I don’t believe anyone should need to hear a bunch of quotes to get themselves fired up for success — all the time. However, sometimes we have to consider opinions from others who’ve traveled a similar path to the one we’re considering embarking upon to truly appreciate the struggle ahead. And to cultivate the resolve needed to overcome what may.
1.”The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
This from a man who surely understood fear. Mandela spent 27 years in prison for being a South African revolutionary. He viewed his time in prison as an opportunity to educate himself, so that he be prepared to lead his people upon his release.
He’s still an inspiration and beacon of peace after his death a few years ago. All men and women in positions of greatness admit that fear is something they all feel.
2.“You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space.” – Johnny Cash
The Man in Black lived a storied life and touched so many souls through his music, special concerts and philanthropy, he’ll never be forgotten.
Strangely enough, his career was built on singing about despair, failure and redemption. What a legend!
3.“I’d rather be partly great than entirely useless.” – Neal Shusterman
Acclaimed writer Shusterman is so good at his craft that Orson Scott Card asked him to write spinoff books of his famous Ender’s Game series. How many of you feel like you’re in the “entirely useless” column of life right now?
Time to get up and get out there!
4.”There are always a lot of people so afraid of rocking the boat that they stop rowing. We can never get ahead that way.” – Harry S. Truman
Harry was the 33rd President of the United States and was charged with the difficult decision to obliterate Hiroshima and Nagasaki at the end of WWII, and made the single-handed decision to enter the Korean War.
This tough decision-maker, like so many Presidents before and after, changed the entire face of the country during his two terms. Rock the boat — as hard as you can!
5.”Fortune befriends the bold.” – John Dryden
Poet John Dryden was so prolific during the late 1600s in England that an entire era was been coined after him! Restoration England, or The Age of Dryden as it’s so often called, was a turbulent time in the country’s history.
His poems, literary critiques, and opinion pieces influenced his entire generations and those that followed for over a hundred years. Be bold and fortune is soon to follow!
6.”We should all start to live before we get too old. Fear is stupid. So are regrets.” – Marilyn Monroe
One of the most beloved blonde bombshells in history, Marilyn was secretly an extremely thoughtful, intelligent and driven (brunette) model and actress who had to overcome the extreme sexism that still existed in the middle part of the last century.
Sadly, she completely embodied the message in this quote, including being immortalized as an ageless beauty who died two months after her 36th birthday. You never know when you’re day is coming. Live now or you’ll die with regrets in your heart!
7.”Once men are caught up in an event they cease to be afraid. Only the unknown frightens men.” – Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
What a great quote from France’s premiere pioneering aviator. He was also a writer, poet, French aristocrat and major influencer during his short 44 years on this planet. Despite being born into wealth and considered one of the most prolific writers of the early 1900s, the man never shied away from his moral duties, becoming a reconnaissance pilot during WWII, despite being over the maximum age for being a war pilot.
He died during his final mission. So true that once we’re actually in the middle of something (like a battle) the fear ceases, instinct kick in, and winning/living are all that matter.
8.“Failure is so important. We speak about success all the time. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success. I’ve met people who don’t want to try for fear of failing.” – J.K. Rowling
This half-billionaire is the author of the best-selling book series of all time, Harry Potter (for those who didn’t know). The Harry Potter brand is estimated at a value of $15 billion dollars and there’s not a millennial or parent of said millennials that doesn’t know who this beautiful lady is. Marriage, divorce, child-rearing, poverty and depression all plagued Rowling during her ascent to greatness.
She claims the failure of her career and marriage actually allowed her to relax and settle into writing her first Harry Potter book. Guess if you’re completely down and out, you have nothing to lose!
9.“Develop success from failures. Discouragement and failure are two of the surest stepping stones to success.” – Dale Carnegie
Author of the best-selling How to Win Friends and Influence People, Carnegie’s best-known work is still on the must-read list of many who’ve risen to greatness. This despite the fact that the book was penned back in 1936! I’ve never personally been able to get through the book myself, it just doesn’t sing to me as many claim it should.
Regardless of what I may think of his book, his name represents one of the biggest personal and career development brands on the planet, Dale Carnegie Training. It’s been a premiere training resource for individuals and companies across the globe since 1919, and has continued to grow long after his death over sixty years ago now. Talk about immortalizing oneself!
10.”Part of being a winner is knowing when enough is enough. Sometimes you have to give up the fight and walk away, and move on to something that’s more productive.” – Donald Trump
The Donald doesn’t really have a rags-to-riches story. He was born into wealth and took over where his father left off in his real estate business. However, unlike your typical spoiled rich kid, Trump turned a business into an empire! However, he’s immortalized himself with the Trump Tower in Manhattan, and has failed at more of his goals than most people have actually set for themselves through their life.
He even dabbled in the entertainment business back in the 70s, before redeeming himself with the success of The Apprentice. Now, as a Republican candidate for President, he’s providing more shock value now at almost 70 years old than he ever has before. Which is saying a lot — his net worth, for instance, has been cause for many brouhahas and legal battles over the years.
It’s hard to imagine he’d walk away from anything, so use this advice with care..
Main Image Credit: BK/Flickr