Top Quotes about Work

Work, Hard absorbing work, joyous rewarding work – how long have men realized its place in life! And when challenged by a job that seems too big – perseverance is half the battle.

 

Work Keeps at bay three great evils: boredom, vice and need. – Voltaire

 

I never did a day’s work in my life. it was all fun. – Thomas A. Edison

 

Hell begins on the day when God grants us a clear vision of all that we might have achieved, of all the gifts which we have wasted, of all that we might have done which we did not do… For me conception of Hell lies in two words: Too late. – Gian-Carlo Menotti

 

Life is certainly only worth while as it represents struggle for worthy causes. There is no struggle in perfect security. I am quite certain that the human being could not continue to exist if he had the perfect security. – Dwight D. Eisenhower

 

When God wanted  sponges and oysters, He made them, and put one on a rock, and the other in the mud. When He made man, He did not make him to be a sponge or an oyster; He made him with feet and hands, and head and heart, and vital blood, and a place to use them and said to him, “Go work!” – Henry Ward Beecher

There is no boredom like that which can afflict people who are free, and nothing else. – Ralph Barton Perry

All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. Work is not a curse; it is the prerogative of intelligence, the only means to manhood and the measure of civilization. – Calvin Coolidge

If you cannot work with love but only with distaste, it is better that you should leave your work and sit at the gate of the temple and take alms of those who work with joy. – Kahlil Gibran

I know hardly anyone who works too hard. I believe in hard work and long hours of work. Men do not break down from over-work, but from worry and from plunging into dissipation and efforts not aligned with their work. – Charles Evans Hughes

Get busy, keep busy. It’s the cheapest kind of medicine there is on earth – and one of the best. Dale Carnegie

6 Extremely Successful People Who Failed Forward to Success

As achievers ourselves, we are enamored by the wildly successful. And rightfully so. Their accomplishments serve us as both targets and measuring sticks along our own success journey.But, digging deeper into most of these people’s backstories will often reveal even greater inspiration. With little exception, their end success was preceded by a mountain of heartache, rejection and even epic failure. Relentless pursuit of their goals and dreams despite so much defeat has been a driving force behind these icons.

Here are 6 ultra-successful people that failed forward to success:

 

1. Fred Smith

While attending Yale in 1962, Smith wrote a paper for an economics class outlining the idea for a worldwide, overnight package delivery service. The professor returned the paper to him and commented that, to earn better than a C grade, the idea would have to be feasible. Ignoring this rebuke, Smith went on to form FedEx, the world’s first overnight delivery company.

 

2. Michael Jordan

Jordan was cut from his high school’s basketball team as a sophomore. Within 2 years though he not only came back to make the team, but was also named high school All-American his senior year. In his professional career he lost over 300 games and missed over 9000 shots, 26 of them were potential game winners. Yet, Michael Jordan lead his team to 6 NBA championships, was named league MVP 5 times and became only the second player ever to score 3000 points in a single season!

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.”

3. Abraham Lincoln

Perhaps one of the best examples of failing forward to success is the 16th president of the United States. Abraham Lincoln lost no less than 9 bids for various public offices prior to his presidency. He was fired from multiple jobs, failed at least twice as a business owner and even went bankrupt. But, At 52 years of age Lincoln was elected president and led the nation through its bloodiest war to preserve the union and abolish slavery.

 

4. Lucille Ball

From the age of 15, she wanted to act even though her drama school teacher once wrote to her mother, “Lucy’s wasting her time and ours…”. Ball went on to be fired from her first two Broadway acting gigs and became nicknamed “Queen of the B’s” for the number of second rate films she had roles in.

Today though we know Lucille Ball as the redheaded firecracker from the TV show, I Love Lucy, named in a 2012 ABC News survey as ‘The Best TV Show of All Time’. Her career persistence resulted in 2 stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 4 Emmy Awards, and many other TV and Film honors. She is arguably the most recognized female actress of the 20th century.

“I don’t suppose that hard work, discipline, and a perfectionist attitude toward my work did me any harm.”

5. Theodor S. Geisel

Geisel worked as an illustrator and cartoonist during the Great Depression. But his love was for children’s books. His first manuscript was rejected by 27 publishers with responses such as, “Too different from other juveniles on the market to warrant its selling”. Only a chance meeting with an old college friend saved the pages from being burned. The book was published in 1937 opening the door for Geisel to become one of the most popular children’s book authors of all time, selling over 600 million copies. He penned most of his works under his pseudonym, Dr. Seuss.

 

6. Thomas Edison

Edison’s grade school teachers deemed him “too stupid to learn anything”. He was fired from jobs for being “non-productive”. He persisted in inventing but failed in gaining traction with most items. In fact, the thing Thomas Edison is most remembered for was not even his invention but rather the refinement of an existing idea… the light bulb. And even in that, it took him 10,000 tries to perfect it!

“Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”

Thousands more of these failing forward stories exist. In them, lessons abound. Grit, determination, persistence, and even some luck are clearly all part of the achievement recipe. But, there’s no denying that failure is something likely, and even useful, along the road to success.

