10 inspirational quotes to help you launch your business idea

We all need a pep talk now and again. Check out these wise words from respected business leaders for motivation and to help you take a leap of faith

Our experts

We are a team of writers, experimenters and researchers providing you with the best advice with zero bias or partiality.
Written and reviewed by:

Let’s be honest, starting a business is not easy. And even if you’ve done extensive market research and refined your idea for months on end – deciding to actually take that leap of faith and leave behind a steady, secure job for the entrepreneurial life is a tough decision to make.

The long hard road ahead of you can be daunting and the prospect of failure even more terrifying – but what the business greats of today would tell you is that you should never let fear hold you back.

And sometimes some inspirational words from a successful entrepreneur can give you that much-needed boost, a reassurance that starting your own business means becoming part of something great.

Whether you print out a quote for your office that particularly resonates with you or take one to heart as a personal mantra, cheesy or not, there’s a lot to be said for some inspirational words of wisdom.

So, with that in mind, we’ve pulled together 10 quotes to help inspire you to launch your business idea today…

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing


//

Arguably one of the world’s best-known companies – The Walt Disney Company began with just one man. Known for his incredible ability to tell stories, Walt Disney is infamous for his wise words.

There's no shortage of remarkable ideas, what's missing is the will to execute them


//

Seth Godin is an American entrepreneur, public speaker and author. He’s well known for his daily blog where you can find more of his insights.

If you are not embarrassed by the first version of your product, you've launched too late.


//

Reid Hoffman is the co-founder and executive chairman of LinkedIn. Now a partner at venture capital firm Greylock Partners, Hoffman was also an early backer of Facebook.

Sara Blakely quote


//

The youngest self-made female billionaire according to Forbes, Spanx founder Sara Blakely certainly knows a thing or two about business success.

If you just work on stuff you're passionate about, you don't have to have a master plan with how things will play out.


//

Mark Zuckerberg needs little introduction. The mastermind behind Facebook, he was recently named the world’s sixth-richest person. He’s well known for grand speeches about using business to change the world.

My passionate belief is that business can be fun, it can be conducted with love and a powerful force for good.


//

Dame Anita Roddick was a British entrepreneur, human rights activist, and environmental campaigner. Roddick founded The Body Shop (which she eventually sold for £652m) and was a trailblazer for ethical causes.

I'm convinced that about half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.


//

Steve Jobs must be one of the most quoted business leaders of all time. The Apple founder’s leadership came under scrutiny in the recent Steve Jobs film but he is undoubtedly one of America’s great innovators.

What do you need to start a business? Three simple things: Know your product better than anyone, know your customer, and have a burning desire to succeed.


//

The man behind one of America’s most popular fast-food chains, Wendy’s founder Dave Thomas became a TV personality and household name after appearing in the restaurant’s ads.

Don't worry about failure; you only have to be right once.


//

Serial American entrepreneur Drew Houston worked at several start-ups before co-founding Dropbox at just 24. As chief executive, he has helped grow the business to a valuation of $10bn.

Business opportunities are like buses there's always another one coming.


//

A fitting way to end, Richard Branson is probably the best-known British entrepreneur – and certainly one of the most admired. Starting his first business at 16, he has since built the Virgin Group into a huge empire. Not surprising he’s often cited as start-up owners’ business hero.

Written by:
Aimee is Startups' resident expert in business tech, products, and services. She loves a great story and enjoys chatting to the startups and small business community. Starting her own egg delivery business from the age of 12, she has a healthy respect for self-starters and local services.

Leave a comment

Leave a reply

We value your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. Please review our commenting policy.

Back to Top