From time to time we all need a pick-me-up when it comes to our career. You might be searching for a new job, trying to land your dream job or simply trying to survive in a challenging work environment. All these situations can be really trying and it can be hard to keep positive that good things are ahead. Sometimes the road seems too long and whilst cliché, it might feel like there’s no light at the end of the tunnel. In times like these, you can always reach out to your partner, family and friends for a heart-to-heart career chat to help keep you motivated and on track for your career goals.
Whilst a chat with a friend or loved one can lift our spirits, sometimes we can find that “lift” in inspirational words such as quotes. Reading a quotes from a famous person or someone we admire can really provide that pick-me-up and re-energise you in staying on your path. Knowing someone else has walked our path or endured hardship and come out the other side, can be reassuring and calming to our well being and state of mind.
Quotes can be found in a number of places, but one of my favourites is on Pinterest. Pinning quotes to a board or printing them for a visual reminder are great ways to keep these words of wisdom front and centre of mind.
- “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” – Henry Ford
- “Doubt kills more dreams than failure ever will.” – Suzy Kassem
- “’What’ and ‘if’ are two words as non-threatening as words come. But put them together side by side and they have the power to haunt you for the rest of your life: What If?” – Letters to Juliet
- “If you can’t figure out your purpose, figure out your passion. For your passion will lead you right into your purpose.” – Bishop T. D. Jakes
- “Nothing happens until you decide. Make a decision and watch your life move forward.” – Oprah
- “The difference between ordinary and extraordinary is that little extra.” – Jimmy Johnson
- “So many of our dreams at first seem impossible, then seem improbable, and then when we summon the will, they soon seem inevitable.” – Christopher Reeve
- “Entrepreneurs are willing to work 80 hours a week to avoid working 40 hours a week.” – Lori Greiner
- “A dream doesn’t become reality through magic, it takes sweat, determination and hard work.” – Colin Powell
- “Recognising that you are not where you want to be is a starting point to being changing your life.” – Deborah Day
- “Starting something new or making a big change requires effort, persistence and motivation. Doubt, fear and worry will only slow you down. Focus on doing your best now and celebrate every step of the way.” – Doe Zantamata
- “Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” – Tim Ferris
- “If you think you are going to love something, give it a try. You’re going to kick yourself in the butt for the rest of your life, if you don’t.” – Joe Penna
- “How can you squander even one more day not taking advantage of the greatest shifts of our generation? How dare you settle for less when the world has made it so easy for you to be remarkable?” – Seth Godin
- “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it. And, like any great relationship, it just gets better and better as the years roll on. So keep looking until you find it. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs
- “Epic things start with small humble steps. Pay respect to your beginnings. And if you’re just starting out, know that it’s okay to be sucky. To be small. To be messy and chaotic. Just make sure to never ever stop dreaming.” – Vishen Lakhiani
- “When you grow up you tend to get told the world is the way it is and to live your life inside the world. Try not to bash into the walls too much. Try to have a nice family, have fun, save a little money. That’s a very limited life. Life can be much broader once you discover one simple fact. Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you and you can change it, you can influence it, you can build your own things that other people can use. Once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” – Steve Jobs
- “Success isn’t always about greatness. It’s about consistency. Consistent hard work leads to success. Greatness will come.” – Dwayne Johnson
- “Work for someone who believes in you, because when they believe in you they’ll invest in you.” – Marissa Mayer
- “Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius
- “Success isn’t about how much money you make; it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.” – Michelle Obama
- “Life begins at the end of your comfort zone.” – Neal Donald Walsch
- “Create the highest grandest vision possible for your life because you become what you believe.” – Oprah Winfrey
- “A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do.” – Bob Dylan
- “Success means pursuing a career that inspires you, brings passion to your life and totally absorbs your energy.” – Marin Alsop
- “Some women choose to follow men, and some women choose to follow their dreams.” – Lady Gaga
- “Find out what you like doing best and get someone to pay you for doing it.” – Katherine Whitehorn
- “Go where you are celebrated – not tolerated. If they can’t see the real value of you, it’s time for a new start.” – Unknown
- “What would happen if we encouraged all women to be a little more ambitious? I think the world would change.” – Reese Witherspoon
- “I never dreamed about success. I worked for it.” – Estee Lauder
- “I failed my exam in some subjects but my friend passed. Now he’s an engineer in Microsoft and I am the owner.” – Bill Gates
- “Success comes from taking the initiative and following up…..Persisting……what simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?” – Tony Robbins
- “What one skill, if you developed it, could have the greatest positive impact on your career? This is the key to your future.” – Brian Tracy
- “Whatever you want in life, other people are going to want it too. Believe in yourself enough to accept the idea that you have an equal right to it.” – Diane Sawyer
- “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.” – Sheryl Sandberg
- “Life’s a bitch. You’ve got to go out and kick ass.” – Maya Angelou
- “All our dreams can come true – if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney
There’s so much wisdom, boldness and hope in this list of career quotes. You should be feeling inspired and energised to continue on in your career journey. Find your favourite 5, write them out or print them and stick them somewhere you can see them. Read them regularly whenever you need a “pick-me-up”. Your dose of inspiration is only a “quote” away.