Self-talk ~ Zig Ziglar

"Evidence is conclusive that your self-talk has a direct bearing on your
performance."
-- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

Hope ~ Benjamin Franklin

"Great hopes make everything great possible."
-- Benjamin Franklin, Statesman

Success ~ Whit Hobbs

"Success is waking up in the morning and bounding out of bed because
there's something out there that you love to do, that you believe in,
that you're good at - something that's bigger than you are, and you can
hardly wait to get at it again."
-- Whit Hobbs

Greatness ~ John Steinbeck

"It is the nature of man to rise to greatness if greatness is expected
of him. "
-- John Steinbeck, author

Endurance & Achievement ~ Ernest Woodward

"So great has been the endurance, so incredible the achievement that, as
long as the sun keeps a set course in heaven, it would be foolish to
despair of the human race."
-- Ernest Woodward, Publisher

Asking Good Quality Questions ~ Dan James

"Asking questions will get you the performance you are after far better
than dictating demands."
-- Dan James

Character ~ Thomas Paine

"Character is much easier kept than recovered. "
-- Thomas Paine, author

Successful People Vs Unsuccessful People ~ Brian Tracy

"Successful people are always looking for opportunities to help others.
Unsuccessful people are always asking, "What's in it for me?""
-- Brian Tracy, Author

Key to Failure ~ Bill Cosby

"I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to
please everybody. "
~ Bill Cosby, Comedian

Investment & Personal Finance ~ Warren Buffet

Investment, Personal Finance Quote.

"Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted
to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted
to patching leaks."
-- Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, CEO

Procrastination ~ Pearl Buck

Stop procrastinating. Start Doing....

"I don't wait for moods. You accomplish nothing if you do that. Your
mind must know it has got to get down to work."
-- Pearl Buck, Novelist

Acceptance and Unconditional Love ~ Brian Tracy

This quote by Brian Tracy is so true. I think it is what parenting is
about too...
unconditional love and acceptance...

Do you think so too?

"The greatest gift that you can give to others is the gift of
unconditional love and acceptance."
-- Brian Tracy, Author

Enthusiasm ~ Vince Lombardi

Another interesting quote. So true for the working class:

"If you aren't fired with enthusiasm, you will be fired with enthusiasm."
-- Vince Lombardi, American Football Coach

Solution for Lack in Talent ~ Don Zimmer

"What you lack in talent can be made up with desire, hustle and giving 110% all the time."
Don Zimmer, Baseball Manager

Importance of Clearly-Defined Goals ~ Robert Heinlein

"In the absence of clearly-defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily trivia until ultimately we become enslaved by it."
Robert Heinlein, American Novelist

Astonish Ourselves ~ Thomas Edison

"If we did all the things we are capable of, we would literally astonish ourselves."
Thomas Edison, Inventor

Learning about Success ~ Armstrong Williams

"Bottom line: if you show a genuine interest in learning about how others became successful, you can open up a world of opportunities."
Armstrong Williams, Political Commentator

Destination ~ Ella Fitzgerald

"It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts."
Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer

Ignorance ~ Elbert Hubbard

"The recipe for perpetual ignorance is: Be satisfied with your opinions and content with your knowledge."
Elbert Hubbard

Keep Going ~ Winston Churchill, Former British Prime Minister

"If you are going through hell, keep going."
Winston Churchill, Former British prime minister

"A work well begun is half-ended.",-- Plato, Philosopher

"A work well begun is half-ended."
Plato, Philosopher

Problems & Growth ~ J.C. Penney

"I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties."
J.C. Penney, businessman

Perseverance ~ johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"In the realm of ideas everything depends on enthusiasm... in the real world all rests on perseverance."
Johann Wolfgang von Goethe, Author

Prepare & Move Forward ~ Jacki Joyner-Kersee, Athlete

"It's better to look ahead and prepare than to look back and regret."
Jacki Joyner-Kersee, Athlete

Take Shots ~ Wayne Gretzky

"You miss 100% of the shots you never take."

-- Wayne Gretzky, Hockey Great

Changes & Opportunity ~ Peter Drucker

"The entrepreneur always searches for change, responds to it, and exploits it as an opportunity."
Peter Drucker, Businessman

Knowing & Doing ~ David Jordan

"Wisdom is knowing what to do; virtue is doing it."
David Jordan, scientist

Goals n Plan ~ H. Stanley Judd

"A good plan is like a road map: It shows the final destination and usually the best way to get there."
H. Stanley Judd, Writer

Standing on Shoulder of Giants ~ Isaac Newton

"If I have seen farther than others, it is because I was standing on the shoulder of giants."
-- Isaac Newton, scientist

The Pro ~ David Cooper

"The pro is the person who has all the hassles, obstacles, and disappointing frustrations that everyone else has. yet continues to persist, does the job, and makes it look easy."
-- David Cooper, Sales Trainer

Aspirations & Possibilities ~ Robert Browning

"Our aspirations are our possibilities."

