We all have our own mantras; those few words that repeat like a drum to create a rhythm that keep us motivated to move forward at a steady pace toward our goals. Whether it’s just a short phrase that bounces around in our heads or a quote from someone we admire that we hang up in front of our workspace, these words we attach ourselves to have power. Words have a way of being able to inspire simply by finding their way in front of us, delivered by the right person at the right moment.
We asked our team members to share the quotes that light their internal fires and keep them striving to be their best selves at work, at home, and in their communities. Here’s what they said:
“There were goals I was taught to aspire to, and part of me did aspire to them, instinctively. But deep down I was searching for something else, something more. I had an aching sense that our time is short, shorter than we ever know, short as a morning run, and I wanted mine to be meaningful. And purposeful. And creative. And important. Above all…different. I wanted to leave a mark on the world. I wanted to win. No, that’s not right. I simply didn’t want to lose.”
— PHIL KNIGHT – SHOE DOG
Why Paul Loves This Quote: I read this book on NYE 2018 and this particular passage spoke to me. For the better part of three years I’ve been struggling to identify what it is I really wanted to do when I grew up. Well I’m grown up now and after reading this, I fully realize that it’s not what I do, it’s how I feel about what it is I’m doing. I finally know that it really isn’t the destination, it’s making sure that I feel energized and purposeful while going through the journey. And that has me fired up.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life?”
Why Tracey Loves This Quote: This is from the poet Mary Oliver’s poem, The Summer Day. I love this quote because it reminds me that I have one life to live. Human beings are on earth for a short amount of time and we need to make the most of our time. And, it’s up to us to make stuff happen–life is what you make of it. It reminds me to be present and to pay attention.
“I slept and dreamt that life was joy.
I awoke and saw that life was service.
I acted and behold, service was joy. ”
— RABINDRANATH TAGORE
Why Chris Love This Quote: Life is hard and can be a lot harder if you think you can escape the daily toil we all share. For many, this struggle eats away at the soul until it is bitter and resentful. This quote is the most insightful thing ever said about the nature of reality we find ourselves in, and what attitude and perspective we should take in dealing with it: Instead of working for ourselves alone, work to serve others. Then life is service, not slavery. A similar wise man interpreted this for modern audiences by saying: “You will get all you want in life, if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Zigler (but that isn’t as poetic)
“The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company… a church… a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice everyday regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change our past… we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% of how I react to it. And so it is with you… we are in charge of our Attitudes.”
— CHARLES R. SWINDOLL
Why Rajat Loves This Quote: I was about 22 when I went through some professional challenges… and I was with a small group of coworkers who were extremely negative. I found this quote in a magazine, and I couldn’t stop thinking about it, did some research on it… and it’s stuck with me ever since. I’ve had it posted in every cube or office I’ve worked in since. As life has gotten more complex, I’ve used this quote as a reminder that I can and should only focus my efforts on the things I can control and disregard the rest. And that I don’t want to work with negative people whenever I have the choice!
“Create your own job. Become the master of what you do. Fuller immerse yourself in your culture. Be humble. You are never above having to pack boxes. Never forget where you came from. And always be polite. Good old-fashioned manners can get you very far.”
“The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.”
— AMELIA EARHART
Why Dexter Loves This Quote: We all have ideas that we think about endlessly and never commit to. Making the decision to act on one of these things can result in many great things, especially when you put some passion behind it.
“Create your own job. Become the master of what you do. Fuller immerse yourself in your culture. Be humble. You are never above having to pack boxes. Never forget where you came from. And always be polite. Good old-fashioned manners can get you very far.”
— SOPHIA AMORUSO – GIRLBOSS
Why Savannah Loves This Quote: I love this quote because it’s about being a down to earth person and never being ‘too good’ for a job. Sophia Amoruso is also a fashion and marketing badass.
“Put first things first and second things are thrown in. Put second things first and you lose both first and second things.”
Why Matt Loves This Quote: I love this quote because it helps me keep things in proper perspective, both personally and professionally.
“We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master.”
— ERNEST HEMINGWAY
Why Beth Loves This Quote: Although Hemingway was talking about the craft of writing, this quote can be applied to any work anyone is doing. We’re all striving to make ourselves better each day, and the bar is always moving because new ideas, techniques, and abilities are constantly emerging. This quote serves as a reminder that my writing is a craft that always needs practice and honing, because no is is perfect at it.