Thank you for reading my article! Would love to hear your thoughts in the comment section below!

6 Quotes To Challenge You & Help You Gain Control Over Your Life

Life is beautiful and offers us many valuable lessons along the way.

As much as we have come to believe that it is unpredictable and that our destiny is set in stone, we have the power within us to control and change most of what happens in our lives and it’s quality by the choices we make, the actions we take and the way we react to circumstances and various situations.

The following quotes reinforce this:

 

Quote #1:

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Abraham Lincoln

We cannot change the past, neither can we predict the future but we can use our past experiences, challenges and the valuable lessons we garner from them to create and shape our future. Life and time have a way of making us wiser, better equipped and changing our perspective as far as many things are concerned.

Often times though, we are so hung up on the past and spend too much time re-visiting it that we fail to realize the opportunities that abound before us. The best things are never behind us but ahead of us and can only be experienced if and when we allow ourselves to embrace new possibilities and opportunities and become proactive in creating the lives we desire for ourselves.

 

Quote #2:

“Every accomplishment starts with a decision to try.” – Gail Devers

Nothing ventured, nothing gained! To accomplish anything; you have to dare to dream, be willing to take risks and put yourself out there. Nothing worth having in life comes easily or will be handed to you without any effort or due diligence on your part.

The World’s greatest inventions and innovations were birthed from an idea and the idea turned into manifestation by the person who dared to try by taking a leap of faith and making the decision to put the idea into work.

 

Quote #3:

“That some achieve great success is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” – Abraham Lincoln

Roger Bannister was able to accomplish a feat experts had said for many years the human body wasn’t capable of; he broke the four minute mile barrier and inspired others to follow suit shortly thereafter. As they say, the rest is history, what was once considered impossible is a norm today.

If someone else is succeeding at something you are failing in, you need to re-examine your actions and figure out what you are doing wrong or aren’t doing and determine if their actions, habits and mannerisms are duplicable and if emulated would aid you in achieving similar if not greater success.

 

Quote #4:

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

You really are the Author and Creator of your life and can be, do and have anything you put your mind to. Whatever you tell yourself is possible for you will be possible for you. The person YOU determine to be is the person you will become based on your mindset, the actions you perform and the choices you make.

The only person that stands in the way of you becoming the person you want to be is yourself. People can try to prevent you from becoming the person you would like to become or even influence you into becoming that very person but all the hard work lies in you determining the possibility of this happening.

 

Quote #5:

“Be miserable or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s your choice.” – Wayne Dyer

When it comes to dealing with challenging situations or obstacles in life, you can either take the stance of being the problem or the solution; whichever option you choose greatly determines the outcome and your happiness.

Complaining about circumstances that you can easily change is pointless and will lead you nowhere. Either make the choice to do whatever it takes to change your situation and proactively pursue the solution or choose to not do anything about it and stay miserable. The choice is really up to you. For things to change, you have to be willing to make the change or stop complaining about it if you aren’t willing to.

 

Quote #6:

“Only those who risk going far can possibly find out how far they can go.” – T.S. Eliot

Although we are unlimited beings, we rarely tap into most of our potential because we sometimes aren’t willing to take the risks or make the sacrifices or commitments doing so would require of us. You will never know what you are capable of or where your strength lies until you are willing to push yourself further than you’ve ever gone or get out of your comfort zone without the possibility of a safety net.

The difference between being extra-ordinary and ordinary is determined by one’s will to go the extra mile and do what others aren’t willing to do.

It’s Possible!!!!!!

 

“I want you to look at something right now.

Think of some major goal you want or maybe of one that you are already working on and you have experienced a lot of setback , a lot of defeats,.

You’ve experienced a lot of disappointment.

Maybe you have already given up?

Maybe you just need a little inspiring, a little encouragement to get back into the game again.

Here’s what I want you to look at!

There are winners.

There are losers.

And there are people who have not discovered how to win.

And all they need is some coaching.

All they need is some help and assistant, just a little support.

All they need is some insight, or different strategy, a plan of action.

To make some adjustments that will open up the key to a whole new future to them.

That will give them access to the unlimited power that they have within themselves.

That’s all that they need.

So, what I want you to do is think about something you want for YOU,

that’s real for YOU,

that’s important for YOU

That will give your life some special meaning and power.

And I don’t even want you to say I can do that!

I don’t want you to even assume that!

You see 5 years ago when I started out in this area.

I won’t not have been able to make the mental leap that I would be up to where I am right now.

I don’t want you to begin to psych yourself out.

No, No!

I want you to be able to say something to yourself that will enable you to maintain a level of integrity with yourself.

That when you say this, even when you face tremendous setbacks.

It will be a benchmark to keep you in the game.

To keep you moving forward, experimenting and readjusting your strategies and your plan of action.

Continuously looking for ways to win.

So, what is that something?

When you got an idea you want to move on, you might not have the money, you might not have the education, you might not have the support or resources you need.

What is that something?

That can keep us going, that will enable us to act on our grief?

Which one of those keys?