-- Robert Browning

Use it or Lose it ~ Charlie "Tremendous" Jones

"God gives everyone certain attributes, characteristics, talents, and then He says, "If you use what you have I'll increase it, but if you don't use it, you'll lose it." Use it or lose it; it's a law."

-- Charlie "Tremendous" Jones

Pay the Price for Dreams ~ Leon Suenens

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true."
-- Leon Suenens, Clergyman

Happiness ~ Austen Riggs

"Happiness is only a byproduct of successful living."

-- Austen Riggs, psychiatrist

Problems and Opportunity

‎"If you're not having problems, you are missing an opportunity for growth."
-- Anonymous

Values ~ Jim Rohn

"Values were meant to be costly. If it doesn't cost much, we probably wouldn't appreciate the value." —Jim Rohn

Scarcity ~ Wayne Dyer

"There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love; there's only scarcity of resolve to make it happen." Author, Wayne Dyer

Education & Goals ~ Condoleezza Rice

"Education is of no value and talent is worthless - unless you have an unwavering aim. Never find yourself without a compass."
-- Condoleezza Rice, Secretary of State

Dreams Manifest ~ Dalai Lama

"Dream manifest through work, not words" ~ Dalai Lama

The Extra Mile ~ Gary Ryan Blair

"Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile. "

-- Gary Ryan Blair, Author and Motivational Speaker

Goals & Happiness ~ Albert Einstein

"If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things."

-- Albert Einstein

Take Action Now! ~ Edgar Howe

"Every successful man I have heard of has done the best he could with conditions as he found them, and not waited until the next year for better."

-- Edgar Howe

Strength & Will ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from indomitable will."

-- Mahatma Gandhi, statesman

Speaking Your Mind ~ Dave Thomas

"Don't be afraid to be unique or speak your mind, because that's what makes you different from everyone else."

-- Dave Thomas, Wendy's founder

Fail now and again ~ Woody Allen

"If you don't fail now and again, it's a sign you're playing it safe."
Woody Allen, Director

Knowing & Doing ~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

"Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do."
Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, Author

Courage ~ Confucius

"To see what is right and not do it is a lack of courage."
Confucius, philosopher

Keep going... ~ Confucius

"It does not matter how slowly you go up, so long as you don't stop."
Confucius, Philosopher

Difficulty Helps in Realizing our Full Potential ~ Charles de Gaulle

"Only by coming to grips with difficulty can you realize your full potential."
Charles de Gaulle, president of France

Difficulties ~ William Channing

"Difficulties are meant to rouse, not discourage. The human spirit is to grow strong by conflict."
William Channing, theologian

Be the Person Who Do the Work ~ Indira Gandhi

"My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people: those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition."
Indira Gandhi, Indian prime minister

Being Smart, Ask Insightful Question ~ Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder

"Being smart is an elusive concept. There's a certain sharpness, an ability to absorb new facts, to ask an insightful question or relate to domains that may not seem connected at first."
Bill Gates, Microsoft co-founder

Enthusiasm ~ Og Mandion

"Every memorable act in the world is a triumph of enthusiasm. Nothing great was ever achieved without it because it gives any challenge or any occupation, no matter how frightening or difficult, a new meaning. Without enthusiasm you are doomed to a life of mediocrity but with it you can accomplish miracles."
Og Mandion

Kind Words ~ Mother Teresa

"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
Mother Teresa, charity worker

Achievements & Idea ~ Napolean Hill

"All achievements, all earned riches, have their beginning in an idea."
Napolean Hill, author

Fulfilling the Object of Our Existence ~ Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

"A man may fulfill the object of his existence by asking a question he cannot answer and attempting a task he cannot achieve."
Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr.

