10 Inspiring Quotes From Successful Entrepreneurs
There are no shortages to the number of entrepreneurs there are in the world, each inspiring in his or her own way. Below are 10 quotes from successful entrepreneurs to inspire you on your own journey of entrepreneurship.
1. Evan Spiegel, Co-founder and CEO of Snapchat
Photo Source: AP/Jae C. Hong via Business Insider
“Somewhere along the way, when we were building social media products, we forgot the reason we like to communicate with our friends is because it's fun.”
The son of two wealthy lawyers, Evan Spiegel now runs one of the most popular social media platforms out there. He grew up in Silicon Valley then went on to study product design at Stanford University. Despite dropping out of college with only three classes left to take, Spiegel, who is still only in his early twenties, has become a mega success.
2. Alexa Von Tobel, Founder and CEO of LearnVest
Photo Source: Finance Box
“A good financial plan is a road map that shows us exactly how the choices we make today will affect our future.”
Alexa Von Tobel received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Harvard College (an extension of the university) and went on to launch the extremely successful financial planning service, LearnVest. Now in her thirties, she is also the author of a New York Times Best Seller, Financially Fearless and applies her knowledge of psychology to better understand and communicate with her 150 plus employees.
3. Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks
Photo Source: MSNBC
“Any business today that embraces the status quo as an operating principle is going to be on a death march.”
As a child growing up in Brooklyn, NY, Howard Schultz’s family always struggled financially. He was the first one in his family to attend college on a sports scholarship and graduated with a Communications degree. Schultz is a natural businessman who has undoubtedly been a major factor in Starbucks becoming the largest coffee chain in the world.
4. Travis Kalanick, Co-Founder of Uber
Photo Source: Chicago Splash
“As an entrepreneur, I try to push the limits. Pedal to the metal.”
Travis Kalanick dropped out of UCLA in 1998 to found a peer-to-peer file sharing service called Scour alongside a few of his other classmates. Since then he has started another peer-to-peer service, Red Swoosh, and in 2009 the ride-sharing service Uber.
5. Shelia Lirio Marcelo, Founder of Care.com
Photo Source: Boston Globe
"I think in terms of evolutions, not revolutions. Failure is not part of my vocabulary."
Care.com is the largest online service connecting caretakers and caregivers. Shelia was inspired to launch the service when she realized a need for help balancing being a mother of two and caring for her parents at the same time.
6. Clara Barton, Founder of American Red Cross
Photo Source: explorepahistory.com
“The surest test of discipline is its absence.”
Clara Barton started out at as a teacher. In 1881 she founded the American Red Cross, which has offered relief and aid to victims of disaster tragedy. Her determination and passion for succeeding, in a time period when women had limited to no voice, has made her one of the most famous women in history.
7. Arianna Huffington, Founder of The Huffington Post
Photo Source: The Huffington Post
"Any female entrepreneur needs to learn to stop judging the hell out of herself.”
Born in Greece, Arianna Huffington came to America and studied economics at the University of Cambridge. She worked as a conservative commentator before starting a more liberal online news source, The Huffington Post.
8. Phil Robertson, Duck Commander
Photo Source: AETV
“I kinda liked ol' Shakespeare and them guys, you know. I went back and got my master's just in case. I thought, if I ever needed it, I'd have the sheepskin to show people no matter how dumb I looked, actually I was about half intelligent.”
Most people known about the bearded Robertson clan from A&E’s hit reality show “Duck Dynasty.” Phil Robertson, the head of the pack, founded Duck Commander— the brand of the best-selling duck call tool. While Robertson might be considered an unconventional businessman who discusses hunting and religion more than anything, his business has successfully drawn in millions of dollars in revenue.
9. Erik Gordon, Founder of Carabiner Coffee
Photo Source: Tiny House, Tiny Footprint
“I want to get great coffee into the hands of people who love to chase adventure like I do, and I want to inspire them to follow their dreams. For me, that mission is just as important as the coffee.”
Gordon is the perfect example of turning a passion into a career. Coffee became a necessity for the rock climber and adventurer as he traveled the West coast of the U.S. His love for adventure and constantly being on the move prompted him to buy a van; one thing led to another and now Erik runs a coffee shop right out of his traveling vehicle.
10. Mark Zuckerberg, Co-Founder and CEO of Facebook
Photo Source: Wired
“My goal was never to just create a company. A lot of people misinterpret that, as if I don't care about revenue or profit or any of those things. But what not being just a company means to me is not being just that - building something that actually makes a really big change in the world.”
The young entrepreneur took the social media world by storm when he co-founded Facebook. Still only in his thirties, the programmer and Harvard graduate is considered one of the wealthiest and most influential people in the world.
No two entrepreneurs are the same, nor should they be. Be inspired by the success and advice of the men and women included above, and make strides towards accomplishing your own business goals.
