9 Quotes to Inspire Your Small Business Success

one &two &three &four &five &six &seven &eight &nine

Have you ever heard an adage that’s so amazing it changed how you see the world? How about words of wisdom that changed how you do business? Here are nine quotes, shared as inspiration by our SUCCEED: Small Business Network community members, about what it takes to make your company thrive—and how to put these words to work for your small business.

Steve Jobsinventor, co-founder and CEO of Apple

“Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The

troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones

who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And

they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them,

disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. But the only thing

you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things.”

Shared by: Charlotte Hofer, Publisher at BizNOW Magazine, SUCCEED Member

Put These Words to Work: Wear your difference with

pride and consider making it part of your brand. Can you

capture it in a tagline or a marketing campaign?

Maya Angelouaward-winning poet and author

“Success is liking yourself,liking what you do andliking how you do it.”

Put These Words to Work: Find what

you’re passionate about and build it

into your business. You’ll like what you

do — and how you do it — that much

more…and be happier on the job.

Shared by: Sandra Johnson, Healthcare Reimbursement Consultant at QRS, SUCCEED Member

Put These Words to Work: Inspire

your employees to embrace your vision

for perfection — but don’t forget to

reward them for excellence.

“We will chase perfection and we will chase it relentlessly, knowing all the while we can never attain it. But along the way we shall catch excellence.”

Vince Lombardifootball player, coach and executive

Shared by: Michael Bardwil, Owner of Texas Vein and Cosmetic Specialists, SUCCEED Member

Bill Gatesbusiness magnate, inventor, founder of Microsoft

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

Put These Words to Work:

Give a particularly difficult

customer a call and ask him how

your company could be doing

better. Implement any feasible

suggestions immediately, and strive

to make long-term changes based

on his feedback.

Shared by: Shane Scott, General Partner at A&G Computers, SUCCEED Member

Put These Words to Work: Decide who you

really want to satisfy. Don’t change something

that 95 percent of your customers like to

please the five percent of customers who will

never be happy no matter what you do.

“I can’t give you a surefire formula for success, but I can give you a formula for failure: try to please everybody all the time.”

Herbert B. Swopeeditor, journalist and critic

Shared by: Michelle Doetsch, Massage Therapist, Stress Management Mentor, SUCCEED Member

Walt Disneybusiness magnate, TV and movie producer, innovator

“Do what you do so well that they will want to see it again and bring their friends.”

Put These Words to Work: Pay

attention to detail. You want all of the

touch points of your company to give

customers a cohesive and powerful

experience that they won’t forget.

Shared by: Bert Shlensky, President at startupconnection, SUCCEED Member

Put These Words to Work:

Identify one fear that is holding

you back in your business. Find

a mentor who has experienced

the same fear—and learn how

he or she overcame it.

“Everything you’ve ever wanted is on the other side of fear.”

George Addairreal estate developer, founder of Omega Vector

Shared by: Tracy A. Campbell, Founder and CEO at Cynosure Risk Advisors LLC, SUCCEED Member

Damon RunyonAmerican newspaperman and author

“He who tooteth not his own horn, the same shall not be tooted.”

Taylor Pero, Independent Entertainment Professional, SUCCEED Member

Put These Words to Work: Get out there and market

your business. Network and get used to saying good

(true) things about yourself and your company.

Put These Words to Work: The next time

your business faces unexpected hardship, use

the situation as an opportunity to reach out

to the community for help instead of going at

it alone. You may be surprised at how much

stronger your company becomes as a result.

“It’s not what happens to you that matters. It’s how you respond to what happens to you that makes a difference.”

Zig Ziglarauthor, salesman and motivational speaker

Shared by: Nancy Smallwood, GPC, Economic Development Representative at Georgia Mountains Regional Commission, SUCCEED Member

Over the next 30 days, start doing one new thing to support greater business success. For example, choose one social media platform to learn and start using to promote your brand.

Advice InspirationAction

Don’t buy into the definition of success that others hand you. Make up your own mind about what success means for your business.

“Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” — Abraham Lincoln

What words of wisdom have helped to inspire you and your business? Share them in our SUCCEED: Small Business Network Community.

Share this SlideShare with a fellow small business owner.