We all need motivation from time to time when facing a difficult circumstance.
You might have a problem at your current job, a struggle with a girlfriend or wife, a roadblock in starting a new career, or just a lack of belief in yourself.
And we all know:
When you’re faced with these circumstances, it’s easy to get stuck in your own head… stuck in negative thoughts and self-doubt… stuck without any inspiration or motivation to drive forward.
Now:
No one likes to be in this position…
…so when you are, try one of the most powerful ways to quickly gain motivation and become inspired:
Read inspirational sayings, quotes and words.
They’re like the cliff notes of inspiration… not the entire book, just the most important, most motivational parts to give you a quick burst of inspiration.
Plus, they’re a reminder that great people you respect have gone through similar struggles to yours… and (as their legacy shows you) have thrived.
So… to help you find all the motivation and inspiration you need, here is a list of the 100 best inspirational words, sayings and quotes.
They’ll inspire and motivate you to accomplish greater things, help you achieve what you thought was impossible, and enable you to tackle life’s problems with absolute confidence.
The 100 Most Inspirational Sayings, Quotes, and Words to Lift You Up
100.
“It had long since come to my attention that people of accomplishment rarely sat back and let things happen to them. They went out and happened to things.”
~Leonardo da Vinci (Renaissance Man/Inventor)
Though you’ve heard the expression “good things come to those who wait”, da Vinci believed good things come to those who make things happen.
Usually, when people wait for things to come to them, it’s because they’re lazy, not because waiting is the best thing for them to do.
Think about this:
Do you achieve our goals when you wait around for a stroke of luck…
…or when you roll up your sleeves and chase those goals?
As you work, you’ll get closer and closer to achieving your dreams. Take da Vinci… he painted the Mona Lisa, invented the helicopter, and engineered canal systems and waterways… he clearly didn’t wait for things to happen to him.
So what’s the takeaway da Vinvi’s inspirational words?
If you want good things to happen to you, roll up your sleeves and get to work.
99.
“A dream doesn’t become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.”
~Colin Powell (American Statesman/Retired Four-Star General
We all know the person who has dreams, but waits around for the “right time” for things to “fall into place” before they do something about it.
Now… doesn’t that sound a little crazy?
Of course it does.
If it’s your dream it will have to be your effort that makes it a reality…
…you won’t live your dream if you wait aimlessly for a magical moment of luck.
Instead, take your future into your own hands, and pour in the sweat, determination and hard work that is needed for your dream to become reality.
98.
“Don’t wait. The time will never be just right.”
~Napoleon Hill (American Author)
A lot of people wait to start something new like a diet, workout plan, or job search until the next day…
…and eventually the next day will turn into next week and then next month and that person is still waiting for the “right time”.
But… here’s a secret:
There isn’t a “right time” for things to just happen… the right time to become a better, stronger, or more skillful person is right now.
Here’s the bottom line:
You only have so much time to achieve everything you want in your lifetime… so don’t waste any of it just waiting.
97.
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.”
~C.S. Lewis (British Novelist/Poet)
There is no age limit on dreaming. Sometimes it’s not until later in life that some people find a new purpose.
For example:
Legendary comedian Rodney Dangerfield didn’t reach his peak until after he was 40.
Popular actor Morgan Freeman didn’t win his first Golden Globe until age 53, and wasn’t even in major films until after he was 40.
Look:
Don’t feel like it’s ever too late to start something new. If chasing a new dream will make you happy, just do it!
96.
“The journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.”
~Lao Tzu (Ancient Chinese Poet and Author
It can be hard to be satisfied with just a small effort.
Think about it:
When you look at your entire plan for success, it’s easy to feel defeated if all you can do right now is make a small step toward your goal… you want to make giant leaps instead.
But here’s the thing:
No matter how small each effort is…
…it’s progress!
It can be a bunch of small steps that lead you to your overall dream… and if small steps are all you can do right now, that’s fine.
Remain patient with yourself, and push toward your goal! Remember… you succeed just by moving forward.
95.
“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.”
-Ayn Rand (Russian-born American Novelist/Philosopher/Playwright)
What’s your dream that fills you with passion and ambition?
You could want an awesome career, a life filled with adventures, or a loving partner, to name a few.
Now… this motivational quote is actually a wake-up call:
No matter what you want to achieve, don’t let any person (or any obstacle) stop you.
No one has the power to “let” you do what you want… you have the right to pursue happiness and a better life for yourself.
Find a way around each obstacle in the path to your dream, because what you want is worth it!
94.
“If not us, who? If not now, when?”
~John F. Kennedy (35th U.S. President)
This is your call to action.
You know what needs to be done to reach your goals, and guess what…
…nobody is going to do it for you.
There’s not a more perfect time than now, and there is no one more capable than you to achieve your dreams.