Character vs Reputation ~ John Wooden

"Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are."
John Wooden, basketball coach

Achieving & Dreaming ~ Orison Swett Marden

"All men who have achieved great things have been great dreamers."
Orison Swett Marden, writer

Temporary Pain ~ Diana Nyad

"I am willing to put myself through anything; temporary pain or discomfort means nothing to me as long as I can see that the experience will take me to a new level."
Diana Nyad, swimmer

Conquering Fear ~ Dale Carnegie

"If you want to conquer fear, don't sit at home and think about it. Go out and get busy. "
Dale Carnegie, motivational expert

Winning in Life ~ Barbara Pletcher

"The real winners in life are the people who look at every situation with an expectation that they can make it work or make it better."
Barbara Pletcher, author

Stretch Yourself with Goals ~ Mary Kay Ash

"A good goal is like a strenuous exercise - it makes you stretch."
Mary Kay Ash, cosmetics pioneer

FEAR ~ Dorothy Thompson

"Only when we are no longer afraid do we begin to live."
Dorothy Thompson, journalist

Enemy Within ~ Thomas Paine

"Our greatest enemies, the ones we must fight most often, are within."
Thomas Paine, statesman

Blame ~ Don Shula

"The superior man blames himself. The inferior man blames others."
Don Shula, football coach

Labor and Judgement ~ Theodore Roosevelt

"I never won anything without hard labor and the exercise of my best judgment."
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

Resolve ~ Benjamin Franklin

"Resolve to perform what you ought; perform without fail what you resolve."
Benjamin Franklin, statesman

Believe ~ Wilma Rudolph

"I believe in me more than anything in this world."
Wilma Rudolph, Olympic runner

Knowing thyself ~ Socrates

"Knowing thyself is the height of wisdom."
Socrates

Responsibility ~ William Gore

"You promote yourself every time you take on a new responsibility."
William Gore, executive

Test Cases

Attitude ~ Maya Angelou

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain."
Maya Angelou, poet

Success & Persistence ~ Estee Lauder

"When I thought I couldn't go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck. "
Estee Lauder

Losing ~ Yogi Berra

"Losing is a learning experience. It teaches you humility. It teaches you to work harder. It's also a powerful motivator."
Yogi Berra

Commitment ~ Napolean Hill

"The moment you commit and quit holding back, all sorts of unforeseen incidents, meetings and material assistance, will rise up to help you. The simple act of commitment is a powerful magnet for help."
Napoleon Hill

Do Today, Have Tomorrow ~ Anonymous

"You must do the things today that others will not do so that you can have the things tomorrow that others will not have."
Anonymous

Reading Book & Running Business ~ Harold Geneen

"You read a book from beginning to end. You run a business the opposite way. You start with the end, and then you do everything you must to reach it."
Harold Geneen

Discipline ~ Celine Dion

"There's been nothing but discipline, discipline, discipline all my life."
Celine Dion

Imagination ~ Paul McCartney

"Imagination grows by exercise and, contrary to common belief, is more powerful in the mature than in the young."
Paul McCartney

Wisdom & Character ~ Bernard Baruch

"During my 87 years, I have witnessed a whole succession of technological revolutions. But none of them has done away with the need for character in the individual or the ability to think."
Bernard Baruch

Time Management ~ Alex MacKenzie

"The key to successful time management is doing the most important task first, and giving it your full concentration, to the exclusion of everything else."
Alex MacKenzie

Take Action Now ~ Edgar Howe

"Every successful man I have heard of has done the best he could with conditions as he found them, and not waited until the next year for better."
Edgar Howe

Sharing Joy ~ Mark Twain

"To get the full value of joy, you must have someone to divide it with."
Mark Twain

Imagination ~ Albert Einstein

"Your imagination is your preview of life's coming attractions."
Albert Einstein

Reasons to Do ~ Willis R. Whitney

"Some men have thousands of reasons why they cannot do what they want to, when all they need is one reason why they can."
Willis R. Whitney

Compete with oneself ~ Rick Pitino

"Set higher standards for you own performance than anyone around you, and it won't matter whether you have a tough boss or an easy one. It won't matter whether the competition is pushing you hard, because you'll be competing with yourself."
Rick Pitino

Vision ~ Ayn Rand

"Throughout the centuries, there were men who took first steps, down new roads, armed with nothing but their own vision."
Ayn Rand

Effort & Satisfaction ~ Mahatma Gandhi

"Satisfaction lies in the effort, not in the attainment. Full effort is full victory."
Mahatma Gandhi

Take Action Now ~ Calvin Coolidge

"We cannot do everything at once, but we can do something at once."
Calvin Coolidge, 30th U.S. President

Start Taking Actions on Your Dreams ~ Johann von Goethe

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

Taking Risks ~ Dale Carnegie

"All life is a chance. So take it! The person who goes furthest is the one who is willing to do and dare."
Dale Carnegie, motivational expert

Cultivating Self-esteem ~ Derrick Bell

"Self-esteem is like a difficult-to-cultivate flower. It requires frequent nurturing that occurs when you keep your word and follow through on your promises."
Derrick Bell

Defeats vs Defeated ~ Maya Angelou

"We may encounter many defeats, but we must not be defeated."
Maya Angelou, poet

Parenting - Love Your Kids, Not Spoil Them.

