21 Quotes by Black Icons to Inspire Entrepreneurs
By Jessica Alex
Updated: Feb 1, 2023
In honour of Black History Month here are 21 quotes from Black icons to encourage you along your entrepreneurial journey.
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Whether you are thinking of starting a business, or you are thinking about launching something new within your current business, here are some quotes to encourage to just go for it:
1. "Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations." — Dr. Mae Jemison
2. "I can accept failure. Everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying." — Michael Jordan
3. "Listen to the rhythm of your own calling, and follow that." — Oprah Winfrey
4. "I'd rather regret the risks that didn't work out than the chances I didn't take at all." — Simone Biles
5. "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
6. "Don’t wait for the ‘perfect time’, you will wait forever. Always take advantage of the time that you’re given." — Daymond John
Persevere through the hard times
As an entrepreneur you will face challenges, and moments of frustration, maybe even moments of self-doubt – so here are some quotes to help you keep going:
7. "Just don’t give up what you’re trying to do. Where there is love and inspiration, I don’t think you can go wrong." — Ella Fitzgerald
8. "If there is no struggle, there is no progress." — Frederick Douglass
9. "Keep going, no matter what." — Reginald Lewis
10. "Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it." — Michael Jordan
11. "Instead of letting your hardships and failures discourage or exhaust you, let them inspire you. Let them make you even hungrier to succeed." — Michelle Obama
12. "It always seems impossible until it's done." — Nelson Mandela
13. "Don’t let anything stop you. There will be times when you’ll be disappointed, but you can’t stop." — Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander
14. "Life has two rules: number 1, never quit! Number 2, always remember rule number one." — Duke Ellington
Stay inspired and put in the work
Even without being faced with major hurdles, there may be moments in your entrepreneurial journey where you need a little push to stay inspired. Here are some quotes to give you the boost that you need:
15. "Hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die, life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly." — Langston Hughes
16. "We all have dreams. In order to make dreams come into reality, it takes an awful lot of determination, dedication, self-discipline and effort." — Jesse Owens
17. "Hold on to your dreams of a better life and stay committed to striving to realize it." — Earl G. Graves, Sr.
18. "Have a vision of excellence, a dream of success, and work like hell." — Dr. Samuel DuBois Cook
19. "Dreams are lovely but they are just dreams. Fleeting, ephemeral, pretty. But dreams do not come true just because you dream them. It’s hard work that makes things happen. It’s hard work that creates change." — Shonda Rhimes
20. "All great achievements require time." — Maya Angelou
21. "You can't just sit there and wait for people to give you that golden dream. You've got to get out there and make it happen for yourself." — Diana Ross
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