Sometimes all you need is a reminder, mantra, or a snippet of advice to get you fired up and ready to take on the workday. What draws us some of us to motivational quotes is our natural tendency to want to follow the words of a leader; we trust the experiences of those who have gotten through a life experience and learned something invaluable. It is also the eloquent or brash language of a quote alone that can demand our attention. Motivational quotes, however, resonate the most with those who seek them out or enjoy reading them.
I am in the tribe of people who love reading motivational quotes because sometimes I ruminate with the most discouraging and unproductive of thoughts. Not to sound too sentimental or cheesy, but I find the following quotes helpful as a reminder to always try to see the forest from the trees – which is to to strive to alter your perspective from time to time. Your company can inspire employees to consider possibilities and shake up their point of views with these following words of wisdom:
1. When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too. —Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
2. For artists, scientists, inventors, schoolchildren, and the rest of us, intrinsic motivation—the drive to do something because it is interesting, challenging, and absorbing—is essential for high levels of creativity. — Daniel H. Pink, Drive
3. There is only one way to avoid criticism. Do nothing. Be nothing. Say nothing. — Aristotle
4. Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever. MAKE. — Joss Whedon
5. If you hire people just because they can do a job, they’ll work for your money. But if you hire people who believe what you believe, they’ll work for you with blood and sweat and tears. — Simon Sinek
6. Don’t persuade, defend or interrupt. Be curious, be conversational, be real. And listen. — Elizabeth Lesser
7. Just one small positive thought in the morning can change your whole day. – Dalai Lama
8. All growth depends upon activity. There is no development physically or intellectually without effort, and effort means work. – Calvin Coolidge
9. Hard work spotlights the character of people: some turn up their sleeves, some turn up their noses, and some don’t turn up at all. – Sam Ewing
10. When I was a child, my mother said to me, 'If you become a soldier, you'll be a general. If you become a monk, you'll end up as the Pope.' Instead, I became a painter and wound up as Picasso.” – Pablo Picasso
12. If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. — Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
13. I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work. — Thomas Edison
14. You can’t change how people treat you or what they say about you. All you can do is change how you react to it. — Mahatma Gandhi
15. The difference between successful people and really successful people is that really successful people say no to almost everything.–Warren Buffett
16. A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.–Albert Einstein
17. If you hear a voice within you say “you cannot paint,” then by all means paint and that voice will be silenced.– Vincent Van Gogh
18. I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.– Michael Jordan
19. Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do. – Pele
20. Learn to enjoy every minute of your life. Be happy now. Don't wait for something outside of yourself to make you happy in the future. Think how really precious is the time you have to spend, whether it's at work or with your family. Every minute should be enjoyed and savored. – Earl Nightingale
The bottom line:
Employees should know that their efforts make a difference in the workplace; they are the driving force of what will make your company grow and succeed.
Do what naturally excites and interests you and you’ll be able to tap into the creative recesses of your mind. HR can ask employees what their interests are and what they like to do outside of work.
Does their work/life align in any way with their passions? Sometimes just starting a conversation with employees about what intrinsically motivates them can garner an appreciation and camaraderie for a company that invests in their career growth.
The opinion of every employee matters and a company that aims to unlock the optimal potential and passions of their employees is a company that cares.