Advice From the World's Top Lady Bosses
We're living in a time where women all over the world are rising up in business and leadership. It's excitingly inspirational. Here are some wise words from the ladies of today (and a few from way back in history) who are game changers...
“Don’t be intimidated by what you don’t know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else.”
- Sara Blakely, Spanx
"People respond well to those that are sure of what they want."
- Anna Wintour, editor-in-Chief, American Vogue
"Whatever it is that you think you want to do, and whatever it is that you think stands between you and that, stop making excuses. You can do anything."
- Katia Beauchamp, co-founder and CEO, Birchbox.
"Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist: While you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist!"
- Lori Greiner, inventor, QVC host and 'Shark Tank' investor.
"What I wanted was to be allowed to do the thing in the world that I did best--which I believed then and believe now is the greatest privilege there is. When I did that, success found me."
- Debbi Fields, the creator of Mrs. Fields.
"It was a risk. I had my husband and I was pregnant with my oldest son. But I don't look at risk the way other people do. When you're an entrepreneur, you have to go in feeling like you're going to be successful."
- Lillian Vernon, founder, Lillian Vernon Corporation.
"So often people are working hard at the wrong thing. Working on the right thing is probably more important than working hard."
- Caterina Fake, Co-founder, Flickr and Hunch.
"Our fear of the unknown and our fear of making mistakes trick us into focusing on what we don't know or can't do. When we give ourselves the freedom to be uncertain and less than perfect, then we can start thinking, 'What do I know? What can I do?' That's when the adventure starts -- learning, thriving, conquering, failing, recouping, and having a ton of fun."
- Kristin Smith, COO, Dolly, Inc.
"One of the most important things I have learned is that businesses don't fail, entrepreneurs give up. Now sometimes, giving up is the right decision. But usually you just need to dig in and figure out how to make things better. Remember: Every day is a new opportunity to get up and do it better than yesterday!"
- Adda Birnir, founder and instructor, Skillcrush
"Strategic leaders must not get consumed by the operational and tactical side of their work. They have a duty to find time to shape the future."
- Stephanie S. Mead, CMOE-cmoe.com
“The way to achieve your own success is to be willing to help somebody else get it first.”
- Iyanla vanzant-www.iyanla.co
“If one is lucky, a solitary fantasy can totally transform one million realities.”
- Maya Angelou, author
“My best successes came on the heels of failures.”
- Barbara Corcoran, www.barbaracorcoran.com/
“We are not interested in the possibilities of defeat; they do not exist.”
- Queen Victoria, Former Queen of the United Kingdom
“We treat our people like royalty. If you honor and serve the people who work for you, they will honor and serve you.”
- Mary Kay Ash, Mary Kay
"In order to be irreplaceable one must always be different.”
- Coco Chanel, founder of Chanel
“My philosophy is that not only are you responsible for your life, but doing the best at this moment puts you in the best place for the next moment.”
- Oprah Winfrey, media proprietor
“When one door of happiness closes, another opens; but often we look so long at the closed door that we do not see the one which has opened for us.”
- Helen Keller, author
"Option A is not available. So let’s kick the sh** out of option B.”
- Sheryl Sandberg , COO of Facebook
“I wake up every morning and think to myself, ‘How far can I push the company forward in the next 24 hours?’”
- Leah Busque, TaskRabbit
“Don’t waste a single second. Just move forward as fast as you can, and go for it.”
- Rebecca Woodcock, Cake Health
"If you think you’re too small to have an impact, try going to bed with a mosquito in the room.”
- Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop
“I just love bossy women. I could be around them all day. To me, bossy is not a pejorative term at all. It means somebody’s passionate and engaged and ambitious and doesn’t mind leading.”
- Amy Poehler, actress
"Walt Disney told his crew to ‘build the castle first’ when constructing Disney World, knowing that vision would continue to serve as motivation throughout the project. Oftentimes when people fail to achieve what they want in life, it’s because their vision isn’t strong enough.”
- Gail Blanke, President and CEO of Lifedesigns
“Do not wait for leaders; do it alone, person to person. Be faithful in small things because it is in them that your strength lies.”
- Mother Teresa, religious sister
"We're here for a reason. I believe a bit of the reason is to throw little torches out to lead people through the dark."
- Whoopi Goldberg, comedian
“You have to look at leadership through the eyes of the followers and you have to live the message. What I have learned is that people become motivated when you guide them to the source of their own power and when you make heroes out of employees who personify what you want to see in the organisation.”
- Anita Roddick, businesswoman
"Don’t limit yourself. Many people limit themselves to what they think they can do. You can go as far as your mind lets you. What you believe, remember, you can achieve.”
- Mary Kay Ash, founder Mary Kay Cosmetics
“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.”
- Marissa Mayer, Yahoo
“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.”
- Anne Sweeney, Walt Disney
“I work really hard at trying to see the big picture and not getting stuck in ego. I believe we’re all put on this planet for a purpose, and we all have a different purpose… When you connect with that love and that compassion, that’s when everything unfolds.” -
- Ellen DeGeneres, comedian
“It is our choices, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities.”
- J.K Rowling, author
“If this is something that you really want to do, if you believe in it … simply keep forging forward because success will come.”
- Cassandra Sanford, KellyMitchell Group
“Leadership is not about men in suits. It is a way of life for those who know who they are and are willing to be their best to create the life they want to live.”
- Kathleen Schafer, Leadership Connection
Nothing like some wise words from the top boss ladies to rev up that entrepreneurial engine again! What was your favourite quote? Is there one that you love that we accidentally didn't mention above?
As always we'd LOVE to hear your comments and feedback... just pop them in the box below.
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