Use these inspirational words to stay motivated by remembering how awesome your dream is, stay inspired by listening to positive people tell you can do it, and make it happen now while you’re excited!
93.
“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
~Thomas A. Edison (American Inventor)
Like most inventors… Edison didn’t create a perfectly-working invention the very first time he tried.
In fact… he and his team tried thousands of materials for several years before they found the right conductor for commercial electric light.
His secret?
Even in moments of frustration and discouragement, he remembered he hadn’t failed… he simply hadn’t succeeded yet.
Here’s the bottom line:
Maybe what you’re searching for is just around the corner… don’t give up and miss it!
92.
“Every strike brings me closer to the next home run.”
~Babe Ruth (Seven-Time World Series Champion)
Here’s the thing:
Your past is a great reference to see what didn’t work last time, but you should never define yourself by what went wrong in the past.
Now:
While you should remember failures you’ve had… don’t beat yourself up, but do examine and see why what you did didn’t work.
If you can do that consistently…
…you won’t make the same mistakes twice, and you’ll be a stronger, smarter man, ready for your next home run!
91.
“What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?”
~Robert H. Schuller (American Motivational Speaker/Author)
Most men are too fearful of failure, the unknown, or others’ reactions to chase their dream.
But… what if fear didn’t exist? What if you weren’t weighed down by self-doubt, anxiety and worry? What would you be left with?
Clarity. Focus. Determination.
You’d have a clear, optimistic mind, that wasn’t concerned with stress, doubt and failure… but instead on pushing forward, past setbacks and shortcomings, and hyper-focused on accomplishing your goals.
90.
“There is something beautiful about a blank canvas, the nothingness of the beginning that is so simple and breathtakingly pure. It’s the paint that changes its meaning and the hand that creates the story. Every piece begins the same, but in the end they are all uniquely different.”
~Piper Payne
Everyone’s life began with the same blank canvas… as just a baby with no knowledge, passions, hobbies or career desires.
But:
Your experiences and choices over time changed you into who you are now, and you have different dreams, histories and struggles than your peers… your life may have even had a new blank canvas at some point (after a job loss, breakup, or family trouble).
Now get this:
You can’t compare your achievements to anyone else’s, because you have very different stories, and your life’s ‘canvas’ isn’t finished.
You’re still writing your story, so don’t judge it as a finished work of art yet.
89.
“Even if you fall on your face, you’re still moving forward.”
~Victor Kiam (Entrepreneur/Former New England Patriots Owner)
Many people view a failure as the end of the road to success.
They will think that the mistake they made is too big to keep going… that there’s no point in continuing because they’ve already proven that they can’t do it.
But here’s the thing:
After you’ve fallen, you get a chance to pause… and look at your mistake up close.
You can learn why you failed, and you get a chance to understand what you could have done to avoid falling.
And it gets better:
After you pick yourself up and continue to move forward, you’ll realize that you’re strong… and that a little bump in the road won’t stop you from reaching your dream.
88.
“Keep away from people who try to belittle your ambitions. Small people always do that, but the really great ones make you feel that you too can become great.”
~Mark Twain (American Author)
Have you ever heard the phrase “iron sharpens iron”?
It refers to how only a strong iron sword was used to shave away the imperfections of another iron sword.
Weaker materials than iron would break or dent… and the iron sword’s imperfections would never be removed.
How does this relate to inspiration?
It’s a reminder and a wake-up call:
The people you surround yourself with shouldn’t sap your inspiration…
…they should build you up, make you stronger, and let you know you can be great. If this isn’t how the people around you make you feel… it’s time to find new people!
87.
“Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.”
~Henry David Thoreau (American Author/Poet)
There are two parts of Thoreau’s inspirational quote that stick out:
Go confidently into your future
Find the direction of your dreams
‘Go confidently’ is a pretty clear command… don’t be afraid of failing, because any forward motion toward your dreams is better than no motion at all.
Now:
You should also create a clear direction for your life so you can know what the best steps are to achieve the dream.
Try these steps if you need ideas how to start moving in the direction of your dream:
Be smart with your money (save what you can), commit to doing your best work (not just working late), and surround yourself with positive influences (iron sharpens iron!).
86.
“When you want to succeed as bad as you want to breathe, then you’ll be successful.”
~Eric Thomas (Motivational Speaker)
If you’ve ever had the wind knocked out of you, then you know the feeling of suffocating… the feeling of wanting nothing more than your next breath.
Now:
If you focus on achieving your goals as intensely as you do catching your next breath…
…then you’ll undoubtedly find success.
Need proof?
Eric Thomas was homeless in Detroit for years before he decided to go to college… and even then it took him 12 years to get an undergrad degree. But since he was hyper-focused on succeeding as a motivational speaker, he now influences millions of people worldwide.