We should love our kids but not spoil them.
It is often challenging for parents to be aware of the point where loving them becomes spoiling them.

I would like to share this quote i read:
"爱是需要学习的, 没有智慧的爱, 是对孩子幼小心灵最大的伤害"

My take on understanding it is this.
"Parental love is a skill that can be learned,
loving without wisdom is detrimental to a child's young mind and soul"

It is easy to spoil the kids, the challenge is to love them the right way.

Sometimes, when kids cry and whine for something, the easy way out will be to give them the thing that they are crying for. However, in the long run, the easy way out will inevitably cause more distress for both parent and child.

Parenting - Love Nurtures Character

From a Chinese quote
"孩子缺爱, 脾气就坏; 久而久之, 肯定变态"
loosely translate,
"When children lack love, their temperament turn for the worst;
over time, abnormalities may develop in their characters"

Decisions on Doing the Right Thing ~ Wayne Sales

"Making a decision usually means taking one of two roads. One is doing the right thing. To take the other road, you have to sit back and spin a story around the decision or action you are taking. If you find yourself thinking up an elaborate justification for what you are doing, you are not doing the right thing."
Wayne Sales

Expectations ~ Bernard Haldane

"If you want to get the best out of a person you must look for the best that is in him."
Bernard Haldane

Character ~ Cavett Robert

"Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution long after the excitement of the moment has passed."
Cavett Robert

Parenting & What My Boy Taught Me - Tenacity

Have you ever seen a "mis-behaving" toddler struggling in the poor parent's arm? Have you ever seen a toddler whining on the floor of the shopping mall? Have you ever thought to yourself that this is never going to happen for my kid?

Well, it used to be 3 Yeses from me for the questions. However, not today. We were having dinner at a shopping mall with a friend. After dinner, to let my wife chat with our friend in peace, i decided to bring my kid out of the restaurant as he was starting to get restless.

He used to be okay with me holding his hand while he toddle along, but somehow, today is different. He is struggling, pulling, tugging and squirming every step of the way. I got so fed-up that i scoop him up once we are out of the restaurant. Immediately, he started to whine and scream and squirm his way out of my grip...

So i tried to put him on the floor to let him walk himself. But now, he decided to lie down on the floor in protest! Imaging my frustration... All these time, i have to consciously remind myself to remain calm (as i believe kids are sensitive to our feelings and emotion, so i feel that calming myself down should help to calm him down too). What has all these to do with tenacity? Read on to find out.

After few seconds lying on the ground, he flip around and started to crawl! I tried to guide him to stand up and walk... he simply refuses... I have to carry him and walk away as he continue to wiggle and squirm, trying to break free from me. Then i saw a Barney Kiddy ride... My life saver... I put him on the floor and directed his attention to the kiddy ride... it was then that he was more than willing to comply.

While he was at the Barney kiddy ride, he was really happy, letting out scream of delights. After about 5 minutes of play, he willing stepped out of the Barney ride, then quickly got into a helicopter kiddy ride just beside. The same thing happened for the helicopter kiddy ride. After about 3 minutes, i told him we will have to go, get him to say bye bye to helicopter and give the machine a flying kiss... He complied with me and gladly climb into my arms...

I was thinking, he is actually a very well behaved boy... Why gave me such a tough "fight" just now?

The answer came to me on our way back home, while i was telling my wife about what happened. Apparently, he was already playing with the kiddy ride before i met up with them at the mall. So while he was struggling with me, he is just trying to "show" me where he wanted to go. His actions reflects tenacity at its purest. Babies know no failure, they only know what they want. If they do not get it, they will try, try, try and try again.

How many of us have already learned to stop trying? The picture of elephant training always come to my mind when i think about learned helplessness. The baby elephants are tied to a big tree using metallic chain, try as they might, they are unable to break free. They keep trying and trying.. until one fine day, they gave up... Once they gave up, they will not attempt to break free even if you are just tying them to a short peg in the ground... That is the power of conditioning, in a negative way.

