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Quotes are popular for a reason – sometimes a short piece of wisdom is exactly what you need to inspire you, keep you honest, or ground you in your values. The ideas that tend to stick with you may be big ideas contained in small pieces of text or simple tips that help you remember something important. They can feel inspiring and give us principles to remember to live by.
I have been known to wear a variety of t-shirts printed with motivational words to help me remember something important to me and to inspire others around me because I love sharing an inspiring message. Here are eight of my favorite CEO quotes and why I think they’re helpful to remember:
Related: 30 of the Most Inspiring Leadership Quotes
1. “If you don’t have an assistant, you’re one!” -Cameron Herold, author and coach
One of my favorite quotes that motivated me to take action is this quote from Cameron Herold. This quote represents one of the most important lessons an entrepreneur should learn – your time is your most valuable resource, so spend it on the tasks that matter most. This means delegating anything that doesn’t require your level of expertise. Would you pay someone your salary to do assistant work? If you don’t have one, you already do!
2. “It’s okay to admit what you don’t know. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s okay to listen to the people you lead—in fact, it’s essential.” – Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
Strong leadership requires a certain level of vulnerability. Admitting when you don’t know something, asking for help and listening to your employees are signs of an effective leader. A leader who tries to do everything alone will never achieve as much as a leader who values the expertise of others.
3. “All our productivity, influence, and insight come from being part of a community, not separate from it. The goal, I believe, is to learn how to become more dependent, not less.” – Seth Godin, author and speaker
One of the most important leadership lessons you must learn is that your business’s greatest asset is your team. Each person brings a unique perspective and skill set, and the best innovations happen in collaboration. Your community extends beyond your team, too—friends, mentors, and family members all provide valuable and enriching relationships. Don’t neglect them.
4. “There is no legacy richer than honesty.” – William Shakespeare
If there’s anyone who has managed to create a remarkable legacy, it’s Shakespeare. More than what you accomplish, people will remember the way you conducted yourself. Your legacy doesn’t just begin after you die; It’s already in progress, in the way people communicate with you. A legacy and a good reputation as an honest person will take you far.
Related: 15 quotes about success from America’s top CEOs
5. “You can’t use up creativity. The more you use it, the more you have.” – Maya Angelou
As the CEO of your company, your creativity is one of your most valuable skills, so it’s worth taking the time to practice it. I’m known for dedicating a day each week to creative endeavors to help keep my creative muscles in shape. I highly encourage everyone to set aside specific time for creativity, because the more often you do it, the easier it will be for ideas to come to you.
6. “The pessimist is he who makes difficulties out of his opportunities, and the optimist is he who makes difficulties his opportunities.” —Harry S. Truman
Stop letting your thoughts get in your way. It’s easy to adopt a pessimistic attitude under the guise of “realism,” but the truth is that optimists are the ones who tend to have the best results. Why? Because they are not easily discouraged, they are more likely to learn from their mistakes and keep trying. As opera singer Robert Brault said: “The realist sees reality as concrete. The optimist sees reality as clay.”
7. “What looks like multitasking is actually switching back and forth between multiple tasks, which reduces productivity and increases errors by up to 50%.” – Susan Cain, author
If you’re like most entrepreneurs I know, you’re always trying to make the most of your time. Time is your most valuable resource, so it’s important to use it wisely – which is exactly why multitasking is a bad idea. You will always get more work done when you focus on one task and give it your all.
RELATED: “Let’s punch today in the face!” 20 inspirational quotes and sayings that motivate successful entrepreneurs
8. “The best way to drive performance in an organization is to create an environment in which information can flow freely, errors can be highlighted, and help can be given and received.” -Simon Sinek, author and speaker
Creating a productive workplace culture may seem too complicated for many executives, but at its core is collaboration, where each employee is given the resources needed to perform at their best. In order to achieve strong collaboration, you need a creative, judgment-free environment where people can bring their ideas, perspectives, and experiences to the table, communicate freely, take ownership of their tasks, ask for help when needed, and have the freedom to make mistakes. When you create a culture of collaboration, that’s where innovation begins.
If you find one of these quotes particularly inspiring or helpful, write it on a sticky note and put it somewhere you can see it regularly. Sometimes these short reminders are exactly what we need to refocus and maintain perspective.
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