That will begin to help us to discover the secrets to our dreams

Here’s what I want you to repeat after me please, with power and conviction!

Say, It’s POSSIBLE!

That’s all I want you to do when you look at your dreams.

Just say to yourself everyday!

IT’S POSSIBLE!

Just say that every day to yourself!

It’s Possible!

Because, what does that do?

You see, it begins to change your belief system.

You see, the way in which we operate, ladies and gentlemen, it’s a manifestation of what we believe what’s possible for us.

Whatever you’ve done up to this point, all that it really is, is a duplication, it’s a reproduction of what you believe subconsciously that you deserve and what’s possible for your life.

Most people operate out of their personal history.

Out of their memory, things they’ve done, things they’ve experienced, things they’ve seen, things they have observed.

What I am suggesting is that you operate on a logic vision of yourself.

I want you to see yourself doing what you want to do.

Experiencing what you want to experience in.

Having what you want to have!

Doing what is, that gives your life some meaning and value!

Operate out of your imagination , not your memory!

Because whatever you look and wherever you want to go, I am going to warn you, you will have some conversation back here, after you go through the data that experienced in life, saying you can’t do it.

And so what you want to begin doing, is ignore that inner conversation .

With most people, ladies and gentlemen, when something happens to them, what they do is, they begin to believe that that’s the way it is, that’s the way it’s always been and they can’t see the possibilities of it being any different.

Example:
Before April 1954, the common belief, the universal belief, because it had been tried again, again and again, and people had failed, the belief was that man was not physically capable
of breaking the 4 minute barrier, that he could not run a mile, in less than 4 minutes.

That was the belief on the planet, it had never been done.

But, here’s what happened, ladies and gentlemen, Roger Bannister came along and he broke the 4 minute barrier!

Now, here’s what significant about that.

Since that time, up to this day, over 20 000 people have done it, including high school kids.

What changed?

20 000 people!

What Changed?

Here’s what happened when they got on the track.

They knew that it had been done!

And because they knew it had been done, there was a new belief about this barrier, about this goal that was unreachable.

And those 20 000 people got in the race believing, knowing in their heart that someone had done it.

That it’s Possible!

That they could do it!

And I am saying that if you knew anybody that had some goal some dream, something that they wanted to do and they did it!

has done it, then you can do it,

Then I am saying that you know in your heart that if someone has done it, THEN YOU can do it!

It’s Possible!

And that, if someone can make their dream become a reality, that it’s possible.

That you can make your dream become a reality!

And so as you begin to look at where you want to go, beginning to embrace that,

It’s Possible!

I am blessed and highly favoured!

I’ve got a lot going for me, I’ve got some good stuff in me.

And it’s possible that I can bring my greatness out here in the universe.

That I can do what I want to do!

It’s Possible

I can write my own book!

I can have my own business

I can take the trip and travel around the world

It’s Possible!

I can bounce back from adversity and reinvent my life!

It’s Possible

Regardless of where I am , that things can get better for me.

It’s Possible

Speech by Les Brown

Want to Stop Being Angry? Stop Doing These 5 Things

It was tough. Dealing with anger can be a harrowing experience for sure.

But I made a commitment to change of late.

I did a lot of research and even interviewed experts and influencers across the personal development industry.

You’ll be surprised how we’re constantly misleading ourselves back to anger without knowing it.

To deal with anger, we need to make a shift in perspective. It may sound unconventional at first, but it works.

 

1. Stop thinking the world should work the way you think it should

We get angry when we feel people should be nice or act a certain, logical manner.

We also get angry when we think we should have gotten over it by now.

But that’s the problem.

We need to get rid of our SHOULD rules.

Our mind says one thing, but reality always says otherwise.

Things will go wrong. Life will continue to be unfair and disobey you. As daunting as that sounds, you need to eliminate your SHOULD rules so you can loosen the grip you have on life.

 

2. Stop thinking that anger is a bad thing

Surprise! Anger isn’t a bad thing.

Anger is a good source of energy as a force for positive change. Rosa Parks, Ghandi and Martin Luther King used it.

But yes, anger cannot sustain you. That is why you need to live life and harness other emotions.

This is a foundation you need to set for yourself to alleviate the undesirable feelings anger brings.

To know that anger isn’t a bad thing is to know that there’s nothing wrong with you, that you’re not a monster, that you’ve a disease or that you’re “messed up.”

So take solace in this. Anger is good. Let that be with your fuel to push you in a positive direction.

 

3. Stop managing your anger

Look, anger management doesn’t work. Surprised? Google it yourself then.

Anger management only serves to repress the feeling and bottle up your anger. That is effectively sweeping your problems under the rug.

No, you’ve to find the root cause of your anger. Anger is after all, a secondary emotion, not primary.

For me personally, I realized one root cause of my anger was fear, that I’d actually lose in a fight one day if it came to it, thus making me think that I’m not a real man.

I had to get honest with myself. I had to deal with it by asking the right questions and then applying realistic ways to stay calm and positive.

So what is it for you? Guilt? Fear? Sadness? Rejection?