Now, i am glad that my boy gave me a tough fight, cause i know that he is a go getter. For all who have the good fortune to be a parent, lets not let our babies go down the path of learned helplessness. Be conscious of their needs and fulfill them without spoiling our kids.

And to all of us reading this.. Lets re-learn to be tenacious, it is what we are born with...

Habits ~ Samuel Johnson

"The chains of habit are too weak to be felt until they are too strong to be broken."
Samuel Johnson, Lexicographer

Integrity ~ Tom Peters

"There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity."
Tom Peters, Author

Performance ~ Don Greene

"No great performance ever came from holding back."
Don Greene, performance coach

Consistency ~ Jenny Craig

"It's not what you do once in a while; it's what you do day in and day out that makes the difference."
Jenny Craig, diet guru

Success & Discipline ~ Vince Lombardi

"I have never known a really successful man who deep in his heart did not understand the grind, the discipline it takes to win."
Vince Lombardi, American Football Coach

What will your children remember? ~ Gloria Gaither

"What will your children remember? Moments spent listening, talking, playing and sharing together may be the most important times of all."
Gloria Gaither

Achievement & Desire ~ Napolean Hill

"The starting point of all achievement is desire. Keep this constantly in mind. Weak desires bring weak results, just as a small fire makes a small amount of heat."
Napoleon Hill, author

Difficult Tasks ~ Helen Adams Keller

"You have set yourself a difficult task, but you will succeed if you persevere."
Helen Adams Keller, American Author and Lecturer

Time ~ Benjamin Franklin

"Lost time is never found again."
Benjamin Franklin, inventor

All men need advice ~ Plautus

"Every man, however wise, needs the advice of some sagacious friend in the affairs of life."
Plautus, Playwright

Architect of your fortune ~ Appius Caecus

"Each man (is) the architect of his own fortune."
Appius Caecus, builder

Advantage ~ Clement Stone

"For every disadvantage there is a corresponding advantage."
Clement Stone, executive

Make ourselves stronger ~ Carlos Castaneda

"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."
Carlos Castaneda, author

Stick with your Goals ~ Kathleen Norris

"Before you begin a thing, remind yourself that difficulties and delays quite impossible to foresee are ahead... You can only see one thing clearly, and that is your goal. Form a mental vision of that and cling to it through thick and thin."
Kathleen Norris, Writer

Planning and Taking Actions ~ Napolean Hill

"Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire, and begin at once, whether you're ready or not, to put it into action."
Napoleon Hill, motivational expert

Do what you love as a service to others ~ Oprah Winfrey

"I've come to believe that each of us has a personal calling that's as unique as a fingerprint--and that the best way to succeed is to discover what you love and then find a way to offer it to others in the form of service, working hard, and also allowing "
Oprah Winfrey, Talk Show Host

Success ~ Whit Hobbs

"Success is waking up in the morning and bouncing out of bed because there's something out there that you love to do, that you believe in, that you're good at - something that's bigger than you are, and you can hardly wait to get at it again."
Whit Hobbs

Victory and Preparation ~ Miguel de Cervantes

"To be prepared is half the victory.",
Miguel de Cervantes

Failing vs Safety ~ Woody Allen

"If you don't fail now and again, it's a sign you're playing it safe."
Woody Allen, Director

Giving Up is the Ultimate Tragedy ~ Robert Donovan

"Giving up is the ultimate tragedy."
Robert Donovan, writer

Make a difference, start taking actions. ~ Anonymous

"If you want to leave your footprints on the sands of time, be sure you're wearing work shoes."
Anonymous

The cyclic nature of life ~ Paul Harvey

"In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these."
Paul Harvey, broadcaster

Assumptions and Limitations ~ Alan Alda

"Begin challenging your own assumptions. Your assumptions are your windows on the world. Scrub them off every once in a while, or the light won't come in."
Alan Alda, Actor

Leadership & Legacy ~ Dolly Parton

"If your actions create a legacy that inspires others to dream more, learn more, do more and become more, then you are an excellent leader."
Dolly Parton, Singer

Customer Service ~ Cesar Ritz

"Never say no when a client asks for something, even if it is the moon. You can always try, and anyhow there is plenty of time afterward to explain that it was not possible."
Cesar Ritz, hotelier

Entrepreneur ~ John Naisbitt

"The entrepreneur is... the most important player in the building of the global economy. So much so that big companies are reconstituting themselves as networks of entrepreneurs."
John Naisbitt, writer

Failures and Excuses

"Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses."
George Washington Carver, botanist

