We humans like to live by example and we tend to gravitate towards people who have set an example. This happens in almost any situations in life. Whether you are trying to emulate that straight A student or that amazing marathon athlete or even just someone already making it in their home businesses.
Sometimes we need a bit of guidance to steer us towards the right direction. Unfortunately, when we are born there are no sign posts that tell us what to do. So we tend to learn through our experience and mistakes. Today I like to talk about a few quotes and how we can learn from them for our business.
1. “What the mind can conceive, it can achieve.” – Napoleon Hill, author of Think and Grow Rich
We’ve heard a lot about Napoleon, the author of a few best selling self help motivational books. This is one of his most famous quotes that we’ve all heard before.
Let’s take an example of a blogging business. There are many hurdles and obstacles to overcome and I won’t even begin to start mentioning all of it because it has already been mentioned far too often that it’s becoming stale. If you have an idea and are able to turn that idea into something of worth and of use, you will achieve results.
But on the flipside of things, if you have doubts and are sceptical, this will be reflected in your actions.
Seneca The Younger says this: “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.”
Let’s have a look at another one quote…
2. “The trouble with not having a goal is that you can spend your life running up and down the field and never score.” – Bill Copeland
This is what happens if you don’t have a plan. Let’s say you already have a strong will to succeed in your business but you don’t have a plan, then you won’t achieve anything. It does sound pretty straightforward in theory but in practice this is what happens most of the time with online businesses. An action plan has to be drawn out for your businesses. Set your targets and work towards it.
In case you’re wondering, Bill is an Australian cricket umpire.
3. “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door.” -Milton Berle
This quote is pretty self explanatory. If you think no one is interested in your business, then find clients, seek people who are interested. Visit community forums, social groups, blogs that are specific to what you do. Nowadays, no one will actually lend you a helping hand unless you are one heck of a famous dude but if that is the case people would be building a door to you instead.
Another quite similar quote to this is:
“When you can’t change the direction of the wind — adjust your sails.” -H. Jackson Brown
4. “Don’t say you don’t have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresea, Leonardo da Vinci, Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” – Life’s Little Instruction Book, compiled by H. Jackson Brown, Jr
This is the perfect quote for those who are saying “I DON’T HAVE TIME!”. If all the Nobel Prize Winners, A-list bloggers and great leaders of the world have 24 hours in a day then what’s your excuse on having no time?
However, under no circumstances should you think that you should multitask and do everything. You should realize that there are certain priorities that should be met and focused. Productivity is a highly sought after component of any business that you do. Leslie posted an excellent guest post on Yaro Starak’s blog on narrowing your focus, specifically on “3 High-Valued Tasks”.
Go ahead and read it and find out which tasks you should outsource and which should you focus.
5. “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi
There’s something about online businesses that isn’t discussed very much among people and they are cynical remarks about starting one. They could be anyone; your friends, families, partners and even yourself. That is why it can be a lonely world in the real world. You might think that a lot of people are visiting and commenting on your blog but not many actually listen or care about what you do about your online business in the real world. This is also another reason why people quit.
My favourite part of this quote is the last sentence.
What about you? Do you have someone in real life who is encouraging you in your business?
Before I finish, another quote as food for thought especially when you’re thinking about being unique.
”To wish you were someone else is to waste the person you are.”
Related articles
Do you need help with Starting A Wordpress Site?
Then...use Thesis just like the pros around. Even if you are not a pro, Thesis has a great supporting community and forum to help you with questions on how to use Thesis. Finally, if you need access to resources that I use for my business online, check out my resources page. You will find goodies and gems that might help you as well.
{ 11 comments… read them below or add one }
Bryan
This is one of the best posts on personal development that I have read. You have pumped me up and got me all enthusiastic about my promoting my start-up!
Great use of quotes as well. I live by all of them, especially the Napoleon one.
Thanks for sharing this inspirational post.
Michael
Hey mike! Thx for commenting here. Glad you like the post too.
I think sometimes we need quotes to give us motivation and pump us up!
Twitter: lavenderuses
October 16, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Hi Bryan
I agree some quotes can inspire you while others well??!! Depends on your world-view and beliefs which ones you choose to embrace. I agree that we do need those who can inspire us and also encourage us. I have some lovely friends who believe in me and what I hope to achieve. They are with me all the way and it sure helps when I come to some of those bumps in the road on this blogging journey. Thanks for a thought-provoking post.
Patricia Perth Australia
Patricia@lavenderuses recently posted..A Dental visit with a difference…where’s the lavender
Yeah Pat, that is true. I am sure if you have people in your life to help you out and inspire you in your business why not get their support? I am sure being a constant presence in your own life is far better at giving you motivation to be successful than quotes.
Twitter: alexanderthegry
October 16, 2010 at 10:00 pm
Hey Bryan,
You wrote an inspirational post. This is sure to motivate those who read it, because some people have always looked back for reasons to be motivated and inspired.
I would also like to add an other quote “Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”. This is a quote about originality, it has always inspired me to do things in my own way even when I get inspired by other, I will add my own twist.
This days many are lacking originality and try to recycle things they have seen somewhere else. But if you take a look at the internet market now, the most successful businesses are those who were inspired to do something new, and evolved!
Axel@Jocuri recently posted..Curse Mini Motorete
He Axel, Yeah I think there are a lot of people who are recycling things around online. It is hard not to find content that is written in some sort of similar fashion these days. I think the difficulty also lies in a lot of ppl being in the same niche. Yeah, I agree, those who are motivated to do something different and new are more likely to be successful. Seeing a lot of blogs publishing a lot of the same topics, I always try to think of something original to write. Thx for commenting.
Excellent qoutes. Bryan already had the recipe for success.
Thank you for your article. It is worth the reading for i gained not only knowledge but also wisdom which will define what quality of life we have. Very inspiring. I wish you more power.
Hey Armil,
I’m glad you like the quotes. I believe it’s imperative that everyone gets some form of inspirations phrases or quotes to help them with their daily undertakings. See you again
Twitter: freedomunpluggd
March 29, 2011 at 11:22 pm
Hi Bryan,
Another excellent post – just what I needed at the moment after just having survived the quakes & tsunami here in Japan.
Hope you don’t mind but I posted this one on Facebook as it really hit the spot for me: “First they ignore you. Then they laugh at you. Then they fight you. Then you win.” – Mahatma Gandhi
Haydn
Haydn@staged.com recently posted..Stagedcom Is An Excellent Lead Generation Tool For MLM-Network Marketing Professionals
Hey Hadyn,
Welcome here! Wow, I’m glad you are fine. The world already has enough of natural disasters. I’m glad you like the last one too. Sometimes when I feel like no one cares or belittles what I’m doing this particular quote really stands out for me and lifts my spirits.
Cheers buddy and Good Luck with your endeavours.
Twitter: freedomunpluggd
March 30, 2011 at 12:57 am
Hi again Bryan,
Thanks bro;-) This one below is one of my favorites for similar reasons to yours:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine as children do. It’s not just in some of us; it is in everyone. And as we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” ~ Marianne Williamson
Cheers,
Haydn
Haydn@staged.com recently posted..Stagedcom Is An Excellent Lead Generation Tool For MLM-Network Marketing Professionals