“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas Edison (1847-1931) ― Inventor and businessman
Read Story“I have not failed. I’ve just found 10,000 ways that won’t work.”
Thomas Edison (1847-1931) ― Inventor and businessman
Similar to our class discussion, this quote reinforces the fact that while it is likely I will experience more failures throughout my life, they are valuable learning experiences.
“By your stumbling, the world is perfected.”
Sri Aurobindo (1872-1950) ― Indian philosopher
Making mistakes is how we learn. Out of every perceived failure or weakness I come across in life there lies lessons that I can use to improve, and achieve bigger and better things. Sometimes I...
“Don’t let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”
Voltaire (1694-1778) ― Writer/Philosopher
This phrase makes me focus on the good instead of trying to make things the best they can. In business school it has been extremely helpful to use it for prioritizing my work/life balance.
“Although there is no progress without change, not all change is progress.”
John Wooden ― Basketball player
This reminds me that you must always strive to change for the better. I often see people change in negative ways and hope that the changes I make in my life, whether they are deliberate...
“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore.”
André Gide (1869-1951) ― Author
I have moved and changed a lot in the past 10 years, and I’m getting ready to move across the country again. Sometimes all of the moving and change can be overwhelming and frightening. This...
“Think of the solution, not the problem.”
Terry Goodkind ― Author
Another quote from a random book I have read, but this one has always stuck with me. I have used this more times than I can count and in any variety of situations. It helps...
“I learned to always take on things I’d never done before. Growth and comfort do not coexist.”
Ginni Rometty ― Businessman
This quote has been a favorite of mine for many years. As I’m someone who can be timid and shy at times, this quote has helped me recognize that sometimes being afraid of something is...
“Even experts can work very effectively and very efficiently towards the wrong goal.”
Rangaraj "Ranga" Ramanujam ― Professor, Vanderbilt University
Never lose sight of the bigger picture. Hard work only pays off when you are working towards the right goal.
“Life doesn’t improve by chance, but by change.”
Random speaker at Nashville entrepreneurs’ conference
There was a fantastic speaker I saw a few months ago during a conference on failure, basically. (From successful Nashville entrepreneurs.) I think of this line frequently. This is similar to an idea my girlfriend...
“Insanity is trying to same thing repeatedly and expecting different results.”
Albert Einstein (1879-1955) ― Theoretical physicist
This quote is often attributed to Albert Einstein, but I’m not sure where it actually comes from. I think it’s a great reminder to make an effort to change our lives when things aren’t going...