Abigail Bruley - 100 Best Quotes to Motivate Your Employees

Ah, the power of the inspirational quote. A great inspirational quote can stimulate images and feelings in peoples brains that drive them to power through, power up and go the distance. Its the power of positive imagery, like a little cheerleader in your head, building confidence and belief in your work. People can imagine themselves behaving in the way described in the quote, inspiring them by association. Sure, there are more active ways to motivate your employees; with team building activities, workshops, balanced praise and critique, etc. But, instilling in them some advice from the greats is a simple place to start, and can reap huge rewards.

Expect your good employees to fail on a consistent basis. If theyre not, they arent working hard enough. At least, thats what we learn from George Bernard Shaw.

Every excuse is a choice to fail.

A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor. -Franklin D. Roosevelt

An essential aspect of creativity is not being afraid to fail. Edward Land

Challenges make you discover something about yourself that you never really knew. Cicely Tyson

I have learned that success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles overcome while trying to succeed." - Booker T. Washington

"The most important thing in life is not to capitalise on your successes any fool can do that. The really important thing is to profit from your mistakes." William Bolitho, from Twelve Against the Gods .

"A life spent in making mistakes is not only more honourable but more useful than a life spent doing nothing." - George Bernard Shaw

The all-important goal. It can get a little murky when times are tough. Its your job to keep their eyes on their prize.

Life begins at the end of your comfort zone. Neale Donald Walsch

"A dream is just a dream. A goal is a dream with a plan and a deadline." Harvey Mackay

"Most people never run far enough on their first wind to find out they've got a second. Give your dreams all you've got and you'll be amazed at the energy that comes out of you." William James, American Philosopher

"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power and magic in it." - Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

The key is not to prioritize what's on your schedule, but to schedule your priorities. Stephen Covey

The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing. Stephen Covey

The will to win means nothing without the will to prepare. Juma Ikangaa

"We cannot solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them."

- Albert Einstein

The best employee isnt worth a damn unless hes got character. Human beings have a highly attuned bullshit meter. We can pick up on the slightest crooked smile, ill intention or dishonest motivation, which makes character building so important to practice with your employees, especially those who are representing your company to the public or those in positions of customer service.

People who say it can not be done should not interrupt those who are doing it.

Character is how you treat those who can do nothing for you.

Work for a cause, not applause. Life life to express, not impress. Dont strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.

If you do what you always did, you will get what you always got.

Work smarter, not harder.

Just start.

Be better than you were yesterday.

In a year you may wish you had started now.

Its supposed to be hard. If it wasnt hard, everyone would do it. The hard is what makes it great. - A League of Their Own

Its a funny thing about life, if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it. W. Somerset Maugham

You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself in any direction you choose. Dr. Suess

The grass is greener where you water it. - Neil Barringham

Courage does not always roar. Sometimes, courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day, saying I will try again tomorrow. Mary Anne Radmacher

You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you, thrill you. Andy Warhol

The thing that is really hard and really amazing, is giving up on being perfect and beginning the work of becoming yourself. Anna Quindlen

It is amazing what you can accomplish if you do not care who gets the credit."

- President Harry S. Truman

"The world is divided into people who do things, and people who get the credit. Try, if you can, to belong to the first class. There's far less competition." - Dwight Morrow

A good team is a thoughtful team. Not eager for recognition or merit, but eager for the good of the team. The most constructive people are those that are able to build off of the collaborative ideas of their colleagues instead of pushing their own agendas. Placement of strengths is important and praise and support is paramount.

If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Be successful anyway. Mother Theresa

Everybody is a genius. But, if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. - Albert Einstein

Surround yourself only with people who are going to lift you higher. Oprah Winfrey

"If you're not part of the solution you must be part of the problem." Eldridge Cleaver

"A dwarf standing on the shoulders of a giant may see farther than the giant himself."

- Didacus Stella

"If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants." Sir Isaac Newton

"Management means helping people to get the best out of themselves, not organising things." Lauren Appley

"I praise loudly. I blame softly." Catherine the Great

Energy and persistence conquer all things. Thats what Ben Franklin said and thats whats been proved time and time again. Those who push on and push through will always triumph in the end. Instill in your employees a shining light at the end of the tunnel and they will persevere.

You miss 100 percent of the shots you never take. Wayne Gretzky

Be so good they cant ignore you. Steve Martin

There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind. C.S Lewis

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no help at all." Dale Carnegie

"All great masters are chiefly distinguished by the power of adding a second, a third, and perhaps a fourth step in a continuous line. Many a man has taken the first step. With every additional step you enhance immensely the value of your first."

- Ralph Waldo Emerson

Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out. R. Collier

Via Getty Images .

You could say that Theodore Roosevelt was one of the most accomplished, well-rounded guys that ever lived. A peace-seeking, progress-obsessed president, an ardent naturalist and conservationist, a ferocious boxer, a well-read scholar and author, a brave soldier and a domestic cowboy; Roosevelt embraced the strenuous life of action and leadership. His legacy leaves behind one of back-breaking work, tenderness and masculinity.

Believe you can and you're halfway there.