Inspiring quotes for women founding and running a business

All over the world, women entreneurs are successfully setting up and running their own small businesses.

Many entreprenerial women enjoy having the freedom to live and work on their own terms, taking control of their success.

Although liberating, however, running a small business can also be very challenging.

Fortunately, there are many inspirational women who have paved the way in enterprise and whose achievements serve to constantly inspire and empower.

Here's a collection of some motivating quotes from business inspiring us to succeed.

Enjoy!

“The most successful entrepreneurs I know are optimistic. It’s part of the job description.” 

Caterina Fake, Founder, Flickr

“Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally. It comes from what you do consistently.”

Marie Forleo, Entrepreneur, Writer and Philanthropist 

“You will be defined not just by what you achieve, but by how you survive.” 

Sheryl Sandberg, COO, Facebook 

“With every experience, you alone are painting your own canvas, thought by thought, choice by choice.”

Oprah Winfrey, Entrepreneur, Producer and Philanthropist 

“Whatever you do, be different – that was the advice my mother gave me, and I can’t think of better advice for an entrepreneur. If you’re different, you will stand out.”

Anita Roddick, Founder of The Body Shop

“Success isn’t about how much money you make, it’s about the difference you make in people’s lives.”

Michelle Obama, First African-American First Lady of the United States

“Until you’re ready to look foolish, you’ll never have the possibility of being great.”

Cher, Recording Artist, Emmy Award-Winning Television Personality, Producer and Philanthropist 

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.”

Eleanor Roosevelt, Former First Lady

“We need to re-shape our own perception of how we view ourselves. We have to step up as women and take the lead.”

Beyonce, Award-Winning Singer 

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.”

Helen Keller, Author, Political Activist and Speaker 

“If you don’t get out of the box you’ve been raised in, you won’t understand how much bigger the world is.”

Angelina Jolie, Award-Winning Actress and Philanthropist 

“A lot of people are afraid to say what they want. That’s why they don’t get what they want.”

Madonna, Recording Artist, Actress and Entrepreneur 

“If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.”

Anne Bradstreet, America’s First Published Poet  

“Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.”

Julie Andrews, Actress, Singer and Author 

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes—understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” 

Arianna Huffington, co-Founder, Huffington Post

It's a huge feat to run your own business and take that leap from being an employee to a founder.

It takes tremendous amounts of courage, hard work, perseverance, motivation, and determination to succeed.

Yet, running a business is also immensely fulfilling with many opportunities around each corner and the freedom to continuously create, innovate and grow.