Top 15 Motivational Quotes to Inspire New Entrepreneurs in 2025

Running your own business inarguably has many benefits, but like any road worth walking, the way is not always smooth. Sometimes, the e-commerce world can become overwhelming, but it’s important not to give up. I have yet to hear a success story that isn’t the result of hard work, dedication, and a lot of trial and error along the way. Need some inspiration to help you through a hiccup, to fortify yourself for trials to come, or as a reminder that you aren’t alone in your experience, and you’re just where you need to be? Check out these inspirational quotes:

1. “The good news about entrepreneurship is that your fate is in your hands. The bad news is that your fate is in your hands!” -Guy Kawasaki (American author and marketing specialist)

Feeling the weight of responsibility on your own shoulders can be overwhelming, but being able to reap the awards of the work you directly put into something is an amazing feeling. You’ve got this!

2. “The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake. You can’t learn anything from being perfect.” - Adam Osborne (British-American author and business founder)

Have the strength to let go of things that aren’t working, and the confidence to admit when you are wrong. You’ll figure it out, one attempt at a time.

3. “Stick with it, even on the bad days.” -Vivienne Harr (12-year-old American charity founder)

Sometimes the best advice comes from children, who have the uncanny ability to see things just as they are. It never hurts to take a moment to reflect on why you’re doing this in the first place. With life, comes challenges. It’s important to look for the silver lining and reframe negative experiences into opportunities for learning and growth.

4. “Learn from the mistakes of others. You can’t live long enough to make them all yourself.” -Eleanor Roosevelt (American political figure and activist)

Learning is a lifelong process. Stay curious. If you are continually researching your field, seeking advice, and reading as much as you can, you’ll be more likely to avoid learning lessons the hard way.

5. “You have to see failure as the beginning and the middle, but never entertain it as an end.” -Jessica DiLullo Herrin (American business founder and CEO)

Failure is a decision, and it only happens when someone gives up. If you look at obstacles and mistakes along the way as stepping stones to better things, then they become lessons rather than failures. If something isn’t working or doesn’t turn out the way you had hoped, it doesn’t mean you’re finished--it means you are still on your way.

6. “Whenever you see a successful business, someone once made a courageous decision.” - Peter Drucker (Austrian-born American management consultant, educator, and author)

When things get tough, it can help to think back and remember why you chose to start your own business in the first place. Chances are, those reasons are still important to you now. You’ve probably even added more to the list. Congratulate yourself for taking that difficult leap once upon a time, and do what you need to do to persevere.

7. “There’s no luck in business. There’s only drive, determination, and more drive.” -Sophie Kinsella (English author)

Well, maybe sometimes, very rarely, luck plays a minor role in success--but it is never the sole factor. If you’re sitting back and hoping that something will happen on its own, it might be time to reevaluate. If something isn’t working, there has to be a reason. Find that reason. 

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8. “The most successful entrepreneurs I know are optimistic. It’s part of the job description.” -Caterina Fake (American entrepreneur and businesswoman)

By assuming that something isn’t going to work out, you are making sure it won’t. Any kind of venture--whether it’s starting your own business or something as simple as going for a hike--requires some optimism, some confidence in a positive outcome. Your beliefs will translate directly into your efforts, and it will show.

9. “Amazing how we can light tomorrow with today.” -Elizabeth Barrett Browning (English poet)

It really cannot be stressed enough how important all of the planning and preparation and daily behind-the-scenes tasks are when you’re running your own business. They may seem thankless at the time, but the efforts you put in on a daily basis are going to become the successes that you have down the road.

10. “Business is all about relationships...how well you build them determines how well they build your business.” -Brad Sugars (American business and wealth coach)

Even when you’re operating an e-commerce business on your own, from your own home, it’s important to recognize the importance of business relationships. On the surface, it might seem like you’re in it by yourself, but you aren’t. Developing different relationships is invaluable. Finding mentors and engaging in online business forums will keep you learning. Creating strong relationships with the sellers that are dropshipping your sales will help ensure that your customers are kept happy. In a way, even making sure your online store looks nice and makes shopping seamless is a way of building a relationship with every potential customer. Going the extra mile to build a relationship in some way with every customer that ends up visiting your store will keep them coming back.

11. “Minds are like parachutes; they work best when open.” -Thomas Dewar (Scottish businessman)

Never assume that the way you’re doing something is the best way to do it. Everything is always evolving, and if you keep yourself open to new ideas, you’ll keep yourself in the game.

12. “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” -Albert Einstein (German-born theoretical physicist)

Mistakes tend to have a bad rap, but not with those in the know. If there aren’t mistakes happening, then things are stagnant, and that is the last thing you want. Accept that mistakes are definitely going to be made, and don’t be too hard on yourself. It’s up to you to use them as learning opportunities, and pick yourself right back up every time you make one.

13. “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’” -Marie Anne Radmacher (American writer and artist)

Running your own business can be a lot of pressure at times. Having the courage to keep trying after every setback is what will lead you to accomplishment.

14. “The value of an idea lies in the using of it.” -Thomas Edison (American inventor and businessman)

Make studies of other successful e-commerce businesses. What do you like about them? What don’t you like? Build on all of the ideas that you come up with, and build upon the strategies that you notice other people using. Don’t be afraid to try something new. 

15. “People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing--that’s why we recommend it daily.” -Zig Ziglar (American author and motivational speaker)

I’ll leave you off with this one. It’s normal to feel the wind come out of your sails every once in a while, and when it does, it’s good to have some tried and true ways to get back on track and motivate yourself to keep on going.

Conclusion

I hope this has helped you to get your daily dose of motivation. There are so many resources to help keep you on track when you’re running your own business--take advantage of them. And whenever things start to feel like too much to handle, never underestimate the power of reading some inspirational words.