Here’s the bottom line:
If you need success as much as you need air, you’ll work incredibly hard to get it.
Check out this incredibly motivational video with more from Eric Thomas:
85.
“You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore”
~Christopher Columbus (Italian Explorer/Navigator in the 1400’s)
Check this out:
To travel from Europe to Asia in the 1400’s, ships sailed south around Africa on a long, slow, winding journey.
Columbus was determined to find a better route and courageously did something few men ever had:
Sail west into the unknown, uncharted Atlantic.
Now:
While he didn’t find a direct route to Asia, he did discover the New World, and earned a permanent place in the history books.
Here’s the takeaway from Columbus’ inspirational quote:
Fear of the unknown holds you back, while courage will lead you to more opportunities and more success.
84.
“There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.”
~Napoleon Hill (Author, Think and Grow Rich)
Hill’s inspirational saying outlines three simple but vital steps to get what you want in life:
Step #1: Know exactly what you want.
Step #2: Believe wholeheartedly in your ability to get it.
Step #3: Stay hungry and don’t let anything stop you.
Now:
To me, step #3 is by far the most important… and here’s why:
Those who stay hungry for success don’t lose sight of their goals… because it’s this hunger that fuels you to work hard, to stay focused and to overcome any obstacle in your way.
So… follow the steps above, stay hungry and you’ll inevitably achieve your goals.
83.
“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
~Albert Einstein (German Theoretical Physicist)
A small mistake may lead to a failure in something you’re trying to accomplish…
…but you should look at those mistakes as stepping stones. Without them, there is no way to grow or test your strength in difficult times.
Here’s the bottom line:
Learn from mistakes to better yourself and don’t let the fear of making one hold you back from trying new things.
Instead, use the lessons you learn from mistakes to accomplish those new things better and faster than before!
82.
“Happiness is not something ready made. It comes from your own actions.”
~Dalai Lama (World-Renowned Tibetan Buddhist Monk)
Here’s something we can both agree on:
People generally want to increase their level of happiness with their lives.
For example:
You probably want a stable job, a great relationship, or exciting adventures that make great memories… and here’s the thing:
Happiness is achievable for you… you just have to be willing to act for it.
How?
Ask for the promotion, invest time in your relationships, and save money (for travel, for a house, for a safety net) so your dreams can be real.
81.
“Don’t compare yourself with anyone in this world. If you do so, you are insulting yourself.”
~Bill Gates (Microsoft Cofounder)
Here’s the deal:
The problem with comparing yourself to someone else is that you place their limitations on you and say that their best is your best.
That couldn’t be less true…
…because we are all gifted in different areas and your limitations are defined solely by you.
So:
Find what you are good at (or what you want to be good at) and practice what you need to in order to succeed…
…and you’ll be successful by your own standards, and not have to worry about anyone else’s.
80.
“So what do we do? Anything. Something. So long as we just don’t sit there. If we screw it up, start over. Try something else. If we wait until we’ve satisfied all the uncertainties, it may be too late.”
~Lee Iacocca (Automobile Executive)
Look:
Making a mistake is scary, but it should be equally as scary to you as never moving at all… after all, you can’t succeed if you don’t actively move toward your goal.
Even when you’re unsure about what to do, you can’t just wait to act until you’re absolutely sure…
…since so much could happen that’s out of your control, you’ll never be 100% sure that any plan will work.
Here’s the bottom line:
Sometimes you’ll have to just move forward with your passion, even through your doubts. It will be worth it in the end, when you succeed.
79.
“No one will hit you harder than life itself. It doesn’t matter how much you hit back. It’s about how much you can take, and keep fighting. How much can you suffer and keep moving forward? That is how you win.”
~Anderson Silva (Former UFC Middleweight Champion)
Many people think Anderson “The Spider” Silva is one of the most inspirational fighters the UFC has ever seen, and it’s because of his amazing endurance.
Get this:
Silva is 40 years old and has been training since age 14, and even though he’s taken many beatings in the octagon, he still competes.
Now:
What’s beating you down? A bad work environment, romantic ‘failures’, family trouble, physical illness or disability?
No matter what it is… you can ‘win’ in your own ring against these hardships. Even though suffering will come, you have to take one hit at a time and not give up on yourself.
Keep moving forward through the pain, and you’ll find the strength to do it again.
78.
“And where I excel is ridiculous, sickening, work ethic. You know, while the other guy’s sleeping? I’m working.”
~Will Smith (Actor)
No matter what type of work you do, you can find a way to do it even better.
You can stay late, study more, ask questions, volunteer for new projects, and stop complaining when you feel tired or defeated.
Now… listen to this:
To stand out against competitors you have to do what they won’t…
…make the sacrifices and put in the extra effort that separates you from the pack.
