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Quotes are popular for a reason: sometimes a short piece of wisdom is exactly what you need to inspire you, keep you honest, or ground you in your values. The ones that tend to stick could be great ideas contained in small pieces of text or simple tips that help you remember something important. They can be a source of inspiration and give us principles to remember to live by.
I am known for wearing a variety of t-shirts printed with motivational words to help me remember something important to me and to inspire others around me because I love sharing an inspiring message. So here are eight of my favorite quotes for CEOs and why I think they’re helpful to remember:
Related: 30 of the most inspiring leadership quotes
1. “If you don’t have an assistant, you are!” — Cameron Herold, author and coach
One of my favorite quotes that inspired me to take action was this one from Cameron Herold. This quote represents one of the most important lessons an entrepreneur must learn: your time is your most valuable resource, so spend it on the most important tasks. This means delegating everything that doesn’t require your level of expertise. Would you pay someone your salary to do the job of an assistant? If you don’t have one, you’re already doing it!
2. “It’s okay to admit what you don’t know. It’s okay to ask for help. And it’s more than okay to listen to the people you lead—in fact, it’s essential.” — Mary Barra, CEO of General Motors
Strong leadership requires a certain level of vulnerability. Admitting you don’t know something, asking for help, and listening to your employees are indicators of an effective leader. The leader who tries to do everything alone will never accomplish as much as the leader who values the expertise of others.
3. “All of our productivity, influence, and insight come from being part of a community, not apart from it. The goal, I think, is to figure out how to become more dependent, not less.” — Seth Godin, author and speaker
One of the most important leadership lessons to learn is that your greatest business asset is your team. Each person brings a unique perspective and expertise, and the best innovations come from collaboration. Your community extends beyond just your team: friends, mentors, and family all provide valuable and enriching relationships. Don’t neglect them.
4. “No legacy is so rich as honesty.” – William Shakespeare
If there is anyone who managed to leave an extraordinary legacy, it was Shakespeare. More than what you accomplish, people will remember the way you behaved. And your legacy doesn’t just begin after your death; it’s already in action, in the way people associate with you. A legacy and reputation as an honest person will take you far.
Related: 15 Success Quotes from America’s Best CEOs
5. “You can’t run out of creativity. The more you use it, the more you have.” —Maya Angelou
As the CEO of your company, your creativity is one of your most valuable skills, so it’s worth taking the time to put it into practice. I’ve been known to dedicate one day each week to creative endeavors to keep my creative muscles in shape. And I highly encourage everyone to intentionally spend time being creative, because the more often you do it, the easier ideas will come to you.
6. “A pessimist is one who makes his opportunities difficulties and an optimist is one who makes his difficulties opportunities.” —Harry S. Truman
Stop letting your thoughts get in your way. It’s easy to adopt a pessimistic attitude disguised as “realism,” but the reality is that it’s the optimists who tend to get the best results. Why? Because they are not easily discouraged, so they are more likely to learn from their mistakes and keep trying. As opera singer Robert Breault said: “The realist sees reality as concrete. The optimist sees reality as clay.”
7. “What looks like multitasking is actually switching back and forth between multiple tasks, which reduces productivity and increases errors by up to 50%.” —Susan Cain, author
If you’re anything like most entrepreneurs I know, you’re always trying to do more with your time. Time is your most precious resource, so it’s important to use it wisely, which is exactly why multitasking is a bad idea. You will always achieve more when you dedicate your attention to a single task and give it your all.
Related article: “Let’s punch you in the face today!” 20 inspiring quotes and sayings that motivated successful entrepreneurs
8. “The best way to improve an organization’s performance is to create an environment where information can flow freely, errors can be highlighted, and help can be offered and received.” — Simon Sinek, author and speaker
Creating a productive workplace culture may seem complex and daunting to many leaders, but the heart of it is collaboration, where each employee is given the resources to be their best selves. And to have strong collaboration, you need a creative, non-judgmental environment where people can bring their ideas, perspectives and expertise to the table, communicate freely, take responsibility for their tasks, ask for help when needed, and have the freedom to make mistakes. When you create a culture of collaboration, that’s where innovation begins.
If you found one of these quotes particularly inspiring or helpful, write it on a sticky note and place it where you can see it regularly. Sometimes these quick reminders are exactly what we need to refocus and maintain our perspective.