Take Action! ~ Rudyard Kipling

"Gardens are not made by sitting in the shade."
Rudyard Kipling, author

Good Marriage ~ Dr. Howard Hendricks

"A good marriage is when you're married not to someone you can live with, but to someone you really cannot live without."
Dr. Howard Hendricks

Training & Hardwork ~ Lee Trevino

"There is no such thing as natural touch. Touch is something you create by hitting millions of golf balls."
Lee Trevino, golfer

Learn Constantly ~ Ben Hogan

"I learn something new about the game almost every time I step on the course."
Ben Hogan, golfer

Great Men Often Stood Alone ~ Ayn Rand

"The great creators-the thinkers, the artists, the scientists, the inventors-stood alone against the men of their time."
Ayn Rand, writer

Truth in Advertising ~ William Bernbach

"The most powerful element in advertising is the truth."
William Bernbach, ad executive

Great Oration and Delivery on Believe

Visualizing Dan Pink's talk on motivation.

This lively RSAnimate, adapted from Dan Pink's talk at the RSA, illustrates the hidden truths behind what really motivates us at home and in the workplace

Persistence ~ Tobias Wolff

"We are made to persist. That's how we find out who we are."
Tobias Wolff, Writer

Passion & Interests ~ Julia Child

"Find something you're passionate about and keep tremendously interested in it."
Julia Child, chef

Success & Enthusiasm ~ Charles M. Schwab

"A person can succeed at almost anything for which they have unlimited enthusiasm."
Charles M. Schwab

Dreams, strength, patience and passion ~ Harriet Tubman

"Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world."
Harriet Tubman, Abolitionist

Pressure and Failure ~ Tommy Lasorda

"Pressure is a word that is misused in our vocabulary. When you start thinking of pressure, it's because you've started to think of failure."
Tommy Lasorda, baseball manager

Hang out with people better than you ~ Warren Buffet

"It's better to hang out with people better than you. Pick out associates whose behavior is better than yours, and you'll drift in that direction."
Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, CEO

Our Self Image ~ Thomas Szasz

"People often say that this or that person has not yet found himself. But the self is not something one finds. It is something one creates."
Thomas Szasz, psychiatrist

Dreams and Happiness ~ Leon Suenens

"Happy are those who dream dreams and are ready to pay the price to make them come true."
Leon Suenens, Clergyman

Greatness ~ Bruce Barton

"Nothing great has ever been achieved except by those who dared believe that something inside them was superior to circumstances."
Bruce Barton, advertising executive

Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president, Success and Triumph

"The highest form of success... comes... to the man who does not shrink from danger, from hardship or from bitter toil, and who out of these wins the splendid ultimate triumph."
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.",-- Maya Angelou, Poet

"I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel."
Maya Angelou, Poet

"If anything terrifies me, I must try to conquer it.",-- Francis Chichester, adventurer

"If anything terrifies me, I must try to conquer it."
Francis Chichester, adventurer

"In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends.",-- John Churton Collins, critic

"In prosperity our friends know us; in adversity we know our friends."
John Churton Collins, critic

"Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.",-- Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor

Sometimes we stare so long at a door that is closing that we see too late the one that is open.
Alexander Graham Bell, Inventor

"I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy.",-- Marie Curie, Physicist

"I was taught that the way of progress is neither swift nor easy."
Marie Curie, Physicist

"It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts.",-- Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer

"It isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts."
Ella Fitzgerald, jazz singer

"Every artist was first an amateur.",-- Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

"Every artist was first an amateur."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, poet

"Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible.",-- Mary Bethune, educator

"Without faith, nothing is possible. With it, nothing is impossible."
Mary Bethune, educator

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav'n of hell and a hell of a heav'n.",-- John Milton, poet

"The mind is its own place, and in itself can make a heav'n of hell and a hell of a heav'n."
John Milton, poet

"The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability.",-- Henry Ford, carmaker

"The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience and ability."
Henry Ford, carmaker

"As long as you're going to be thinking anyway, think big.",-- Donald Trump, Real Estate Magnate

"As long as you're going to be thinking anyway, think big."
Donald Trump, Real Estate Magnate

"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use.",-- Ruth Gordon, actress

"Courage is like a muscle. We strengthen it with use."
Ruth Gordon, actress

"To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge.",-- Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister

"To be conscious that you are ignorant of the facts is a great step to knowledge."
Benjamin Disraeli, British prime minister

"Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.",-- Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, CEO

"Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks."
Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway, CEO

"Being miserable is a habit. Being happy is a habit. The choice is yours.",-- Tom Hopkins, sales trainer