Start being honest with yourself. Start asking the right and bigger questions. It will be scary, but you’ve to go through with it.

 

4. Stop reacting

Check out this powerful quote by Thich Nhat Hanh:

” If you get angry easily, it may be because the seed of anger in you has been watered frequently over many years, and unfortunately you’ve allowed it or even encouraged it to be watered.”

Yes, you may be angry today because you’ve watered the seed too much.

Anger, when used too much, can be a habit, and even an addiction.

That is why you need to stop reacting angrily to some negative thought or person.

No, I don’t even think injecting a positive thought in your head will help. That is a form of reaction that’s still acknowledging the anger and giving it power.

Stop reacting. Let it pass instead. Don’t give it any kind of power.

Why do you think people like to say that ignorance is bliss?

 

5. Stop taking the easy way out

You know what’s easy?

Getting angry and breaking things around the house, screaming at somebody, punching the wall or generally doing anything stupid.

You know what’s not easy?

Staying calm at the heat of the moment, walking away from a fight and ultimately becoming the master of your own emotions.

I get it man. Anger is tough. It’s frustrating, stressful and downright crappy.

But that’s the entire point.

If you want to see real results, you need to take on the challenge and embrace the struggle head on. You can’t cower down and take the easy route.

So go for it. Even if it doesn’t feel great, know that it’s perfectly normal. Work hard, feel the heat and don’t give up.

You can be the master of your emotions one day.

The Success of Donald Trump

Donald Trump has used a combination of persistence, determination, confidence and calculated risk taking to become a success.

Donald Trump’s estimated net worth is $4 Billion.

Donald Trump became a Billionaire through his hugely profitable real estate endeavours and is president of The Trump Organization and the Founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts.

Trump has bounced back from adversity several times to not only become a billionaire but one of America’s most well known celebrities and a TV personality.

Donald Trump’s Early Career

The son of a real estate developer Trump seemed to have been inspired to take the same career path as his father. However, Trump junior had a bigger vision of the future that his dad did. When he was still at College Trump worked for his father during the summer and then began working for his father full time after his graduation. He was responsible for the financing of an expansion of their company by persuading his father to be more adventurous when taking out loans based on the equity held in their apartment complexes. That being said, it was a competitive business and the margins were very tight.

After moving to Manhattan, New York in 1971 Donald Trump became friendly with several ‘big players’. As he became increasingly aware of economic opportunity in the city Trump played a part in large property developments that would yield high profits through the use of modern design and gaining recognition from the public.

A turning point arrived in 1974 when Trump gained an option on one of the Penn Central’s hotels, the Commodore which wasn’t turning a profit but was in a great location near Grand Central Station. Within a year Trump had sealed a partnership agreement with Hyatt Hotels who, at the time, didn’t have a large downtown hotel. After a complex deal with the city to arrange finances, abate taxes and renovate the building, the hotel opened as the Grand Hyatt and was a huge economic success which made Donald Trump the City’s most recognised and most controversial property developer.

“If you’re interested in ‘balancing’ work and pleasure, stop trying to balance them. Instead make your work more pleasurable.” – Donald Trump

The Growth of an Empire

Trump leased a site on Fifth Avenue adjacent to the famous Tiffany & Company in 1979. This was to be the location for the huge apartment-retail complex designed by Der Scutt and was to cost $200 Million. The aptly named ‘Trump Tower‘ opened in 1982 with fifty eight stories complete with six story atrium lined with pink marble and an eighty foot waterfall. Trump gained nationwide attention when the luxurious building attracted world-renowned retail stores and celebrity renters.

This was not Trump’s only project at the time, he was also researching the profitability of the casino, gambling business that was approved in New Jersey in 1977.  Once again being keen to take the opportunity, Trump purchased a property in Atlantic City where he enrolled his younger brother to help him win a gambling license, financing and other permits. The parent company of Harrah’s Casino Hotels, Holiday Inn Corporation offered to partner with Trump and the $250 Million complex named Harrah’s at Trump Plaza opened its doors in 1982.

In 1986 Trump bought out The Holiday Inn Corporation renaming the property Trump Plaza Hotel. It was around this time that Trump also bought a Hilton Hotel owned resort when they failed to be granted a gambling license, renaming the $320 Million facility Trump’s Castle. Not stopping there, Trump progressed to purchase the largest casino-hotel complex in the world, the Atlantic City Taj Mahal which opened its doors in 1990.

“I wasn’t satisfied just to earn a good living. I was looking to make a statement.” – Donald Trump

Donald Trump’s Amazing Recovery

Trump wanted to expand his business and opted to build a condominium project in West Palm Beach, Florida and in 1989 he bought the Eastern Airlines Shuttle changing the name to Trump Shuttle. In the early part of 1990 Trump made his way to LA to reveal a plan to develop a $1 Billion facility for commercial and residential purposes, featuring a one hundred and twenty five story office building.