Here’s the bottom line:
You can attain career success and recognition, if you aren’t defined as one of the pack, but are exceptional in how hard you try to succeed.
77.
“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”
~Wayne Gretzky (Former Professional Ice Hockey Player)
Is there something in your past you wish you would have done?
Maybe you didn’t ask someone out on a date, didn’t take an opportunity to travel, or didn’t ask for a raise you deserve… and now you regret your inaction.
What if you would have ‘made the shot’ with the girl, trip, or raise? Isn’t a 50% chance of succeeding better than a 0% chance?
Statistically, of course it is!
Here’s the bottom line:
There might be consequences to failing (wasted time, or wasted money) but if you take away the knowledge of how to succeed next time, you haven’t wasted everything.
In other words… you might fail, but you might not, so go for it!
76.
“Starting over can be the scariest thing in the entire world, whether it’s leaving a lover, a school, a team, a friend or anything else that feels like a core part of our identity, but when your gut is telling you that something here isn’t right or feels unsafe, I really want you to listen and trust in that voice.”
~Jennifer Elisabeth (American Author and Founder, “Born Ready”)
Think about this:
You say things like I’m a drummer, I’m a husband, or I’m an engineer, because you use those actions to explain who you are (your identity) to others.
Now:
If you were forced to leave one of those activities, you might worry and think “If I’m not a drummer/husband/engineer, who am I?”
But get this… you’ve had to change your identity many times before… for example:
You had to graduate from high school to get a job or go to college
You had to break up with an old girlfriend to date your wife
You had to leave a job to take a better job with more opportunity
At some point, you’ve left something old in your past… and it turned into a good thing for you. Don’t be afraid to start over with something new!
75.
“I find that the harder I work, the more luck I seem to have.”
~Thomas Jefferson (3rd U.S. President)
Here’s a secret:
Luck rarely exists in the working world.
For example:
Let’s say you don’t love your job, but you work your absolute best every day, and you maintain a positive attitude around your co-workers.
A peer remembers your positivity and great work when they leave the company, and they recommend you to their new boss.
You created a what seems like a “lucky” opportunity for yourself, but we know it wasn’t luck…
…it was a natural reaction to strong work ethic!
Now:
This doesn’t happen every day, but the example reminds you that you make your own good circumstances happen through your attitude.
With hard work, you won’t need to rely on luck for opportunities… you get to make them yourself.
74.
“The greatest mistake we make is living in constant fear that we will make one.”
-John C. Maxwell (Motivational Speaker/Author)
Even though we all hate to make mistakes…
…it’s good to remember that mistakes aren’t bad. They give you a new perspective and allow you to grow.
Here’s an example:
Maybe you tried to solve a problem recently, and you were sure your plan would work, but it didn’t (maybe your bad solution even created new problems).
Instead of beating yourself up for making that mistake, look at it as a learning moment.
You can learn something every time if you persevere through your mistakes…
…and use that new knowledge and do it better next time.
Listen:
Don’t fear the next mistake too much to make a move, because you’ll never accomplish anything, or learn anything, if you never move.
73.
“Get busy living or get busy dying.”
~Stephen King (Highly-Acclaimed Author)
This is crazy:
Every second that ticks by is irreplaceable (we can’t go back), and technically, we’re all dying…
…we don’t have unlimited time to pursue our dreams.
So waste no time and get busy living!
Chase your career dreams, save money for a vacation, and make new friends: you won’t always have the opportunity to do so.
72.
“Fortes Fortuna Adiuvat (Fortune Favors the Brave).”
~Terence (Roman playwright)
The people who achieve the most are those who are brave enough to go for it.
Now:
The fear of failure is very real for most, but good fortune can only come to you if you aren’t too afraid to try to achieve it.
If you’re bound by fear and need something to help you overcome it, we’ve got tons of great fear quotes here to help you become one of the brave few.
71.
“Don’t count the days, make the days count.”
-Muhammad Ali (Former Professional Boxer)
When you have something to look forward to, either positive (a vacation, a date) or negative (a test, a long work day), you have two options:
Dread the time you have in between now and the big day
Take some action each day to prepare for the big day
Do you want to just sit around and dread the time passing?
Of course not!
Making the days count can be as simple as doing something productive rather than procrastinating and just watching the countdown
One great way to increase your productivity is to create an agenda with tasks outlined for the week.
Not only will you make the days count, you’ll have a sense of accomplishment that is great for your morale!
70.
“Opportunities don’t happen, you create them.”
~Chris Grosser
While it may not always feel like it… you have the incredible power to create opportunities very easily.
Here’s how:
Simply put yourself in a different, new setting, and you’ll have the chance to meet new people…
…and these new people can allow you to create new opportunities.
