1. George Burns
“Don’t stay in bed, unless you can make money in bed.”
2. Lilly Tomlin
“The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat.”
3. Charles Dickens
“Few great men would have got past personnel.”
4. Charles Simic
“Inside my empty bottle I was constructing a lighthouse while all the others were making ships.”
5. Alan Greenspan
“I have found no greater satisfaction than achieving success through honest dealing and strict adherence to the view that, for you to gain, those you deal with should gain as well.”
6. Tom Peters
“The best kept secret in the global economy today is this: When your service is AWESOME you get so stinking rich you have to buy new bags to carry all the money home.”
7. Sam Walton
“The key to success is to get out into the store and listen to what the associates have to say. It’s terribly important for everyone to get involved. Our best ideas come from clerks and stock boys.”
8. Vince Lombardi
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses, or the problems of modern society.”
9. Bill Gates
“You’re most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning.”
10. Albert Einstein
“The significant problems we face today cannot be solved at the same level of thinking we were at when we created them.”
11. Peter Drucker
“So much of what we call management consists in making it difficult for people to work.”
12. Cynthia Heimel
“When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap.”
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{ 41 comments… read them below or add one }
#2 and #4 are awesome. I want to print them out and hang them up above my computer.
Specifically #2. I’ve heard the rat race thing before, and it’s just funny…albeit true. But the lighthouse quote is so creative, and so applicable to business.
Eugene recently posted..Why Your “Mention” Posts Are a Waste of Time
Hey Eugene – I’m just getting back to replying to comments after my vacation! But I had to jump the line and reply to yours. I LOVE the Charles Simic quote too … it is my favorite. In fact, I just wrote an entire post about that quote:)
On another topic… it is too funny (at least I hope you weren’t referring to me… nah…) that you wrote your post about “mention posts” right on the heels of my mentioning you in a post without a heads a up. Not even a little tweet:)
No cell service can kind of get in the way of communication. Loved your post.
Theresa
Actually that happened to be pure coincidence. It wasn’t really targeted at anyone in particular. I came across another blog mentioning me and it spared the thought in my head. I come here often enough to know right when you’ve mentioned me
Eugene recently posted..My Failed Savage Experiment
The dates didn’t even jive:) It WAS pretty funny… you could have pointed right at me! This is my perfect opportunity to say thank you for being such a great guy and for being such a regular visitor here. I love your comments. You have the best sense of humor! You’re smart! And you’re fun to have around.
Thanks Eugene
T
Hey Eugene!
Found #2 funny too! At the end you’re still a rat! Good one! #5′s pretty good too!
Martinsays: Thanks
Martin recently posted..Introducing my first baby- Smatr SM Bar WordPress plugin
Haha, yes. #5…tried and true advice.
Eugene recently posted..My Failed Savage Experiment
Hi Theresa,
Are you still outdoors?
My fav is number 12. Being creative is one of the most valuable skills to have and use. Risk is built in of course. Van Gogh was mainly rejected, until he died. Now the most expensive painting in the world is his Sunflowers! Go figure…
Greetings,
Derek
Derek Potocki recently posted..Disease In Personal Development Blogs
Hi Derek!
We’re baaaack. You know, I loved that quote at #12 too! Thought I’d close with a good one. AND I’m not at all surprised it would speak to you. You have a great sense of humor and you are wildly creative. This is the perfect Derek quote!
So, are you going to print it and frame it? Or do you think this way as a naturally as you breathe?:)
Does cutting off an ear qualify as being a gigantic idiot? I guess so.
T
Thanks for inspiration in 160 characters or less!! Great quotes!!
You are welcome Ken!
Hey Theresa,
Like usual you got us all thinking.
I liked all the quotes.
Make sure to take care of the people working for you, listen to them, listen to your customers, take care of your customers and make sure you are working all you can, but not too much. If you do this, you will be rich
Daniel M. Wood recently posted..Motivational Tip 7 – Letting it all out- Singing- Screaming
Hey Daniel –
What a perfect reply… you are the guy I would think of when asked who I know who has awesome leadership skills. Especially one who knows how to take care of the people who work for him. And in your field, sales, this is an incredible skill to possess.
Working… but not too much.
I like that too.
Theresa
Hey Theresa,
Thanks a lot for the compliment.
I do my best
Leadership is very, very difficult though.
