Swami Vivekananda was born on January 12, 1863 as Narendranath Dutt. He was just another guy and then he met Ramakrishna Paramhansa and everything changed. If one is to read his writings, his autobiography or even listen to that momentous speech in Chicago, one is bound to get goosebumps. He was a leader and his words ring true for professionals in all fields. His words can motivate us to chase our dreams. His quotes makes spirituality relevant to the millennial, to the entrepreneur building something of her own, the small business owner managing young teams, the mentor nurturing a potential leader. Here is a list of powerful quotes that hold true for everyone, including the budding entrepreneur.
#1. Take up one idea. Make that one idea your life—think of it, dream of it, live on that idea. Let the brain, muscles, nerves, every part of your body, be full of that idea, and just leave every other idea alone. This is the way to success.
Success comes to those who are obsessed with an idea. That idea for a product, a title, a victory becomes an all-encompassing thought and transforms to single-minded action. Hard work begins in the mind much before it is visible. If we look at some of the most successful entrepreneurs of our times, we find they are associated with an idea—one clear thread that runs through their lives. To pursue a dream and turn it into reality, we need to be obsessed with it, be immersed in it.
#2. Even the greatest fool can accomplish a task if it were after his or her heart. But the intelligent ones are those who can convert every work into one that suits their taste.
This quote holds true for entrepreneurs much more than it does for professionals. I can choose to specialise in one area of my field with the explanation that I don't wish to do this or that. But business owners know they can't just do on part of the job and ignore another because they hate it. They are so consumed by the idea, the product, that their personal likes and dislikes don't matter anymore. Even if they're working with experts from different fields, they are required to love every aspect of their company—from delivering the product to managing the accounts, Ms. Entrepreneur has to do it all!
#3. Each work has to pass through these stages—ridicule, opposition, and then acceptance. Those who think ahead of their time are sure to be misunderstood.
Who would have thought we'd be reading books on Kindle, that we'd be ordering groceries on our smartphones, that you could transfer invisible money to anyone, anywhere in the world? Entrepreneurs of the best kind are always considered a bit crazy. Believing in an idea when no one else does is perhaps the toughest thing to do. Every successful startup founder has a story to tell about how they were rejected, about how many people believed in them and how many didn't. And in retrospect they'll tell you it's all a part of the entrepreneurial journey.
#4. "Face the brutes." That is a lesson for all life—face the terrible, face it boldly. Like the monkeys, the hardships of life fall back when we cease to flee before them.
Robert Kiyosaki, author of Rich Dad Poor Dad talks about the two factors that keep us chained to the rat race and don't allow us to make clear, correct decisions: fear and greed. You can't chase your dreams if you're afraid to take risks. What if this doesn't work? What do I have to show for so many years of hard work? How do I justify quitting my stable job over a startup dream? These are questions that plague every entrepreneur. The fear of failing, of making the wrong choices are very real fears that take us further away from our goals.
#5. Truth can be stated in a thousand different ways, yet each one can be true.
Leaders can't lead without followers and unfortunately, some of the most passionate ideas die an early death because the leader is ineffective. To be able to take people along, inspire them with your vision, you need to know that there are a thousand sides to the same story. If you can't respect the diversity in your teams, you cannot establish a culture of tolerance and respect.
So arise, awake! And stop not till the goal is reached!