What does it take to be a successful Black small business owner or entrepreneur? For many in the African American community, the answer to this question is inspiration.
Luckily, there are many inspirational quotes from Black entrepreneurs who have made it big. Here are 30 powerful quotes to help you jumpstart your entrepreneurial journey.
Inspirational quotes for your personal business
The business world is full of inspirational quotes that can motivate and encourage young black entrepreneurs. So next time you feel lost or unsure, remember these words of wisdom and let them guide you on your path to success.
Our first quote comes from one of the most successful black female entrepreneurs:
1. “Passion is energy. Feel the power that comes from focusing on what excites you.” – Oprah Winfrey
2. “We must accept finite disappointments, but never lose infinite hope.” – Martin Luther King Jr.
3. “Dedicate yourself to a set of core values. Without it, you will never find personal fulfillment and never be able to lead effectively.” – Kenneth I. Chenault, CEO of American Express Co
4. “I believe in fate. But I also believe that you can’t just sit back and let fate happen. Often an opportunity will come your way, but you have to be ready for that opportunity. You can’t sit there and wait for it. A lot of times you have to go out there and make it happen.” – Spike Lee
5. “Never chase money. You should chase success because with success comes money.” — Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones
6. “Never let other people’s limited imaginations limit you.” Mae Jemison
7. “I am thirsty for knowledge. The whole thing is to learn to become brighter and brighter every day. That’s what this world is about. When you look at someone like Gandhi, he beams. Martin Luther King beamed. Muhammad Ali beams. I think it’s because you’re constantly wide awake and trying to be brighter.” – Jay-Z
Quotes about becoming a more successful person
Becoming successful is a marathon, not a sprint. To succeed, remember to stay focused, positive, and most importantly, keep moving forward.
Here are some powerful quotes that will help you on your journey:
8. “I had to make my own living and my own opportunities. But I did it! Don’t sit and wait for opportunities to arise. Get up and do it.” – Ms. CJ Walker
9. “To have a successful career, you have to approach it as an entrepreneur, even if you work for someone else.” Your career is your own private business. You must market yourself and your skills and knowledge just as you would a product or service.” – Earl Graves, founder of Black Enterprise
10. “I built a conglomerate and became the richest black man in the world in 2008, but it didn’t happen overnight. It took me 30 years to get to where I am today. Today’s youth aspire to be like me, but they want to achieve it overnight. It will not work. To build a successful business, you need to start small and dream big. On the path of entrepreneurship, persistence of determination is paramount.” – Aliko Dangote
11. “If you decide in the morning what you will give and what you will get, you will become a more successful person. In other words, if you want to make money, you have to help someone else make money.” – Russell Simmons
12. “You can and should set your own boundaries and state them clearly. It takes courage, but it is also liberating and empowering and often earns you new respect.” – Rosalind Brewer
13. “[Don’t] Don’t let anyone convince you that your dream, your vision of becoming an entrepreneur is something you shouldn’t do. What often happens is that people who are doing well, who really care about us, are afraid for us and talk us out of it.” – Cathy Hughes
14. “Life is like a business, 20 percent of what happens to you, 80 percent depends on how you react.” – Daymond John, Founder and CEO of FUBU
15. “Women of color are the fastest growing entrepreneurial segment, so this is a great time for us.” I think it’s important to get the mentors and training you need to get where you need to be want to go.” – Angela Benton, founder and CEO of NewME Accelerator
16. “It is up to you to attract the attention of the powerful people around you. They will not find you on their own.” – Richard Parsons
Self improvement quotes for a successful business
Here are some self-improvement quotes from successful African American business leaders that can help you stay motivated and focused on your goal of building a successful business:
17. “Every now and then you have to nudge your partners. You have to raise your voice and raise your voice. And I try to use my platform to do that. I’m trying to set an example.” – Rosalind Brewer, COO of Starbucks
18. “Believing in yourself and knowing who you are is the foundation of everything great.” – Jay-Z
19. “If everything were perfect, you would never learn and never grow.” – Beyoncé Knowles
20. “My calling is my vacation. I love what I do.” – Nick Cannon
21. “People from all walks of life and around the world look to me and know my humble beginnings and know that everything I did was hard work.” People respect me as a marketer and brand builder.” – Sean Combs
22. “Keep going. No matter what.” – Reginald Lewis
23. “Many people don’t focus enough on execution. If you commit to getting something done, you must follow through on that commitment.” – Kenneth Chenault
Quotes about overcoming discrimination
Finally, let’s take a look at seven amazing quotes from black entrepreneurs about overcoming discrimination:
24. “The battles that matter aren’t the ones for gold medals. The inner struggles – the invisible, inevitable struggles within all of us – that’s what it’s all about.” – Jesse Owens
25. “History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” – Michelle Obama, former First Lady of the United States.
26. “Success is measured not so much by the position a person has reached in life, but rather by the obstacles he has overcome in his attempt to be successful.” – Booker T. Washington
27. “You cannot separate peace from freedom, for no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.” – Malcolm X
28. “For to be free is not just to throw off your chains, but to live in a way that respects and promotes the freedom of others.” – Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa
29. “My humanity is bound up with yours, for we can only be human together.” – Desmond Tutu
30. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass
How to Use These Quotes from Black Entrepreneurs
| use | Description |
|---|---|
| Website and social media | Incorporate quotes into your website, blog posts, and social media profiles to inspire and engage your audience. |
| Office decoration | Decorate your workspace with framed quotes to create an inspiring environment for you and your team. |
| Motivational meeting | Use these quotes as discussion points in team meetings or brainstorming sessions to boost motivation. |
| Email signatures | Add a rotating quote to your email signature to share inspiration with every email you send. |
| Business presentations | Add relevant quotes to your presentations to highlight key points and capture your audience’s attention. |
| Marketing campaigns | Incorporate quotes into marketing campaigns, especially at diversity events or during Black History Month. |
| Customer communication | Incorporate quotes into newsletters, emails, or social media updates to connect with customers on a deeper level. |
| Networking events | Use quotes as conversation starters at networking events or conferences to encourage meaningful discussions. |
| Product packaging | Add inspirational quotes on product packaging to provide customers with a positive and motivating experience. |
| Collaborations | Collaborate with Black-owned businesses or organizations to create collaborative initiatives or events around these quotes. |
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