I have been successful at getting my employees both loyal and motivated, but sometimes I am to lack on the discipline, it is hard to find that perfect balance between good discipline, caring and listening and motivational coach.
Daniel M. Wood recently posted..New Posting Schedule
Hey Theresa,
#1 and #4 are awesome, quotes that make you laugh while inspiring you are always the best. Somehow humor works all ways and always! Now, I don’t have entrepreneurial advice to share but these quotes do most of the that just fine!
Lovely compilation!
Hajra recently posted..Reasons I am Breaking Up With Your Blog!
Hey Hajra –
I love the funny ones too. Especially the ‘make money in bed’ quote. Makes you think… doesn’t it?
Same with the rat race quote… a race some people really want to win. ??!?
So glad you liked the quotes:)
Theresa
Hi Theresa,
Love the Albert Einstein quote. Wish all our leaders today could read this. Perhaps then we could get back to the business of creating business on a national level. Enjoy the fresh air and your time away.
Ron
That’s a great one too Ron! But… so many of our politicians are not business owners. What a disconnect!
We had a good time away. Thank you. It is wonderful hearing from you! Hope all is well in your world.
Theresa
Hi T
Another vacation post – how long is this vacation lasting?
You must be very bored by now. LOL
Quotes are great snippets of wisdom and you’ve put together a wonderful collection there.
Not sure if my small effort adds to the discussion but I rather like….
“Don’t learn the tricks of the trade… learn the trade.”
Got to apply to any business.
See you when you return – if you return. LOL
Keith Davis recently posted..Online Video- Un Art… Une Technique
Hi Keith –
Did you think by now that I was never coming home? Thought about it. But, hey at least I came home to a three day weekend on the horizon. Get to take some baby steps back into things. Not really. It was more like running into a brick wall. Haha. So much to do!
This is the fun stuff though, I must say. I have enjoyed all of the comments so much. Couldn’t hop on my Blackberry in the Canyonlands – no service. What a treat.
Double treat. I got a break and I get to come home to comments like yours! Thank you!
I really love the ‘learn the trade quote’.
T
Theresa,
It has been so rainy here…hope you had sunshine down in your part of Utah.
I love these quotes. It is always nice to have someone put simple truths into words. I will be forwarding a few to the Twitterverse.
Sheila Atwood recently posted..Be Social Be Rich – Amazon Book by Martha Giffen
Hi Sheila –
Oh, did we get some rain. And we had great weather too (low 70s). The coolest thing about the rain was our campsite had a rather large grotto, or cave. We actually cooked meals in ‘our cave’. How cool is that? We got lucky finding that campsite! And the Canyonlands, as you know, can get pretty hot. All in all the weather was fine… especially with the right gear:) And I know you understand that!
Thanks for your tweets on this post. I’ve never done an all quote post before. And I really enjoyed putting this one together.
Theresa
I’m a quote junkie — thanks for the fix. LOL
Your collection is exquisite, but my two favorites are from Lilly Tomlin and Cynthia Heimel.
Happy vacationing, Theresa!
Will you be returning with souvenirs for us?
Mel
Melanie Kissell @SoloMompreneur recently posted..Be Social Be Rich
Hi Mel! No souvenirs… just great pics. And my undying appreciation for great friends like you! Missed you! I have got some catching up to do!
How’s your post for the blog contest? Has it been published? Can’t wait to support you on that!
So glad you liked the quotes. And I’m not at all surprised at your favorites. You love to laugh. And you have a wonderful sense of the ironic and clever. And being wonderfully creative, too! Enough? Stop already? I can’t say enough about how much I love the way you view the world:)
Theresa
So glad you asked!
Last week, I finally finished my guest post for the We Blog Better contest and submitted it for review. Kiesha sent along a thank-you note with a promise to let me know when it will (magically) appear on her blog so the voting can begin. Sheila offered to “rally the troops” … and I’m going to need all the rallying possible! I’ve been keeping up with all the entries so far and I gotta tell ya … there’s some darn good ones. But I’m not going to worry too much. Did the best I can and I’ve got lots of wonderful friends, like YOU, who are willing to support me.
About my view of the world …
I can be as sarcastic and cynical as the next guy, but what’s the use? Humor is healing and I’d much rather avoid psychotherapy fees.
Melanie Kissell @SoloMompreneur recently posted..Rainbow Farts
I just know you will do well Melanie! I will be thrilled to support you! Can’t wait to read your post.
