Being an entrepreneur is hard work. So is running a small business or corporation, supervising a group of people, working a 9-5, 8-8, or 11-7, and managing a household. Whatever your schedule, and whether you’re responsible for one of these tasks or multiple, doing what you do isn’t always easy, and sometimes you need a little extra motivation to get through the day.
For some time now, we’ve been sharing quotes on our social media accounts that we like to call “Mid-week Motivation.” We typically post them on Wednesdays to help push you over the hump.
For this blog, we thought we’d share five quotes that help us get through the rest of the week.
Just because something doesn't do what you planned it to do doesn't mean it's useless. — Thomas A. Edison
One thing we’ve learned from the pandemic is the word “pivot.” Forbes defines it as “fundamentally changing the direction of a business when you realize the current products or services aren't meeting the needs of the market. The main goal of a pivot is to help a company improve revenue or survive in the market, but the way you pivot your business can make all the difference.”
Just because you intended for things to be one way, that doesn’t mean you can’t modify and adjust. Whether it’s a business model or dinner plans don’t be so quick to throw it out the window. Look at what you have and think about how you can alter it to make it work for where you are now.
Great things in business are never done by one person. They're done by a team of people.
— Steve Jobs
We’ve all heard the saying “There’s no ‘I’ in team.” We believe it’s even more so true when it comes to business, the community, and the county as a whole. Our logo may emphasize the “I AM” in “WILLIAMSBURG COUNTY,” but that’s because we want everyone to understand the role that they as an individual play in the success of the county as a whole. It’s not just the people with the titles or certain positions that lead to our success, but the entire community as a team. The County doesn’t use #WeAreWilliamsburg on their social media for no reason.
“The secret of change is to focus all your energy not on fighting the old but on building the new.”
— Socrates, the father of Western philosophy
Similar to the Thomas Edison quote, when something isn’t working, don’t waste your energy on the dead thing. Build on what is working or start on something new. Sometimes change is good, and when you have the chance to make a change for the better, you should take the path with the most promise of success.
"A champion is defined not by their wins but by how they can recover when they fall."
— Serena Williams
The thing that stands out in this quote is the word “recover.” It’s easy to stay down and say, “Well, I gave it a shot.” A true champion gets back up and does what needs to be done to obtain the win. Giving up doesn’t accomplish anything. Getting that job, securing that vendor, or reaching that customer goal no matter how many times you haven’t is true success.
"No matter what people tell you, words and ideas can change the world."
— Robin Williams
This last one seems pretty self-explanatory, but, in case you need further explanation — pitch your idea, share your thoughts, say the things. You never know who needs to hear them or where they could take you.
(Note: In case you’re like me and aren’t sure if there’s a distinction between entrepreneurs and small business owners, Investopedia describes it this way: Entrepreneurs tend to be classified as those who take on high-growth, high-risk innovations while small business owners oversee an established business with an established product and customer base.)