Quotes About How To Be Successful (21+ Quotes)
Looking for more success? I’ve heard entrepreneur and author Tony Robbins say that “Success leaves clues.” He’s right. While there is no “right path” to finding success, several have gone before us and shined the light on their path.
Find inspiration and a little guidance for yourself within these quotes. In this article, you’ll find 21 quotes about how to be successful.
Be Courageous
“All our dreams can come true if we have the courage to pursue them.”
Walt Disney
Or, as the Nike slogan once said – Just do it.
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
John D. Rockefeller
This is tough and useful advice. Sometimes we trap ourselves by thinking this is pretty good. Maybe it’s good enough. Is good enough really what you’re willing to settle for?
I had a good job with a good company. I thought that I would retire there. Things changed a few years ago. What I learned about myself during that transition is that despite how good things seemed, I was capable of much more.
After that change, I moved on to help rebuild sales teams with two other organizations – stretching my skill set and growing exponentially.
“The No. 1 reason people fail in life is because they listen to their friends, family, and neighbors.” Napoleon Hill
Napoleon Hill
This one’s tough, isn’t it? I thought about this quote in light of some recent events in politics. It was said by everyone – all who “knew better,” that it was impossible to create peace in the middle east. President Trump and his team took a different and unique approach, stuck with it over a period of years, and recently negotiated the signing of several peace accords between Arab nations and Israel.
Great first step. The important point is that if the U.S. listened to critics, they would never have come this far. We’ll see what comes next.
Sometimes we have to make tough choices.
“I owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite.”
G. K. Chesterton
Following your own path can require tremendous courage, especially if you receive a lot of advice and support from people you know and trust. Do you trust yourself enough to follow your own path?
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”
Mark Twain
This is great advice for us all. You’ve probably heard about the “rocking chair test.” It’s that exercise where you imagine yourself sitting on the porch in your old age and assessing your life.
If you’ll look back on an opportunity you face today, will you consider it a regret when you’re in that rocking chair? We can’t afford to collect too many regrets.
Be Valuable
“Try not to become a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value.”
Albert Einstein
The longer I live, the less I search for success. Once I shifted my focus to be as useful as possible, I achieved more…
“Success usually comes to those who are too busy to be looking for it.”
Henry David Thoreau
Focus on the value you bring. If you focus on the way you bring value to others and improve even very slightly each day, eventually, you’ll be on the path you seek.
This has been called the law of reciprocity. You get back what you give. Bob Burg’s book, The Go-Giver, has an excellent explanation of the law of reciprocity.
For more on The Go-Giver, click here.
Demonstrate Grit
“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Thomas A. Edison
If you’ve set yourself up for success, don’t stop. History is full of examples where people gave up too soon.
“It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change.”
Charles Darwin
This quote is very relevant today as we navigate our way back from a global pandemic. Those of us who change first, fastest and best are positioned to succeed now and into the future.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas Edison
Imagine trying to do something 10,000 different ways. Have you ever pursued anything with such dogged determination? What if you did?
“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.”
Abraham Lincoln
How clear are you about what you want? Stay the course.
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”
Bruce Lee
Gary Keller and Jay Papasan wrote a best selling book teaching us how to develop this type of laser-like focus. The book is “The One Thing.” Check out the one thing here.
This quote reminds me of the Russian proverb, “If you chase two rabbits, you will not catch either one.” How focused are you on your top priority? Are you chasing more than one rabbit?
Take Action
“Successful people do what unsuccessful people are not willing to do. Don’t wish it were easier; wish you were better.”
Jim Rohn
How true! What is the first step you can take today to improve your situation?
“The whole secret of a successful life is to find out what is one’s destiny to do, and then do it.”
Henry Ford
Easy to say, but hard to do. Once you’re clear on your purpose, it’s time to get to work. If you’re struggling to find your purpose or as Mr. Ford says, your destiny, check out Simon Sinek’s book, Start With Why.
“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”
President Thomas Jefferson
How true. Can you think of an example of how your hard work paid off in an unexpectedly great way? If not, don’t give up!
“The starting point of all achievement is desire.”
Napoleon Hill
Every building that’s built in the world starts out as an idea. It’s developed into a blueprint, then it’s built, right? How clear are you about what you’re trying to succeed at? Is your desire strong enough and clear enough to draw a blueprint and begin building?
“If you want to achieve excellence, you can get there today. As of this second, quit doing less-than-excellent work.”
Thomas J. Watson
Every day, I see people going through the motions. I have to challenge myself daily to ensure that I’m delivering at an excellent level. Without awareness and focus on the quality of your effort and output, it’s easy to be less than excellent – and not even realize it!
“Keep on going, and the chances are that you will stumble on something, perhaps when you are least expecting it. I never heard of anyone ever stumbling on something sitting down.”
Charles F. Kettering
If you’re not moving, it’s hard to make progress. No matter what, do something today to move you closer to your goal. Maybe you fail, that’s ok – consider what you learned in the attempt.
“Would you like me to give you a formula for success? It’s quite simple, really: Double your rate of failure. You are thinking of failure as the enemy of success. But it isn’t at all. You can be discouraged by failure or you can learn from it, so go ahead and make mistakes. Make all you can. Because remember that’s where you will find success.”
Thomas J. Watson
The prior quote from Charles Kettering supports this idea well. As they say “you have to break some eggs to make an omelet.”
“It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.”
President Theodore Roosevelt
This quote reminds me of the quote above from Mark Twain. How could your life be different if you lived your life without regrets?
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing. ”
Walt Disney
So true. Taking action and executing your plan is a critical factor in your success. Regardless of where you are today, you can become successful if you begin with just one small step.
Choose one area of your life you would like to improve. The quotes in this article are divided into sections about being courageous, being valuable, demonstrating grit, and taking action.
In the one area of your life, you just chose, identify just one thing you can do today to move you closer to success.
In the comments below, let me know which quote was most meaningful to you.
Looking for more quotes to build confidence? Click here!
Make it a great day!