"Being miserable is a habit. Being happy is a habit. The choice is yours."
Tom Hopkins, sales trainer

"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people.",-- Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

"The most important single ingredient in the formula of success is knowing how to get along with people."
Theodore Roosevelt, 26th U.S. president

"Believe you will be successful and you will.",-- Dale Carnegie, motivational speaker

"Believe you will be successful and you will."
Dale Carnegie, motivational speaker

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are.",-- Malcolm Forbes, Publisher

"Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are."
Malcolm Forbes, Publisher

"I've felt that dissatisfaction is the basis of progress. When we become satisfied in business, we become obsolete.",-- J. Willard Marriott Sr., hotel executive

"I've felt that dissatisfaction is the basis of progress. When we become satisfied in business, we become obsolete."

-- J. Willard Marriott Sr., hotel executive

"Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads.",-- Erica Jong, Author

"Everyone has talent. What is rare is the courage to follow the talent to the dark place where it leads."
Erica Jong, Author

"Long-range goals keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures.",-- J.C. Penney, Retailer

"Long-range goals keep you from being frustrated by short-term failures."
J.C. Penney, Retailer

"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul.",-- Douglas MacArthur, General

"Age wrinkles the body. Quitting wrinkles the soul."
Douglas MacArthur, General

"The making of friends who are real friends is the best token we have of a man's success in life.",-- Edward Hale, theologian

"The making of friends who are real friends is the best token we have of a man's success in life."
Edward Hale, theologian

"I have always been driven to buck the system, to innovate, to take things beyond where they've been.",-- Sam Walton, Wal-Mart founder

"I have always been driven to buck the system, to innovate, to take things beyond where they've been."
Sam Walton, Wal-Mart founder

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.",-- William Faulkner, Author

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself."
William Faulkner, Author

"It's not your position in life; it's the disposition you have which will change your position.",-- Dr. David McKinley

"It's not your position in life; it's the disposition you have which will change your position."
Dr. David McKinley

"If you want risk taking, set an example yourself and reward and praise those that do.",-- Jack Welch, General Electric CEO

"If you want risk taking, set an example yourself and reward and praise those that do."
Jack Welch, General Electric CEO

"Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost.",-- Robert Schuller, Clergyman

"Always look at what you have left. Never look at what you have lost."
Robert Schuller, Clergyman

"Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom.",-- Theodore Isaac Rubin, Psychiatrist

"Kindness is more important than wisdom, and the recognition of this is the beginning of wisdom."
Theodore Isaac Rubin, Psychiatrist

"You can't have a better tomorrow if you're thinking about yesterday.",-- Charles Kettering, Inventor

"You can't have a better tomorrow if you're thinking about yesterday."
Charles Kettering, Inventor

"High expectations are the key to everything.",-- Sam Walton, Wal-Mart Founder

"High expectations are the key to everything."
Sam Walton, Wal-Mart Founder

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's. And guess what they might have planned for you? Not much.",-- Jim Rohn, Motivational Speaker

"If you don't design your own life plan, chances are you'll fall into someone else's. And guess what they might have planned for you? Not much."
Jim Rohn, Motivational Speaker

"One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life.",-- Edward Butler, Discount-Store Entrepreneur

"One man has enthusiasm for 30 minutes, another for 30 days, but it is the man who has it for 30 years who makes a success of his life."
Edward Butler, Discount-Store Entrepreneur

"I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it.",-- Mike Ditka, Football Coach

"I don't think anything is unrealistic if you believe you can do it."
Mike Ditka, Football Coach

"You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals.",-- George Patton, General

"You need to overcome the tug of people against you as you reach for high goals."
George Patton, General

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again.",-- Abraham Maslow, Psychologist

"One can choose to go back toward safety or forward toward growth. Growth must be chosen again and again; fear must be overcome again and again."
Abraham Maslow, Psychologist

"Courage is grace under pressure.",-- Ernest Hemingway, Author

"Courage is grace under pressure."
Ernest Hemingway, Author

"To get the full value of a joy, you must have somebody to divide it with.",-- Mark Twain, Writer

"To get the full value of a joy, you must have somebody to divide it with."
Mark Twain, Writer

"Choice, not chance, determines human destiny.",-- Robert W. Ellis

"Choice, not chance, determines human destiny."
Robert W. Ellis

"I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties.",-- J.C. Penney, businessman

"I am grateful for all of my problems. After each one was overcome, I became stronger and more able to meet those that were still to come. I grew in all my difficulties."
 J.C. Penney, businessman

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it.",-- Jonathan Winters, Comedian

"I couldn't wait for success, so I went ahead without it."