They can open up opportunities for you to learn a new skill, try a new hobby, meet a great person or make a strategic career move…
…all because you were willing to leave the comfort of what you knew.
This inspirational saying is actually a wake-up call:
Stop waiting for opportunities to find you. Take action and create exciting opportunities for yourself by visiting new places with new people.
69.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”
~Confucius (Chinese Politician/Philosopher)
Simply put… progress is progress… and progressing forward is almost always better than standing still.
Why?
After you start a project, make the next move down a career path, or try to make yourself a better man in any way, you’re closer to finishing than you were back when it was just an idea in your head.
Think about it like this:
Even if you take a single, tiny, small step forward… you’ve made more progress than if you stood still.
So… what’s the bottom line?
Don’t worry about how quickly you’re moving… but never stop moving forward.
68.
“Make each day your masterpiece.”
~John Wooden (Former Basketball Player and Coach)
For a work of art to be labeled as a “masterpiece”, it must be:
Complete (not unfinished)
Purposeful (not wandering)
Perfect (not full of mistakes)
Now… get this:
Each day of your life can be like a small masterpiece if you follow the same outline:
Complete each day by setting daily goals for yourself, and meet them.
Fulfill your purpose each day, by making steps toward a larger goal you’ve set.
Make each day perfect by abandoning imperfect attitudes.
Now… no one is really perfect… but if you can control your negative thoughts, you will get rid of a lot of your imperfect behaviors.
Every day, complete your daily goals, stay true to your purpose, and perfect your attitude toward yourself and those around you.
67.
“To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream, not only plan, but also believe.”
~Anatole France (French Poet)
Here’s something we can both agree on:
Acting and planning are highly actionable words, and most successful people are successful because they’ve acted on a carefully laid out plan.
But here’s the thing:
Acting according to a plan is great, and is a recipe for success…
…but that recipe alone is missing the components of dreaming (stretching for goals that might seem out of reach), and believing (that you’ll accomplish those dreams).
Regardless of what you want… act on your dreams and believe in yourself and your plans.
66.
“It always seems impossible until it’s done.”
-Nelson Mandela (President of South Africa 1994-1999)
Think back to a time you completed something incredibly difficult… maybe you had a seemingly impossible task at work, a tough physical goal, or even just a difficult conversation you had to have with someone.
Now:
Along the way, you probably had some thoughts, like “I’m not ready” or “I can’t do this”.
But what happened?
You got it done. You pushed through your doubts and overcame what you thought was hard or even impossible.
So, next time you face adversity, remember:
You’ve been here before… and you got it done… why’s this time any different?
65.
“I’d rather have a life of ‘oh wells’ than a life of ‘what ifs’.”
~Unknown
Here’s something we can both agree on:
Wondering “what if” about a missed chance at a relationship, turned-down job opportunity, or a neglected hobby can drive a person crazy.
There’s a reason for that…
…most men have a deep desire to have new experiences, and not just exist in the same routine.
Even if you try something and it doesn’t work out (and you have to think to yourself “oh well”), at least you fulfilled your desire for growth and adventure.
Remember this:
When you’re old, it would be terrible to have to look back on a thousand “what-if’s”, so go for the opportunities you have now!
64.
“Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson (American poet)
Many guys fall victim to pressure from parents, professors, or peers to have particular careers and hobbies, and they let others decide how they should meet these goals.
But here’s the thing:
If you blaze your own trail to the goals you set, you’ll have the most success.
Why?
Because the trail you cut for yourself will be on your terms… and play to your unique skills.
Let your own strengths and passions decide the best trail for you. No one knows you better than you… so don’t let anyone other than you set your path!
63.
“I cannot give you a formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody.”
Herbert Bayard Swope (First winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Reporting)
No matter what you do, there are just too many people around you for every single person to think what you’re doing, or the way you’re doing it, is best.
So what do you do when people loudly voice their opinions at you?
Unless they love you and truly want you to succeed, just ignore them.
Here’s the thing:
It’s your dream, and you know the best way to do it.
You can seek help from some people, but do it on your terms, and you won’t waste valuable time trying to please everybody.
62.
“The best revenge is massive success.”
~Frank Sinatra (Singer/Actor)
Success is the best response to adversity from others.
Here’s why:
There are always people who believe you will fail at your dream…
…and nothing feels better than proving them wrong. Not only will you feel great about your success, but you’ll get the awesome feeling of knowing that you beat all the odds against you!
Now:
Go get the sweetest revenge on those who doubt you and be massively successful!
61.
“I realized a long time ago that instead of being jealous, you can be inspired and appreciative. It carries more energy to you… That can be an awesome motivating force that can improve your life if you choose to be inspired and not jealous. One (being jealous) has no benefit whatsoever, the other is an incredible resource for creating momentum and improvement.”
