It has been a while since I’ve listed some of my favourite quotes from inspiring women but I think it is important to look to those who have ‘gone before us’ so that we can be inspired and learn from their experiences, mistakes and successes.

This quote from Mary Anne Radmacher (Author) is so important, especially for those of us who sit more on the introvert end of the personality spectrum and may feel that we have to be ‘loud’ about what we do: “Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, ‘I will try again tomorrow.’”. Persistence and determination are vital to achieving any success in your business.

Gail Blanke, President and CEO, of a company called Lifedesigns, said “Walt Disney told his crew to ‘build the castle first’ when constructing Disney World, knowing that vision would continue to serve as motivation throughout the project. Oftentimes when people fail to achieve what they want in life, it’s because their vision isn’t strong enough.”. I think many of us struggle with this! We have a vague idea of what we want to achieve, but without a strong vision, we are unlikely to achieve it.

As most of us are no doubt aware, any success in business does not get handed to us on a silver platter! Madam C.J. Walker (America's first female entrepreneur millionaire), put it like this: “There is no royal flower-strewn path to success. And if there is, I have not found it, for if I have accomplished anything in life it is because I have been willing to work hard.”

And a classic quote from Roseanne Barr (actress) sums up the attitude I think we all have to take in our businesses: “The thing women have yet to learn is nobody gives you power. You just take it.”.

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender

When I research topics for this column, it is primarily quotes and/or business advice from men that I come across. This advice and the motivation that can be found in those quotes is inspiring and can definitely be useful for women in business. But I think it is also important for women to hear from other women. There are unique struggles for female business owners and sometimes we need to hear from those who’ve forged the way before us!

So here are some of my favourite quotes for and from women in business:

“Courage doesn’t always roar. Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, “I will try again tomorrow.” (Mary Anne Radmacher)

“Define success on your own terms, achieve it by your own rules, and build a life you’re proud to live.” (Anne Sweeney - President of Walt Disney)

“I always did something I was a little not ready to do. I think that’s how you grow. When there’s that moment of ‘Wow, I’m not really sure I can do this,’ and you push through those moments, that’s when you have a breakthrough.” (Marissa Mayer - CEO of Yahoo)

“We need to accept that we won’t always make the right decisions, that we’ll screw up royally sometimes – understanding that failure is not the opposite of success, it’s part of success.” (Arianna Huffington - Editor In Chief of Huffington Post)

And this one from Melinda Gates goes beyond the realms of ‘business’, but for me personally, is a great reminder of us all being part of a much bigger picture:

“If you are successful, it is because somewhere, sometime, someone gave you a life or an idea that started you in the right direction. Remember also that you are indebted to life until you help some less fortunate person, just as you were helped.”

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender

It’s the end of the year. Most of us are winding down for a well earned break and hopefully a re-charge to start 2014 with a bang! I thought my column this week should include some lighter reading to help kick start the re-charge process. So here are some of my favourite quotes for motivation:

• “It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent. It is the one most responsive to change” (Charles Darwin).
• “The most valuable thing you can make is a mistake – you can’t learn anything from being perfect” (Adam Osborne).
• “Be bold. If you’re going to make an error, make a doozey, and don’t be afraid to hit the ball.” (Billie Jean King)
• “Perseverance is failing nineteen times and succeeding the twentieth.” (Julie Andrews).
• Most of us have trouble juggling. The woman who says she doesn’t is someone whom I admire but have never met.” (Barbara Walters)

I can only speak for myself, but my motivations also run deeper than ‘business success’. The following two quotes are my all time favourites for remembering the really important things in life:

• “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” (Maya Angelou).
• “How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.” (Anne Frank).

And at this time of year, this quote is particularly pertinent for female business owners:

• “Women need real moments of solitude and self-reflection to balance out how much of ourselves we give away.” (Barbara De Angelis).

Have a wonderful Christmas and a safe and happy New Year!

Michelle Grice writes a weekly column for business women in The Western Weekender