It was in that same year that the Real Estate Market experienced a downturn which negatively impacted the value and income of Trump’s empire with his personal net worth free falling from an estimated $1.7 Billion to $500 Million. Trump and his organization had to work extremely hard to get many loans to stop the whole empire from falling apart which led many to ask whether or not the company could survive bankruptcy. Trump’s fall from grace was viewed by many as a symbol of the social, business and economic excesses of the previous decade.

However, the story does not end there. Remarkably, Donald Trump fought his way back from nearly $900 Million in debt to a net worth of nearly $2 Billion by 1997!

 

Conclusion

It may seem like a cliché that to become a successful entrepreneur you have to take calculated risks and be able to bounce back even when times get extremely tough but Donald Trump is living proof of these attributes.

Trump is an amazing man who really has always done what ever it takes to make his visions a reality and has never taken no for answer even when a recovery was seemingly impossible.

 

Donald Trump Picture Quote

9 Lies We Tell Ourselves That Kill Our Chances of Success

You know something? We’re lying to ourselves. We’re joking all the time. We don’t dare to face the truth.

Why? For a variety of reasons. Some of us are always making up excuses. Some of us are not disciplined enough to take on the hard work. The rest of us are afraid of success.

You may be thinking, “Hey! I’m no liar!” but the thing is, the lies are subtle.

Most, if not all of us are guilty of lying to ourselves from time to time.

Here are some of the things we say to ourselves, check it out.

 

1. “I don’t know what to do.”

Do you really?

Look, there’s honestly no excuse here. The answer to almost anything can be found with Google today.

Sure, maybe you don’t know the exact, technical answer you think you need for something, but the bigger question is whether you started to TRY your hand at the first solution you found.

The answers need not be perfect. Just give it a whirl. You will know what to do eventually.

 

2. “I’m too busy.”

To do what you know you have to do, which is to put in the work.

Straight up, busy is bullshit. Everybody is busy today!

If you really want something, you will make time for it no matter what.

So unless you know deep down you’ve really tried to fit the work in your schedule, you’re only lying to yourself.

 

3. “I’ve done all I could.”

If you know there’s another one or two possibilities to what you know you can do to give you better results, then do it.

Don’t say you’ve done it all just because you finished the main tasks. It’s the other tiny things that actually makes the difference in the results.

 

4. “I’m too tired.”

Or, are you just lazy?

Unless you’re a hundred years old or suffering from energy-sapping sickness, this is no excuse.

There’s no harm in losing a couple of hours of sleep or staying up late a little bit more to work. This is what separates the truly successful and the rest of the world.

If anything, do yourself a favour and adjust your lifestyle so that you can get ample rest to maximize your productivity.

 

5. “I can’t do it alone. I require guidance. I need a mentor!”

Come on man.

For whatever great feat there has been done out there, somebody did it on their own first! It also takes a single person with a single idea within to invent or create something!

Getting help and being mentored is great for reducing the learning curve, but how would you know how capable you really are if you don’t give yourself a chance to fail?

Run into the dark. You’ll be surprised with what you’re capable of.

 

6. “I’m broke.”

This lie comes in two forms.

The first is that we think we need to spend on the latest equipment, course or whatever before we start on our venture.

No, you don’t. Just because something is new and expensive doesn’t mean you will get a lot out of it. You can easily try your hand at starting now with free tools online or simply borrowing from others.

The second is that we think we lack money when we really don’t.

“I’m broke” is what the guy who drinks, smokes and parties all the time said. That’s a true story I see in some of my friends.

Unless your bank account reads zero and you’re homeless, you’re not broke. You just need to stop spending on crap and start investing in yourself properly.

And quite frankly, you’ve only yourself to blame if you don’t want to get a job when you know you can.

 

7. “I’m not as good as others.”

This is pure self-sabotage. It is a lie that only reflects your lack of confidence and sadly, it becomes true for you when it paralyzes you into inaction.

See now, it’s not about being as good as others. It’s about always doing your best and learning to be an effective communicator to your prospects with your art, craft and passion. How good or bad others are really don’t matter at all.

Don’t put others on a pedestal. Work on creating your own pedestal and lift yourself up.

Besides, even if others are more talented than you, it’s useless if they don’t have the right attitude and that’s what matters most.

 

8. “I don’t know where to start.”

You don’t know? Or you just don’t dare to?

It’s too easy to start today, so there’s really no excuses.

Learn by using Google.

Try your hand at it and carry out the first step.

Get feedback by sharing it with your friends on social media.

How can you not know where to start?

 

9. “I’m not good enough.”

The worst lie of all. When you say this, you’re telling yourself something that doesn’t exist at all.

Again, it’s not about trying to be good. It’s about trying and giving it your best shot.

And you do that over and over again until you become the best version of yourself.

Please don’t ever lie to yourself like that. It’s unhealthy and doesn’t make sense at all.

You can’t ever know for certain until you try, start and give yourself a chance. Nobody starts something being the best anyway.

 

What are some of the lies you to yourself sometimes? Please share them in the comments below so we can learn from one another.

 

50 Inspirational Joel Osteen Quotes To Live By

Best Selling Author, Pastor and Inspiring leader Joel Osteen packs out a venue with 38,000 people every week to share gods word and his words of hope and encouragement that is broadcasted to over 20 million people every month.