I’ll visit the contest too. it will be fun to read posts from so many bloggers. Especially those that are written for a contest.
You will knock their socks off I’m sure. And you absolutely have my vote. And wild promotion!
Theresa
Einstein is one of my favorites. Most folks don’t realize how “out there” he was with his thinking later in life — his scientific mind mingled with the spiritual. He knew that one must be in the “mood of the solution” to find the answer to problems we are tackling.
Hi Rob!
I could do a post consisting entirely of Einstein quotes and feel complete. Haha! We have his photo hanging on a wall in our house. Wild hair and all.
I like how you’ve phrased in the “mood of the solution”. It’s perfect. Brilliant forward thinking.
~Theresa
btw – thanks for connecting on Twitter!
Theresa: I love them all and I think every single one of them inspires great thinking. This is a list we should review all the time
Great quotes. Thanks for passing them along.
Sibyl recently posted..What You Absoutely Must Get Rid of If You Want Success
You are welcome Sibyl! Finding the thinking quotes was a blast.
And the quotes have already inspired a second post! You’re right… great quotes are worth returning to, over and over. I’m so glad you liked this list:)
~Theresa
Like so many of the other commenters, I love quotes. Yours made me think of another I ran across today:
A reporter interviewing A.J. Muste, who during the Vietnam War stood in front of the White House night after night with a candle, one rainy night asked,”Mr. Muste, do you really think you are going to change the policies of this country by standing out here alone at night with a candle?” Muste replied, “Oh, I don’t do it to change the country, I do it so the country won’t change me.”
Hi Sherill!
Wow… it’s so great to have you comment here! Thank you. And welcome!
What a powerful and thought provoking quote. I love it. His attitude was right on. And he did get noticed, didn’t he? One man. With a candle. Hmmm.
Thanks for sharing this.
Theresa
btw- See you Saturday! Can’t wait to try out a new golf course!
My favorite is number #12. Cynthia Heimel
“When in doubt, make a fool of yourself. There is a microscopically thin line between being brilliantly creative and acting like the most gigantic idiot on earth. So what the hell, leap.”
Being creative is one of the most valuable skills to have and use. Risk is built in of course. Van Gogh was mainly rejected, until he died. Now the most expensive painting in the world is his Sunflowers! Thanks.
Karen recently posted..Total Hip Replacement Surgery
You’ve posted about the lighthouse quote before and I already loved it since then. Every bit of the quotes here is a vitamin. Very applicable and helpful in guiding in our business especially with the economic situation and the increasing awareness of customers to what is good and bad in products or brands. Thanks a lot for sharing these quotes Theresa. You remain AWESOME!
Extreme John recently posted..Business Blitz: 10 Crucial Business Questions to Ask Yourself
These quotes are very cunning but it also genuinely applies to your entrepreneurial skills. I am truly impressed by these quotes especially because they are said by amazing people in the business industry. It could also help a lot of people think like a businessman professionally.
Extreme John recently posted..Weekly Link Dump 52: The Occupy Wall Street Campaign
Hi Theresa,
Great list of quotes by some awesome entrepreneurs. Being a Football fan I have to go with the Vince Lombardi quote.
Take Care…
Justin | Personal Growth recently posted..How to Turn your Passion to Fulfill your Dreams
Intresting post, very applicable and helpful in guiding in our business especially with the economic situation and the increasing awareness of customers to what is good and bad in products or brands. Thanks a lot for sharing these quotes, keep up good work.
Claudia Simpson recently posted..Forex
My fav is number 12. Being creative is one of the most valuable skills to have and use. Risk is built in of course. Van Gogh was mainly rejected, until he died. Now the most expensive painting in the world is his Sunflowers, thanks for sharing.
Nathan Stark recently posted..Forex Easy
I love the first one, which I’ll be using on a friend who loves to stay in bed all day. These are all good quotes and touch on different aspects.
Lea recently posted..Happy Holidays
Thank you for sharing such inspirational quotes. All of them are worthy and deep thinking.
Round Stickers
#1 is the quote right for me. I also like the quote by Bill Gates. It is true that we can learn a lot from customers that have complains. Their comments can be useful in improving my service or product.
Jeff recently posted..DTS Home
These quotes are so true and I can relate to almost all of them. I like the quote by Charles Simic. Being creative and trying something new is one of an entrepreneurs objective.
Kenneth recently posted..homes for sale in Malaysia