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by David Mercer (updated 20 January, 2020)

5 Inspirational Quotes for Entrepreneurs (with Stunning Images)

Life as an entrepreneur can be extremely tough, which is why it is important to sometimes pause and listen to inspiring quotes that keep you going.

But it's one thing to read a quote, it's another to see it brought to life by an artist's interpretation. Often, the imagery combined with the quote can have a far more profound effect than the words by themselves.

And, in the world of small business, finding the right words at the right time could mean the difference between success and failure - especially if you're at the point where you really need something uplifting.

I found a bunch of inspirational/motivational quotes decorated with images and typography that I thought I would share with you here. All of these images are freely available in various formats to use as wallpapers for your PC, tablet, or smartphone - so, it's worth taking a look around the site and setting one as your wallpaper.

1. Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life

Unknown
Sometimes the smallest step in the right direction ends up being the biggest step of your life

This quote speaks to me the most because, looking back, the decisions that involved changing the course of my life (like deciding to start a part time online business) had the biggest impact.

Doing something (anything) that pulled me out of my comfort zone has never been a bad thing.

2. Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny

C. S. Lewis

Hardships often prepare ordinary people for an extraordinary destiny

Almost every parent will tell their kids, at some point, that it's better to earn the things they want in life - otherwise, they won't appreciate it. The things I value the most are the things I have had to suffer for.

This applies to entrepreneurs in the sense that overcoming obstacles often "prepares" their startups to meet the needs of the market better.

3. There is no great genius without a mixture of madness

Aristotle
There is no great genius without a mixture of madness

To me, this quote is about pushing the envelop in order to do something extra-ordinary - even if it means that you seem a bit mad to everyone else. Or perhaps, I would say it like this:

"Genius looks like madness until everyone else understands it"

4. Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down

Kobi Yamada
Sometimes you just have to take the leap and build your wings on the way down

I had never heard of this one before, but I find that it says a lot about being an entrepreneur in beautifully efficient way. So many people I know spend far too long making sure everything is just right before they put themselves out there. Sure, it's important to be prepared, but the time will almost never be "just right", so why delay?

5. It is a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together

Unknown
It is a beautiful thing when a career and a passion come together

Well, this one struck me as kind of obvious - except that we're often so busy trying to balance our work, careers, lives, and passions that we rarely get them to meet up, and if we do, we don't even recognize it.

I guess you could say that we should be thankful - even if the road is long and hard - if we have (or make) the opportunity to do something we love.

What other quotes have helped motivate you in your job/work? Share your favourite saying in the comments below.

3 Best Fiverr Gigs for Online Startups

Fiverr is an online marketplace offering a huge range of services (from the sublime to the ridiculous) that startups can utilize, for only five dollars.

If you're wondering what service could possibly offer any value for only $5, then you are in exactly the same boat I was.

Most of the services (called gigs) that are available on fiverr are probably not even worth the five bucks they charge. But, if you are willing to dig a bit deeper, there are a few gems that can save you a lot of time and money.

Business Cards 101

Design and print your own business cards

Did you know that business card design can directly impact the success of your organisation?

How to improve your cash flow

A cash flow statement usually includes money flowing in and out of a company, but this article is full of ideas and tips to get more money flowing in.

Because cash is king for all entrepreneurs, SME/SMBs, and home based ventures, it is crucial that you can generate as much revenue as possible, as early as possible.

This article will look at a very simple sales forecast and provide plenty of great sales strategies, ideas and advice for you to incorporate into your own plans.

How to Survive Without Google Search Traffic

Successful online business without Google traffic

Organic search traffic from Google is so valuable that many businesses come to rely on it as their primary source of income.

And while it may seem that the sun will never set on high converting organic traffic from the search giant, you might want to think about what would happen to your enterprise if the flow dried up.

I've experienced both the frustration and despair of losing Google traffic to an unknown and unexplained penalty (only large, important businesses get the information they need to recover in a matter of days or weeks), but have also seen how other companies have thrived without Google entirely.

Top 10 Highest Pay Work From Home Jobs

A list of high paying work from home jobs

Ever wondered just how much you can earn in a career working from home? The answer is millions of dollars - if you've got what it takes.

5 Unusual Online Home Business Ideas

Selling online is getting easier and easier every day, from a technical point of view, because the technology to handle online transactions (like online

3 tips on how to use the cloud

Among their top 3 challenges, according to most business leaders, is the ability to keep pace with new technology - like the cloud.

Being able to understand what new technology offers and how to use it to increase productivity and maintain competitiveness is not easy, because technology moves moves faster than our ability to keep up.

Small businesses, in this regard, have a distinct advantage over larger ones, and we might well be entering an age where small companies start out-competing big ones because of technology.

How to find the right products to sell online

Tools and tips on how to source products online

Small retail businesses and eCommerce sites need to consistently choose the best products to sell in order to maximize their profits.

But trying to find this information is not always easy, and there are plenty of "silver bullet" sites (and con men) that will try to make a profit by advising you to stock products that give them commission.

It's far better to be able to do your own research into which products offer the best value for money for your own customers and clients. After all, you know your business best.

Why Google is Bad for the (Small Business) Economy

Think of the Internet economy as a farmer’s field full of little green plants. Each plant represents a business, and the stuff that makes them grow is traffic (just like rain makes real plants grow).

Now, imagine that in between the rain clouds and our fledgling plants, there is a huge funnel that collects the rain and pours it over the field. Let’s call this funnel Google.

Google’s job is to make sure that all the sprouts get a fair share of water (provided they are of good quality), and that any weeds that are harmful to the ecosystem aren’t watered. All day long Google funnels rain onto various different plants in order to help them grow.

Business Opportunities (to Create for Yourself)

creating opportunities in life and business

Isn't it frustrating that some people just seem to have that entrepreneurial knack - business opportunities just seem to go their way again and again?

College course outline for Internet startups

Universities wanting to offer a course on Internet entrepreneurship can start here

Being an entrepreneur is something that should be encouraged and nurtured in everyone from an early age - especially in a country like the U.S. where the economy relies on small business.

Every school and university should offer a range of courses designed to empower young people to take an idea and turn it into a profitable enterprise, with confidence and competence.

Sadly, most educational institutes seem intent on sticking to dry, academic curricula that might teach young minds how to think, but don't prepare them for the harsh realities of the real world.

What grumpy cat can teach you about creating a million dollar income

In case you haven't already heard, there's a little kitty out there with feline dwarfism that earns more than you do.

Grumpy cat, according to Wikipedia, seems to be raking in millions of dollars, and this might strike you as odd given how difficult it is to start a successful enterprise these days.