I love motivational and inspirational quotes. They bear the truths that sometimes we forget about. Since entrepreneurs deal with lots of challenges regularly, not to mention the current virus crisis, a great motivational quote can change your outlook for the day.

That’s why I decided to handpick 23 of my favorite quotes for you to read whenever you need a bit of inspiration.

1. Guard your mind, be intentional on what you allow to come in.

What we think affects our feelings, feeling drive our behaviors and our behaviors are directly collated to our results.

Keep your thoughts positive, because your thoughts become your words.
Keep your words positive, because your words become your behavior.
Keep your behavior positive, because your behavior become your habits.
Keep your habits positive, because your habits become your values.
Keep your values positive, because your values become your destiny.

Mahatma Gandhi

2. We create our own life.

We might not have an influence over everything that happens to us, but we get to decide how we react to those things and what we do about them.

I am not a product of my circumstances. I am a product of my decisions.

Stephen Covey

3. Chose simplicity.

No one can operate in unnecessary complexity. Complicated is overwhelming, creates chaos, especially in hard times.

Life can be as simple or as complicated as you make it be. Chose simple, it's a faster way to happiness.

Maggie Perotin, Stairway to Leadership

4. Alignment

Align what you do in your business with your strategies. Align your strategy with your vision and dream. This way you’ll stay on course.

You’ve got to think about big things while you’re doing small things so that all the small things go in the right direction.

Alvin Toffler

5. Creativity is like a muscle

Innovation is creativity. Creativity is one of the essential skills to nurture in our businesses. It helps us be unique and stand out in the market.

You can't use up creativity. The more you use the more you have.

Maya Angelou

6. Failure

In the new COVID reality, the times are hard right now for a lot of us. J.K. Rowling knows something about that. Let’s learn from her.

Failure is so important. It is the ability to resist failure or use failure that often leads to greater success.

J.K. Rowling

7. Success

The daily habits and routines we set in our lives have a more significant impact on our success than motivation to pursue our dreams.

It was character that got us out of bed, commitment that moved us into action, and discipline that enabled us to follow through.

Zig Ziglar

8. Excellence vs. Perfectionism

Perfectionism is limiting. We cannot grow when we wait for the things to be perfect (will they ever be?). The only way to grow is to put yourself out there and do the best you can with the knowledge and resources you have in every given moment. The more you do that, the better you become.

The world needs your excellence, not perfection. Don’t hold back, lean into it.

Maggie Perotin, Stairway to Leadership

9. Passion

Have you been dreaming about doing what you’re passionate about but waiting for the right moment? That moment is now.

Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.

Oprah Winfrey

10. Habits

A keystone habit is one that ends up having a ripple effect on your life. Create good keystone habits that have a positive influence in many areas of your life. Start small, now, with one. You have the time.

If you are going to achieve excellence in big things, you develop the habit in little matters. Excellence is not an exception, it is a prevailing attitude.

Colin Powell

11. Optimism and Hope

I wrote a whole article about hope. If you’re out of hope right now or think hope is just wishful thinking, it might help you. You can read it here.

Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.

Helen Keller

12. Simplicity

Sometimes we are so close to the problem that we don’t see solutions. And quite often the solutions are very simple. If you’re in this situation and need help, I’m happy to offer a free consultation to help. You can book it here.

Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.

Dr Seuss

13. Dealing with challenges

In every challenge, there is an opportunity waiting to be taken advantage of.

When you see a roadblock or challenge as an opportunity, it is amazing how you are already halfway there.

Frances Hesselbein

14. Don’t let fear paralyze you.

The path to success is to take massive, determined actions.

Tony Robbins

15. You have time for what's important.

If you really want to do something, you'll find a way. If you don’t, you'll find an excuse.

Jim Rohn

16. Self-development

To become the person you dream of with the results you want, self-development is the answer.

The world as we have created it is a process of our thinking. It cannot be changed without changing our thinking.

Albert Einstein

17. Don’t give up.

You should never view your challenges as a disadvantage. Instead, it's important for you to understand that your experience facing and overcoming adversity is actually one of your biggest advantages.

Michelle Obama

18. Pivot and keep going.

Most great people have attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.

Napoleon Hill

19. More about time

Use the time you have now to bring you closer to where you want to be. Don’t let it slip through your fingers wasted.

Time is really the only capital that any human being has, and the only thing he can’t afford to lose.

Thomas A. Edison

20. Dream

Dreaming is the first step of the universe telling you you’re capable of achieving it. DREAM-PLAN-DO!

If you can dream it, you can do it.

Walt Disney

21. Plan

Once you have a dream, the next step is to plan it. DREAM-PLAN-DO

A goal without a plan is just a wish.

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry.

22. Do

Don’t wait. Start today. DREAM-PLAN-DO

Yesterday is gone. Tomorrow has not yet come. We have only today. Let us begin.

Mother Teresa

23. Have courage

Without fear, there would be no courage. Any antidote needs its trigger. Next time you feel scared to go after your dreams, remember that only this way you'll find the courage to do it.

Maggie Perotin, Stairway to Leadership