I love inspirational quotes.
You see them everywhere these days; strewn across LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, so I guess we’ve all become a little bit blind to them.
But there are a few great ones that have stuck with me over the years, whilst building my career.
So I’d like to share them with you today…
1. Wayne Gretzky.
Let’s start with this one…
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
Basically, it’s time to stop questioning yourself and just bloody do it.
Are you the kind of person who hates taking a risk? Do you find yourself making excuses like “it’s not the right time” and “they won’t like that idea anyway?”
Stop! This kind of attitude is just holding you back.
- Apply for that job that you never thought you’d have a chance of getting. Why not?
- Suggest that great idea that you’re not sure people will like. Why not?
- Ask for that pay rise that you absolutely deserve. Why not?
What’s the worst that will happen? Maybe you’ll get rejected… but it’s worth trying right?
And once you know, you know and can make a start on Plan B!
(Ok, if the “worst that can happen” is really, really bad, like death then perhaps rethink this one).
For some tips on how to stop that "nagging self-doubt" - check out this great post from The Daily Muse.
2. Walt Disney.
In the same vein…
“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.”
Quit your moaning.
There are too many people out there who struggle through work, moan all day about how much they hate their job, but who just don’t do anything about it.
You have choices; it’s just about actually making one – and taking action.
And if you’re not willing to try, then don’t bring everyone else down with your constant grumbling!
Life’s too short to hate your job.
Think it's time to leave? Check out this post to find out for sure!
3. Frank Sinatra.
And of course…
“The best revenge is massive success.”
Stop dwelling on how other people have wronged you, held you back and “ruined your career.”
Resentment will get you nowhere; taking action will.
We hear too many excuses these days from people who haven’t gotten to where they want to be because of “their boss,” “their co-workers”– and all sorts.
But this is your life; you need to get out there and start living it and stop focusing all of your energy on other people the whole time.
Recruiter Pro Tip Of course, “success” means different things to different people. The Richard Bransons of the world may have always set their sights on becoming ultra-rich and famous but for many of us, finding a great job that we love is more than enough. That is our definition of super-success!
If you’d like more tips on how to be happier at work, click here.
4. Aristotle
If you’ve ever worked as a salesperson or marketer, you’ve probably heard this before…
“There is only one way to avoid criticism: do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.”
The sad truth is; human beings like to complain.
In fact, a lot of people ten times more likely to write a nasty comment on social media, crush a new idea or nit-pick a new product than to just give someone a compliment.
But if you take every insult to heart and fear saying or doing anything because of them…
- You’ll never feel comfortable sticking up for yourself.
- You’ll never feel comfortable enough to voice your great ideas.
- In fact, you’ll never express an opinion on anything.
I’d certainly never publish a post like this!
I promise you – most employers would prefer someone brave enough to speak up, even with a bad idea, than someone who melts into the background, without anything to contribute.
You have to be ready, strong and happy to fight your corner.
5. George Eliot
And last, but certainly not least…
“It is never too late to be what you might have been.”
Never give up on your dream job!
There are so many flexible opportunities to learn and develop out there these days, so if you think your skills are holding you back… think again:
- Take a part time college course or degree.
- Use the internet to learn.
- Buy a book, audiotape or subscribe to a podcast.
Of course, if it’s fear holding you back – see point 1.
So to sum up…
Basically, we could condense these quotes into 3 similar points…
- Take action.
- Stop worrying about everyone else.
- It’s not too late.
…do you need to start taking some of this great advice?
If you’d like some more advice on how to boost your career, enhance your job search and just generally be happy, click here to subscribe to this weekly blog.
Need More Inspiration?
Check out these articles that reveal some more fab inspirational quotes!
- Top 100 Inspirational Quotes
- 50 Funny Motivational Quotes to Put a Smile On Your Face
- Inspirational and Motivational Quotes
Good luck.