According to Nielsen Media Research, Joel Osteen is the most watched inspirational figure in America.

Joel Osteen has 1000′s of inspirational quotes and words of wisdom for the world to hear and it was hard to narrow it down to 50 inspiring quotes, but we did it.

 

The Top 50 Inspirational Quotes by Joel Osteen

 

1. “You’re going to go through tough times – that’s life. But I say, ‘Nothing happens to you, it happens for you.’ See the positive in negative events.” – Joel Osteen

2. “I believe if you keep your faith, you keep your trust, you keep the right attitude, if you’re grateful, you’ll see God open up new doors.” – Joel Osteen

3. “Don’t go into the new year holding a grudge from last year. Leave the hurts and disappointments behind.” – Joel Osteen

4. You have to come to your closed doors before you get to your open doors… What if you knew you had to go through 32 closed doors before you got to your open door? Well, then you’d come to closed door number eight and you’d think, ‘Great, I got another one out of the way’… Keep moving forward. – Joel Osteen

5. “Life’s too short to spend it trying to keep others happy. You can’t please everyone. To fulfill your destiny, stay true to your heart.” – Joel Osteen

6. “Nothing in life has happened to you. It’s happened for you. Every disappointment. Every wrong. Even every closed door has helped make you into who you are.” – Joel Osteen

7. “God would not have put a dream in your heart if He had not already given you everything you need to fulfill it.” – Joel Osteen

8. “If you have your health, if you have people in your life to love, you are blessed. Slow down and enjoy the simple things in life.” – Joel Osteen

9. “Start believing today that things are going to change for the better. Your best days are still out in front of you.” – Joel Osteen

10. “See, when you drive home today, you’ve got a big windshield on the front of your car. And you’ve got a little bitty rearview mirror. And the reason the windshield is so large and the rearview mirror is so small is because what’s happened in your past is not near as important as what’s in your future.” – Joel Osteen

11. “The more you talk about negative things in your life, the more you call them in. Speak victory not defeat.” – Joel Osteen

12. “You cannot hang out with negative people and expect to live a positive life.” – Joel Osteen

13. “Stones of judgment, discouragement or doubt may be thrown at you. You can’t stop them, but you can make the choice to keep your walls up and not let them affect you.” – Joel Osteen

14. “If you want success, if you want wisdom, if you want to be prosperous and healthy, you’re going to have to do more than meditate and believe; you must boldly declare words of faith and victory over yourself and your family.” – Joel Osteen

15. “It may look like the difficulty is going to defeat you. But you need to keep telling yourself, “This sickness can’t take my life.” “This cancer can’t defeat me.” “No bad break, no disappointment, no accident can shorten one second of my divine destiny.” – Joel Osteen

16. “Don’t live worried, frustrated or upset because of what somebody did or what didn’t work out. Come back to a place of peace. It’s not going to work against you; it’s going to work for you.” – Joel Osteen

17. “Every day we have plenty of opportunities to get angry, stressed or offended. But what you’re doing when you indulge these negative emotions is giving something outside yourself power over your happiness. You can choose to not let little things upset you.” – Joel Osteen

18. “You can change your world by changing your words… Remember, death and life are in the power of the tongue.” – Joel Osteen

19. “When you go through enough dark places, you don’t complain about little things. You don’t lose your joy because you got stuck in traffic; you don’t get offended because a coworker was rude to you. You’ve been through too much to let that sour you.” – Joel Osteen

20. “No matter what’s happening, choose to be happy. Don’t focus on what’s wrong. Find something positive in your life. Thank God for the small things.” – Joel Osteen

21. “Don’t waste your energy trying to convince people to understand you. Your time is too valuable to try to prove yourself to people.” – Joel Osteen

22. “Make the decision and say, “I’m not letting that worry in. I’m done being upset when my plans don’t work out. I’m not letting that stress in.” Negative thoughts will still come to your mind, but you don’t have to let them into your spirit.” – Joel Osteen

23. “God will always bring the right people into your life, but you have to let the wrong people walk away.” – Joel Osteen

24. “Encouragement to others is something everyone can give. Somebody needs what you have to give. It may not be your money; it may be your time. It may be your listening ear. It may be your arms to encourage. It may be your smile to uplift. Who knows?” – Joel Osteen

25. “There is a winner in you. You were created to be successful, to accomplish your goals, to leave your mark on this generation. You have greatness in you. The key is to get it out.” – Joel Osteen

 

26. “Don’t make excuses, don’t blame the past. The rest of your life can be the best of your life!” – Joel Osteen

27. “It’s easy to get negative because you get beat down. You go through a few disappointments and it’s easy to stay in that negative frame of mind. Choosing to be positive and having a grateful attitude is a whole cliche, but your attitude is going to determine how you’re going to live your life.” – Joel Osteen

28. “There may be times when you just have to love people from a distance.” – Joel Osteen

29. “You’re not really free until you’re free from trying to please everybody.” – Joel Osteen