-- Jonathan Winters, Comedian

"True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be done.",-- John Wayne

"True grit is making a decision and standing by it, doing what must be
done."
-- John Wayne

"No matter how bad someone has it, there are others who have it worse. Remembering that makes life a lot easier and allows you to take pleasure in the blessings you have been given.",-- Lou Holtz

"No matter how bad someone has it, there are others who have it worse.
Remembering that makes life a lot easier and allows you to take pleasure
in the blessings you have been given."
-- Lou Holtz

"Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes.",-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Common sense is genius dressed up in work clothes."
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end.",-- Denis Waitley

"Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker. Failure is delay not defeat. It is a temporary detour, not a dead end."

-- Denis Waitley

"Your greatness is measured by your horizons.",-- Michelangelo

Your greatness is measured by your horizons.
Michelangelo

"You can't talk yourself out of a problem you behave yourself into.",-- Stephen Covey, Author and Speaker

"You can't talk yourself out of a problem you behave yourself into."
Stephen Covey, Author and Speaker

"Time flies. It's up to you to be the navigator.",-- Robert Orben

"Time flies. It's up to you to be the navigator."
Robert Orben

"Determine never to be idle. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing.",-- Thomas Jefferson, Third U.S. President

"Determine never to be idle. It is wonderful how much may be done if we are always doing."
Thomas Jefferson, Third U.S. President

"Do a little more than you're paid to. Give a little more than you have to. Try a little harder than you want to. Aim a little higher than you think possible, and give a lot of thanks to God for health, family, and friends.",-- Art Linkletter

"Do a little more than you're paid to. Give a little more than you have to. Try a little harder than you want to. Aim a little higher than you think possible, and give a lot of thanks to God for health, family, and friends."
Art Linkletter

"A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror.",-- Ken Keyes

"A loving person lives in a loving world. A hostile person lives in a hostile world. Everyone you meet is your mirror."
Ken Keyes

"Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit.",-- Paul J. Meyer

"Ninety percent of all those who fail are not actually defeated. They simply quit."
Paul J. Meyer

"We must become the change we wish to see in the world.",-- Mahatma Gandhi, Statesman

"We must become the change we wish to see in the world."
Mahatma Gandhi, Statesman

"Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm.",-- Publilius Syrus

"Anyone can hold the helm when the sea is calm."
Publilius Syrus

"It's not where you start - it's where you finish that counts.",-- Zig Ziglar, Author

"It's not where you start - it's where you finish that counts."
Zig Ziglar, Author

"In the middle of every difficulty comes opportunity.",-- Albert Einstein

"In the middle of every difficulty comes opportunity."
Albert Einstein

"Evidence is conclusive that your self-talk has a direct bearing on your performance.",-- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"Evidence is conclusive that your self-talk has a direct bearing on your performance."
Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"When you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them.",-- Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"When you do the things you need to do when you need to do them, the day will come when you can do the things you want to do when you want to do them."
Zig Ziglar, Motivational Speaker

"You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration.",-- James Allen

"You will become as small as your controlling desire; as great as your dominant aspiration."
James Allen

"The only difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is extraordinary determination.",-- Mary Kay Ash

"The only difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is extraordinary determination."
Mary Kay Ash

"Skill to do comes of doing.",-- Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Skill to do comes of doing."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Until you commit your goals to paper, you have intentions that are seeds without soil.",-- Anonymous

"Until you commit your goals to paper, you have intentions that are seeds without soil."
Anonymous

"Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind.",-- Robert G Ingersoll, American Political Leader

"Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind."
Robert G Ingersoll, American Political Leader

"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered. ",-- Michael J. Fox, Actor

"One's dignity may be assaulted, vandalized and cruelly mocked, but it cannot be taken away unless it is surrendered. "
Michael J. Fox, Actor

"Some of us learn from other people's mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people.",-- Zig Ziglar, Author

"Some of us learn from other people's mistakes and the rest of us have to be other people."
Zig Ziglar, Author

"Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things.",-- Denis Diderot, French Philosopher and Writer

"Only passions, great passions, can elevate the soul to great things."
Denis Diderot, French Philosopher and Writer

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - until you learn to do it well.",-- Steve Brown

"Anything worth doing is worth doing poorly - until you learn to do it well."
Steve Brown

"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class.",-- J. Willard Marriot

"It's the little things that make the big things possible. Only close attention to the fine details of any operation makes the operation first class."
J. Willard Marriot