influential Business Leaders

“Just because you are CEO, don’t think you have landed. You must continually increase your learning, the way you think, and the way you approach the organization. I’ve never forgotten that.” – Indra Nooyi

“Income seldom exceeds personal development.” – Jim Rohn

“My biggest motivation? Just to keep challenging myself. I see life almost like one long University education that I never had — every day I’m learning something new.” – Richard Branson

“I’ve learned that mistakes can often be as good a teacher as success.” – Jack Welch

“Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.” – Bill Gates

Integrity Quotes from Influential Business Leaders

“Making the decision to not follow a system or someone else’s rules has allowed me to really dig into what my own strengths and gifts are without spending time feeling jaded or wasteful.” – Ishita Gupta

“As a leader, it’s a major responsibility on your shoulders to practice the behavior you want others to follow.” – Himanshu Bhatia

“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” – Coco Chanel

“Your reputation is more important than your paycheck, and your integrity is worth more than your career.” – Ryan Freitas

“True leadership stems from individuality that is honestly and sometimes imperfectly expressed… Leaders should strive for authenticity over perfection.” – Sheryl Sandberg

Facing Failure Quotes from Influential Business Leaders

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes — understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” – Arianna Huffington

“Don’t worry about failure; you only have to be right once.” – Drew Houston

“Failures are life’s way of nudging you and letting you know you are off course. Trying new things and not being afraid to fail along the way are more important than what you learn in school.” – Sara Blakely

“Avoiding mistakes costs more than making them.” – Omer Shai

“For every dollar you spent in failure, learn a dollar’s worth of lesson.” – Jess Robbins

Now That You’re Motivated, It’s Time to Take Action!

One of the common threads that bind all influential entrepreneurs together is their willingness to seek out the information, resources, and people who are going to help them continue their journey to success. 

Working with a business coach is an empowering experience that unlocks your potential, addresses your weaknesses, and celebrates your strengths. 

Are you ready to become the next big name in business? Catalyst Group ECR works diligently to help our clients tackle their most pressing barriers to growth and the largest obstacles to success. Let’s get started today!