30. “Don’t settle in the land of barely enough. That is where you are, it is not who you are. That’s your location, it’s not your identity. No matter what it looks like, have an abundant mentality.” – Joel Osteen

31. “Hard times may have held you down, but they will not last forever. When all is said and done, you will be better off than before.” – Joel Osteen

32. “No matter how dark and gloomy it looks in your life right now, if you’ll release the weight of those burdens, you will see the sun break forth.” – Joel Osteen

33. “You must make a decision that you are going to move on. It wont happen automatically. You will have to rise up and say, ‘I don’t care how hard this is, I don’t care how disappointed I am, I’m not going to let this get the best of me. I’m moving on with my life.” – Joel Osteen

34. “Keep in mind, hurting people often hurt other people as a result of their own pain. If somebody is rude and inconsiderate, you can almost be certain that they have some unresolved issues inside. They have some major problems, anger, resentment, or some heartache they are trying to cope with or overcome. The last thing they need is for you to make matters worse by responding angrily.” – Joel Osteen

35. “When the negative thoughts come – and they will; they come to all of us – it’s not enough to just not dwell on it… You’ve got to replace it with a positive thought.” – Joel Osteen

36. “If one dream dies, dream another dream. If you get knocked down, get back up and go again.” – Joel Osteen

37. “Friend, there’s no greater investment in life than in being a people builder. Relationships are more important than our accomplishments.” – Joel Osteen

38. “Do all you can to make your dreams come true.” – Joel Osteen

39. “I wouldn’t ever say if you’re having tough times then there must be something wrong with you or your attitude. Life’s a fight. It’s a good fight of faith. I encourage people to stay up, stay hopeful, stay faith-filled.” – Joel Osteen

40. “Quit worrying about how everything is going to turn out. Live one day at a time; better yet, make the most of this moment. It’s good to have a big – picture outlook, to set goals, to establish budgets and make plans, but if you’re always living in the future, you’re never really enjoying the present in the way God wants you to.” – Joel Osteen

41. “Sometimes we look back and 10 years from now we think, ‘Boy, those were great old days.’ Well, you know, we’re living in the good old days.” – Joel Osteen

42. “You were not created to just get by with an average, unrewarding, or unfulfilling life. God created you to leave your mark on this generation.” – Joel Osteen

43. “Indeed, it is as important to learn how to receive a blessing as it is to be willing to give one.” – Joel Osteen

44. “You will never change what you tolerate.” – Joel Osteen

45. “If we’re going to bring out the best in people, we, too, need to sow seeds of encouragement.” – Joel Osteen

46. “We may get knocked down on the outside, but the key to living in victory is to learn how to get up on the inside.” – Joel Osteen

47. “The question is not, ‘Do you have a problem?’ The question is, ‘Does the problem have you?’” – Joel Osteen

48. “Don’t just accept whatever comes your way in life. You were born to win; you were born for greatness; you were created to be a champion in life.” – Joel Osteen

49. “Keep in mind, just because you don’t know the answer doesn’t mean that one does not exist. You simply haven’t discovered it yet.” – Joel Osteen

50. “In difficult times, we’re not supposed to quit believing; we’re not supposed to quit growing.”  – Joel Osteen

 

What is your favorite Joel Osteen Quote? Share it with ME in the comment section below.

32 Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes

Abraham Lincoln is remembered as one of the greatest American presidents of all time.

Abe Lincoln fought for equality within the US and was eventually assassinated on April 15th 1865.

Abraham Lincoln’s words will echo through eternity as he was looked up to as someone who always strived to be honest as often as possible with the people.

A number of Abraham Lincoln’s quotes are hung in locker rooms and classroom halls around the world as an inspiration and reminder for all who want to strive to live a purpose filled life.

Here are our favorite 32 Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes for you to remember.

 

Inspirational Abraham Lincoln Quotes

1. “Folks are usually about as happy as they make their minds up to be.” – Abraham Lincoln

2. “When I do good, I feel good. When I do bad, I feel bad. That’s my religion.” – Abraham Lincoln

3. “Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln

4. “Do I not destroy my enemies when I make them my friends?” – Abraham Lincoln

5. “And in the end it is not the years in your life that count, it’s the life in your years.” – Abraham Lincoln

6. “That some achieve great success, is proof to all that others can achieve it as well.” – Abraham Lincoln

7. “I’m a success today because I had a friend who believed in me and I didn’t have the heart to let him down.” – Abraham Lincoln

8. “Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.” – Abraham Lincoln

9. “It often requires more courage to dare to do right than to fear to do wrong.” – Abraham Lincoln

10. “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln

11. “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

12. “We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Abraham Lincoln

13. “Those who look for the bad in people will surely find it.” – Abraham Lincoln

14. “I will prepare and some day my chance will come.” – Abraham Lincoln

15. “I am not bound to win, but I am bound to be true. I am not bound to succeed, but I am bound to live up to what light I have.” – Abraham Lincoln

16. “Every person’s happiness is their own responsibility.” – Abraham Lincoln

 