~Joe Rogan (Comedian/Actor/UFC Commentator)
Jealousy is a very common feeling, because some people just seem to have an easy life. They were born into a wealthy family, or had a lucky career opportunity with quick success.
But:
Jealousy causes you to waste time comparing yourself to others, instead of focusing on your potential…
…and it moves you no closer to success.
Look:
You can’t focus on what others have that you don’t and get closer to your dream.
Jealousy will drain all your energy that you should spend on your own inspiration… spend time focusing on your own potential instead.
60.
“Only put off until tomorrow what you are willing to die having left undone.”
~Pablo Picasso (20th Century Spanish Artist)
Here’s the thing:
We are never promised a chance to work hard with our passions tomorrow, and we never know exactly how much time we have left.
Any number of things can happen that would prevent you from chasing your dream…
…so complete what you can when you’re able and avoid leaving work unfinished.
59.
“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.”
~Anthony Robbins (Self-help Author/Motivational Speaker)
Check this out:
If you want something new (a new job, new relationship, promotion, or award), you’ll have to do something different than you have been doing to get it. Makes sense, right? Your past actions led you to what you have now, and your future actions will have to be different to lead you to something else.
Remember this:
You can’t expect to get ahead at work, at the gym, or in a relationship by doing what you’re already doing.
Here’s the bottom line:
If you want something new out of your life, change your focus and direction to achieving it!
58.
“I never dream of success. I worked for it.”
~Estee Lauder (American Businesswoman)
Dreams may start in your head, as a vision of what you want to accomplish…
…but they can’t just stay there if you want them to be real.
It won’t always be easy, but working toward your dream is the only way you’ll get there.
So… let those dreams out of your head! Start your journey to success now, even by taking a tiny step, and your dream can burst out of your imagination… and be on its way to becoming reality.
57.
“It wasn’t raining when Noah built the ark.”
~Howard Ruff (Financial Adviser/Writer)
The underlying message of this inspirational life quote is simple:
Plan ahead!
Now:
You don’t need to literally walk around with an umbrella waiting for it to rain, but you should have a plan for setbacks in the future.
If you’ve planned for life’s emergencies, you won’t be totally thrown off course and feel out of control… and won’t have to spend time worrying about what to do.
You’ll be grateful for your past self for taking care of the future!
56.
“The only reason we don’t have what we want in life is the reasons we create why we can’t have them.”
~Tony Robbins (Motivational Speaker/Self-help author)
This inspirational saying is wake-up call from an incredible motivator:
You are the one who makes excuses for why you’re not doing your best.
For example:
You might say to yourself “I don’t have enough money to start my business, I’m not smart enough to impress that girl, no one ever helps me when I need it”, etc.
But… here’s the thing:
You have to stop making these excuses, because you definitely don’t get what you want if you don’t even try.
Excuses are for weaker men than you. There’s no excuse for not trying your best to reach your goal, so get up and do what you can to achieve it!
55.
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left and could say, I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck (American Humorist)
We all know:
Every man is born with unique talents, and can turn them into amazing, artful skills (in music, design, communication, sports… anything!)
It gets better:
Only you possess your unique combination of talents. No one else can do everything you can do… they all have different skills.
Now… here’s the thing:
It doesn’t matter what your talent is… you can use it well.
Don’t waste any of your precious talents… find time to put them to use!
54.
“The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”
~Bruce Lee (Martial Artist and Actor)
Get this:
You don’t have to be extraordinarily gifted to be successful.
You don’t have to be a genius, or a superhuman athlete, or a business guru…
…you just need focus.
Look:
Focus on why you’re aiming at your specific goal, and then focus on how you’re going to get it done. That will give you a strong foundation (the ‘why’ that will continue to motivate you), then a strong action plan (the ‘how’ that you can fall back on during difficulties).
When a laser-like focus supports your foundation and directs your action plan, you’ll succeed.
53.
“Obsessed is just a word the lazy use to describe the dedicated.”
~Russell Warren
Here’s the thing:
When you’re really passionate about something, you become naturally dedicated to it, and you’ll enjoy the work that brings you closer to your goal.
Now:
Other people might say you’re just “obsessed” (temporarily consumed with dreams of reaching your goal), but in time, true dedication will show its results…
…you’ll achieve what you want!
Here’s the bottom line:
When you inevitably achieve your dream, doubters will see that it was your dedication, not just an obsession, that carried you through.
52.
“If you can’t outplay them, outwork them.”
~Ben Hogan (Former American Professional Golfer)
We all know:
People have different skills. You excel in things some find extremely difficult… and you fall short to others in some areas.
But:
Your simple desire to be the best can make you even better than your competition.
Here’s how:
Follow that desire and put in lots of work.
