Ten Quotes on Entrepreneurship

It's been nearly two weeks since my last post. As I have explained in my other blog, we recently launched, together with some former colleagues in investment banking, a new consultancy group that's now busy seeking mandates in what we believe to be an underserved niche in the Philippine market. Of course, nothing is ever certain in this world except death and taxes. Who knows, in the end, we could be proven wrong about our analysis and perception. But until then, we are hopeful and bullish about our prospects as a new business group. This is the wider context for my choice of subject for today's post.

The critical ingredient is getting off your butt and doing something. It's as simple as that. A lot of people have ideas, but there are few who decide to do something about them now. Not tomorrow. Not next week. But today. The true entrepreneur is a doer, not a dreamer. -Nolan Bushnell (founder of Atari)

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The important thing is not being afraid to take a chance. Remember, the greatest failure is to not try. Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it. -Debbi Fields (founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies)

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When you reach an obstacle, turn it into an opportunity. You have the choice. You can overcome and be a winner, or you can allow it to overcome you and be a loser. The choice is yours and yours alone. Refuse to throw in the towel. Go that extra mile that failures refuse to travel. It is far better to be exhausted from success than to be rested from failure. -Mary Kay Ash (founder of Mary Kay Cosmetics)

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Experience taught me a few things. One is to listen to your gut, no matter how good something sounds on paper. The second is that you're generally better off sticking with what you know. And the third is that sometimes your best investments are the ones you don't make. -Donald Trump (real estate and entertainment mogul)

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I had to make my own living and my own opportunity! But I made it! Don't sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them! -Madam C.J. Walker (America's first black female millionaire)

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An entrepreneur tends to bite off a little more than he can chew hoping he'll quickly learn how to chew it. -Roy Ash (co-founder of Litton Industries)

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Entrepreneurs are risk takers, willing to roll the dice with their money or reputation on the line in support of an idea or enterprise. They willingly assume responsibility for the success or failure of a venture and are answerable for all its facets. -Victor Kiam

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Entrepreneurs are simply those who understand that there is little difference between obstacle and opportunity and are able to turn both to their advantage. -Niccolo Machiavelli

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I'm not sure I knew what an entrepreneur was when I was ten, but I knew that starting little businesses and trying to sell greeting cards or newspapers door-to-door or just vending machine kind of thing is.. there's just something very intriguing to me about that. -Steve Case

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Too often, we try to fit in with the crowd. We play it safe. But innovation is about taking risks while being true to you. This takes confidence. And it takes the belief that your “style” is what the world needs and wants. Yes, taking this risk may help you stand out. More importantly, it may be the ticket to your success. -Stephen Shapiro

(Photo credit: www.flickr.com)

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