17. “The best way to predict your future is to create it” – Abraham Lincoln

18. “You cannot escape the responsibility of tomorrow by evading it today.” – Abraham Lincoln

19. “I am a slow walker, but I never walk back.” – Abraham Lincoln

20. “When you reach the end of your rope, tie a knot and hang on.” – Abraham Lincoln

21. “You can tell the greatness of someone by what makes them angry” – Abraham Lincoln

22. “All I have learned, I learned from books.” – Abraham Lincoln

23. “Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe.” – Abraham Lincoln

24. “The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.” – Abraham Lincoln

25. “The better part of one’s life consists of his friendships.” – Abraham Lincoln

26. “Character is like a tree and reputation its shadow. The shadow is what we think it is and the tree is the real thing.” – Abraham Lincoln

27. “I do not think much of a man who is not wiser today than he was yesterday.” – Abraham Lincoln

28. “I am not concerned that you have fallen — I am concerned that you arise.” – Abraham Lincoln

29. “I don’t know who my grandfather was; I am much more concerned to know what his grandson will be.” – Abraham Lincoln

30. “My great concern is not whether you have failed, but whether you are content with your failure.” – Abraham Lincoln

31. “You can have anything you want if you want it badly enough. You can be anything you want to be, do anything you set out to accomplish if you hold to that desire with singleness of purpose.” – Abraham Lincoln

32. “Life is hard but so very beautiful” – Abraham Lincoln

 

What are your favorite Abraham Lincoln Quotes? Leave them in the comment section below.

10 Major Differences Between The Successful & The Very Successful

There’s no denying that successful people are hard workers. They’re often the ones who put in the long hours, do the jobs that no one else wants to do and hustle until they get rewarded for it.

However, successful people should not be confused with very successful people.

Some people are simply more successful than others. This success often comes from lifestyle choices and habits they’ve picked up over the years, while other reasons stem from the way they prioritize their lives.

It’s clear how these 10 major lifestyle choices serve to differentiate the successful from the very successful.

The Very Successful…

1. Commit to Their Ever-Evolving Goals

The most significant difference between the successful and the very successful is the nature of their commitment. Successful people often pursue their goals with an unwavering, iron-willed perseverance.

The very successful are equally as committed, but they recognize that their goals are constantly evolving. What you thought you wanted when you were a startup entrepreneur may be entirely different from what you want when you’re the CEO of a successful company. And that’s okay.

 

2. Say No, More Than They Say Yes

Successful people may agree to do everything, but very successful people are much more selective with their choices.

Very successful people see the value behind their time, and will choose what they do accordingly. They don’t haphazardly say no, but rather eliminate nonessential activities or actions that won’t help them achieve their goals.

 

3. Get Joy From Their Jobs

Though clichéd, the idea of loving what you do does hold merit.

If you’re committed to achieving a goal, you need to really want it. While you can’t avoid doing some things you don’t enjoy, very successful people get to where they are because they genuinely enjoy their jobs. You won’t hear the very successful bemoaning work-life balance, because their work is an essential part of their life.

 

4. Separate Work from Play

At the same time, very successful people know the importance of having down time. Many studies have already shown that working without taking a break can be detrimental to your health and your career.

Very successful people see this down time as essential. For example, taking a walk outside or reading a book can help boost their creativity and give them more ideas for future projects.

 

5. They Challenge Themselves to Learn More

Complacency is antithetical to success.

For the very successful, a day is wasted if they haven’t learned anything new. This doesn’t necessarily mean formal learning – some of the most innovative people don’t even have a bachelor’s degree. Rather, they’re constantly reading, learning from others around them and also learning from their own mistakes.
 

6. They Are Excellent Listeners

You don’t necessarily need to be the first person to answer a question in order to be very successful.

Very successful people will listen to the people around them, perhaps to bounce off ideas or –­ more importantly – to listen to what isn’t being said.

 

7. They Welcome Criticism

In addition to being excellent listeners, very successful people not only listen to criticism, they welcome it with open arms.

Abraham Lincoln once said, “He has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help.” Hearing only good things might make you feel better, but it won’t do much to help you grow and achieve your goals. Sometimes, you have to hear the criticisms to be able to make it to where you want to go.

 

8. They Take Care of Themselves

If you’re a very successful person, you know that you are the only person who can achieve the goals you have.

Very successful people have internalized this and know the importance of taking care of themselves. Among the very successful, you’ll find devout proponents of meditation, sleep, and reading.

 

9. They Focus On Themselves, Not the Competition

Keeping up with the Joneses is still a recurring theme for many people and companies. They focus on what the competition is doing and try to one-up them.

A very successful person isn’t worried about what the competition is doing – he’s worried about what he is doing. He’s thinking about what he can do better.

 

10. They Have Confidence in Themselves

If you’re going to achieve your goals, you have to be confident that what you’re doing is right. Very successful people don’t have time to be self-conscious. If you want to be very successful, you have to believe in yourself – after all, if you can’t believe in yourself, why should anyone else?

Very successful people are self-driven and don’t hold themselves back with excuses. They learn from their mistakes and aim to be the best they can be.