10 Quotes for Leaders, Business Owners, and Entrepreneurs

By Abel Pagaling

Great quotes are like streetlights, created by individuals who have traveled the path to success. They serve as wisdom to help guide us along the way. They are used to illuminate our path in our journey in life.

When people are looking to you for wisdom and guidance, you can’t give what you don’t have. This is why I recommend to everyone, especially leaders, entrepreneurs, or managers, to memorize quotes, or at least have a notebook of quotes. Create a source or personal database of quotes if you will, ready for your access at any given moment.

Personally, my favorite quotes are found in the Bible. Growing up I’ve been taught to read and memorize verses from the Bible which have served me well throughout the years. The book of Proverbs is my favorite. To me, the Bible is still the best leadership guide.

Here are my top 10 quotes (note, my first four are from the Bible):

1. “Without vision, people perish. But he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” – Proverbs 29:18

Would you start building a house without a plan? You can have the best equipment, best material, best technology, but without a plan, they’re useless. All great accomplishments starts with a vision. From your big goals to the small task, before you do anything, think about what it will look like once it is done. As the late Steven Covey said in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, “Begin with an end in mind.”

2. “The wealth of the rich is their fortified city, but poverty is the ruin of the poor.” Proverbs 10:15

Western nations have led in sciences, technology, space, etc. because of wealth, while poor nations continue to spiral more into hardship. Wealth can be used in many good ways. The rich have resources and ability to do great things because of their wealth and influence.

3. “For lack of guidance a nation falls, but victory is won through many advisers.” -Proverbs 11:14

This is true for nations, as it is for individuals. When faced with a situation, do you seek advice before you act? Have you actively built a list of advisors? Advisors allow you to see your situation in different angles. They give you the ability to make informed and “thought out” decisions.

4. “Walk with the wise to become wise, for a companion of fools suffers harm.” -Proverbs 13:20

It is said, you are the average of the five people you hang out with. Who you dialogue with on a regular basis has a significant influence on who you are and what you’ll become. Pick individuals you can learn from, who can challenge you and teach you. Seek people who can help you get to your next level in your business, career, organization, or anything you are pursuing.

5. Our work is the presentation of our capabilities. -Edward Gibbon

Your work is an extension of you. When people look at your work, they are looking at you. The results you give out is a reflection of what you have to offer, your abilities, and how you perform. Always bring your best work to the table.

6. There is only one boss. The customer. And he can fire everybody in the company from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else. -Sam Walton

If you fail to listen to your boss, sooner or later, you’ll lose your job. It’s that simple. In business, customers are the bosses. Understand what they need. Offer them value they can’t or will find difficult to refuse. Stay ahead of the competition, or lose to them.

7. If you don’t drive your business, you will be driven out of business. -B. C. Forbes

This is self-explanatory.   Have you ever fallen asleep while driving? You probably don’t want to experience that because you know what can happen. The same thing with business. If you own a business, drive it each day or find individuals who are capable of driving it. Complacency from within strengthens your competitors.

8. An organization’s ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage. -Jack Welch

The reason the Japanese quickly rose to economic superpower after World War 2 is that they learned quickly, and produced goods faster than other countries. In the 80’s, American car companies took four years to create new models of their vehicles. The Japanese shortened this down to 2 years. In 10 years period, the Japanese built five models, while the Americans only did 2. Guess who learned more from each model they created?

9. Sales are contingent upon the attitude of the salesman – not the attitude of the prospect. -W. Clement Stone

Don’t underestimate a customer. People are smart. Your attitude towards your customer will show. As I’ve said already, you can’t give what you don’t have. Treat your clients with the right attitude. This goes for all customers, including your employees (your internal customers).

10. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma – which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. – Steve Jobs

I don’t think this requires too much explanation. But I’ll add this, “Passion follows profit.” Do what you’re passionate about. And be passionate about what you do.

Abel Pagaling is a co-founder of FCM.

He is a manager, an entrepreneur, a writer, a community servant, and a motivational speaker. His passion is personal development and leadership.

Email: abel.pagaling@filcanmagazine.com

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