If you study more, train harder, or prepare better than someone with natural skill (in sports, public speaking, or test taking) you’ll develop your skills and can be better prepared than your competition.
Here’s the bottom line:
You don’t have to be born the best at something… you can practice and become great enough to compete with natural skill holders.
51.
“Life is 10% what happens to us and 90% how we react to it.”
~Dennis P. Kimbro (Best-Selling Author)
Think about this:
Your success is based on who you are as a person (which is decided by how you react to things).
For example:
Will you be a person who reacts badly to misfortune, blames others and falls into despair?
Or will you be a person who reacts positively to misfortune, learns from your mistakes and is grateful for the blessings you do have?
Your positive reaction to negative circumstances will make you a strong, positive man… and will make the 90% of your life that you can control truly happy.
50.
“If the wind will not serve, take to the oars.”
~Latin Proverb
Listen to this:
You can’t wait for luck or random opportunities to carry you to your dreams.
Why?
Sometimes your good luck will fail. Maybe funding for your project or department gets cut, or you lose your job altogether, or a potential relationship is falling apart.
Now:
In that moment of loss, you have to make it happen yourself.
Look… which seems better… to wait around for luck to take up the sails again, or to make progress (even slowly) and row the boat yourself?
Do it yourself, of course!
If you can manage to carry yourself through hard times, you’ll be stronger, better skilled, and better able to succeed because of your accomplishment!
48.
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
~Michael Jordan (6-time NBA champion)
Michael Jordan makes a clear distinction between three groups of people, and how they react to their dreams:
Those who want it haven’t taken any necessary action to get what they want. They might be too afraid, or feel they are unable to get it.
Those who wish it have taken some action, but they might lack the knowledge or the ambition, and don’t have enough desire to pursue their dreams through struggles.
Then there’s the people who actually make things happen. And they make it happen not because they’re any more special than the other two groups… they make it happen because:
They’ve adapted and acquired the information they need.
They’re willing to put in the extra hours, and work while others sleep.
Their focus is on simply acting instead of standing still, and moving forward is better than not moving at all.
You can be a man who makes things happen… don’t listen to any thoughts telling you s can’t do it… know that you can and will make great things happen.
48.
“A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”
~Winston Churchill (United Kingdom Prime Minister 1940-45, 1951-55)
There are two very different ways you can live your life:
You can focus on the hard part
You can focus on the possibility
Now:
As an optimist, when you fail, your focus on the opportunity will allow you to remain happy in the face of defeat.
Follow the advice of Churchill’s inspirational saying:
Focus on the opportunities you have during tough situations, instead of the difficulties. During your struggle, you won’t feel like giving up.
47.
“Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself.”
Rumi (Persian Poet and Scholar)
It might seem like one person is too insignificant to change the world, and it’s impossible to find somewhere to begin… so how do you change the world?
You change your own attitude first.
Look:
You can’t affect the world in a positive way if you’re full of anger, resentment or bitterness.
Ask yourself:
Are your thoughts always negative toward yourself and others? Are you pessimistic about the future? Do you avoid taking risks because you’re afraid to fail?
An attitude that answers “yes” to any of these questions is not one that will allow you to change the world for the better. Concentrate on being a positive influence, and the world will change around you.
46.
“You must expect great things of yourself before you can do them.”
~Michael Jordan (Former Professional Basketball Player)
If you don’t expect great things of yourself, what do you expect?
Average things? Or maybe nothing at all?
Look:
By expecting to produce mediocre results, you unconsciously plan to get them.
You don’t strive for great results… you don’t push yourself… you’re simply satisfied because you met your easy expectations.
In other words, if you only expect mediocrity of yourself, you’ll only ever be mediocre.
If you want to be like Mike… if you want to be a man of greatness… start by expecting great things of yourself.
45.
“You can’t lose the hunger to be the best. You got to know that there’s always someone really good coming up behind you.”
~T.J. Dillashaw (UFC Bantamweight Champion)
Hungry is such a powerful word to describe your ambition. When you’re hungry what do you do?
That’s right…
…you eat!
But… how does physical hunger relate to inspiration?
Here’s how:
If you start your ‘hunt’ for opportunities now, you can find the success to provide for yourself and others.
Never lose your hunger for that success…
… if you don’t hunt every day for your best opportunities, they will go to someone who will.
44.
“It is not death that a man should fear, but he should fear never beginning to live.”
~Marcus Aurelius (Former Roman Emperor)
Here’s the thing:
Dying is not a choice… we’re all going to reach the end of our lives at some point.
However, the impression you leave behind when you die is your choice.
Are you on a path to be remembered as someone who took initiative, provided for others, and achieved goals you set for yourself?
If not, change your path now. You can still make a difference in the world, for others and yourself…
…it’s not too late to begin to truly live.
43.
“Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”
~Dale Carnegie (American Writer/Lecturer)
It’s easy to be a victim to doubt and fear… even the strongest men have to deal with them from time to time.
But:
If you act instead of sitting still, you don’t have the time to think about ‘what-if’ scenarios that allow doubt to creep in.
Follow the advice of Carnegie’s inspirational words:
Set goals and move forward, so you don’t have time to worry about your fears… only time to achieve great things.
42.
“Don’t live the same year 75 times and call it a life.”
~Robin Sharma (Author/Speaker)
There’s a huge difference between just existing and truly living.
As an obvious example, plants exist… they don’t truly live. They don’t aspire to be better than they are, or try to make the world better.
Now:
We all know the type of man that just exists like that:
They go to work, come home, watch TV, go to bed, and then they wake up the next morning… to do the exact same thing… day after day after day.
So… how do you truly live?
Well, there’s not one right answer…
…but one of the easiest ways to start truly living is to break your monotonous daily routines:
Find a new passion/hobby
Set a new goal (reach a fitness goal, earn a bonus, save X amount of money)
Change the pace of your day (get up earlier, go to lunch somewhere new, go out at night with a different group than your usual).
Have the goal to always try new things
Don’t be a man that just exists… be one of the men that truly lives.
41.
“Genius is one percent inspiration, ninety-nine percent perspiration.”
~Thomas Edison (American Inventor and Businessman)
Listen to this:
Genius isn’t a gift given to some and not others… it’s mostly just putting blood, sweat and tears into whatever you’re trying to accomplish.
We are all capable of being a ‘genius’ in our own regard…
…it just takes a little bit of inspiration, and a lot of hard work.
Edison didn’t set out to be an inventive genius… he just used his inspiration as fuel for long hours and dedication behind his workbench.
If you’re willing to put that kind of perspiration into it, imagine what genius work you could do!
40.
“If you are not willing to risk the unusual, you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
~Jim Rohn (Entrepreneur/Author/Motivational Speaker)
Look:
Taking risks feels intimidating (most people avoid them, and prefer to stay where they feel safe)…
…but risks force you to develop areas where you have weaknesses.
Think about it like this:
Imagine you took no risks for the rest of your life and never attempted to do anything that really challenged you.
It might seem like your life would be easy… but without those risks, you’ll never grow as a man, or learn anything new, or turn your weaknesses into strengths.
Don’t settle for an ordinary life where you don’t grow. Choose instead to use risks and mistakes to develop yourself into a better man.
39.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit.”
~Aristotle (Greek Philosopher/Scientist
Did you know that it takes a minimum of 21 days to form a new habit?
If you commit to anything for just 3 weeks, you are well on your way to making it part of your daily life.
If you want to be physically stronger, get over a past love, earn a bigger income, (etc.)…
…make excellence a habit and get up early, don’t procrastinate, and have a positive attitude.
38.
“It is your decisions, not your conditions, that truly shape the quality of your life.”
~Anthony Robbins (Motivational Speaker/Self-help author)
Today, Anthony Robbins’ name is identified with inspiration…
…but it wasn’t always that way.
In 1977, Robbins was 40 pounds overweight, broke, and working as a janitor. His conditions were bleak… but here’s the thing:
Robbins made a clear decision to work tirelessly to create a better future for himself, and today, he’s one of the world’s most respected life coaches.
So, what’s the bottom line?
While you can’t always control your current conditions, you can control your decisions. Decide to make your life be whatever you want it to be.
37.
“A goal is not always meant to be reached, it often serves simply as something to aim at.”
Bruce Lee (Martial Arts Master/Actor)
Whether or not you reach a goal, it still serves as a target.
Now:
Let’s say you don’t reach your goal… maybe don’t even get close.
When that happens, don’t focus on what you haven’t reached… focus on how far you’ve come, and on what you’ve accomplished that seemed crazy to you before you started.
Setting goals shows your passion and your drive…
…and even though you don’t always reach them, if you continue to chase them, you’ll inevitably become successful.
36.
“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”
~Jim Rohn (Author/Motivational Speaker)
Here’s something you need to realize:
You’re in almost complete control of your day and your life… all you have to do is decide that you want to take that control.
Let me ask you a question:
Are you the type of person who makes decisions that control your life? Or are you the type who lets outside circumstances run you over?
Of course you’re going to take charge! Decide to be successful and positive, and you’ll run both the day and your life.
35.
“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.”
-John D. Rockefeller (Famous Business Leader)
Here’s the thing:
You deserve the best, not just an ‘ok’ career, relationship, or bank account.
Now… we all know:
It’s scary to leave your comfort zone.
But… if you a have deep passion for something better, a desire for progress, and a solid plan of action to achieve these things… then go for what is great.
When you achieve what you want (a new level