These wise words will leave you ready to tackle any of your career goals.

Whether you're looking for that perfect job, trying to make the most of your current job, or building a business all on your own, it's time to refocus your energy on your career. It's easy to get excited and feel amped up and ready to take on the world, but that feeling can be difficult to sustain over time. So what do you do? You look to the men and women who inspire us to keep pushing forward and listen to their words.

Here is a collection of inspirational career quotes to fire you up and dare you to push your career forward to the next level.

Job-hunting motivation

The grind of looking for a new job can be exhausting. Don't let it get you down and don't lose focus. These words of wisdom will help you reach for the stars while staying motivated to press on in that search for the perfect job: 

“Find out what you like doing best, and get someone to pay you for it.” – Katharine Whithorn

“The future depends on what you do today.” – Mahatma Gandhi

“Opportunities don't happen, you create them.” – Chris Grosser

“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven't found it yet, keep looking. Don't settle.” – Steve Jobs

“Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life.” – Confucius

Jump-starting your career motivation

Procrastination is the easiest trap to fall into when you're working on your goals. You've set your calendar and you know what you need to do, but do you need to do it today? Yes! Those items are not going to check themselves off of your list, and the longer you wait, the longer it will take to reach your goals. Listen to the wisdom of these people and take it to heart:

“The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.” – Walt Disney

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Wishing is not enough; we must do.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

“We generate fears while we sit. We overcome them by action.” – Dr. Henry Link

“You're not supposed to do this perfectly. You don't do life perfectly. No one does.” – Michelle Obama

“If you want to make an easy job seem mighty hard, just keep putting off doing it.” – Olin Miller

“Amateurs sit and wait for inspiration, the rest of us just get up and go to work.” – Stephen King

“Great acts are made up of small deeds.” – Lao Tzu

Risk-taking motivation

If you're looking to shake things up and move your career forward, it may seem scary. You can't get big results without taking a risk, and that means there's a chance it could go wrong. So, if you want to play it safe, that's OK. Just realize that you won't be making any progress. But if you're ready to make a splash, let these motivational quotes rev your engine and boost your courage:

“People who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Rob Siltanen

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream.” – C.S. Lewis

"The way to develop self-confidence is to do the thing you fear and get a record of successful experiences behind you." – William Jennings Bryan

"Successful people have fear, successful people have doubts, and successful people have worries. They just don't let these feelings stop them." – T. Harv Eker

“You miss 100% of the shots you don't take.” – Wayne Gretzky

“A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.” – Albert Einstein

Personal-growth motivation

Sometimes the best way to grow your career is to work on yourself. Is now the time you decide to learn new skills or change your way of thinking?  We get it — changing yourself is a lot harder than sprucing up your wardrobe or reorganizing your workspace. That means it can be easy to get discouraged, but don't lose faith. Keep your eye on the prize with these quotes that will inspire you to be the best you that you can be: 

“The only person you are destined to become is the person you decide to be.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

“Happiness is not something readymade. It comes from your own actions.” – Dalai Lama

“Whatever you are, be a good one.” – Abraham Lincoln

“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor E. Frankl

“From my point of view, which is that of a storyteller, I see your life as something artful, waiting, just waiting and ready for you to make it art.” – Toni Morrison

“Continuous learning is the minimum requirement for success in any field.” – Dennis Waitley

Entrepreneurship motivation

Have you been dreaming of being your own boss? Do you currently own and operate your own business, but think you're ready to take it to the next level? Entrepreneurs are the people who dare to dream big and go for it. But sometimes those big dreams can seem a little daunting. Fear not. These inspirational career quotes will give you the courage and motivation to keep your entrepreneurial spirit alive and well:

“Build your own dreams, or someone else will hire you to build theirs.” – Farrah Gray

“The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

“Nothing is impossible, the word itself says, 'I'm possible!'” – Audrey Hepburn

“It's not about ideas. It's about making ideas happen.” – Scott Belsky, co-founder of Behance.

“In every success story, you will find someone who has made a courageous decision.” – Peter F. Drucker

“My best advice to entrepreneurs is this: Forget about making mistakes, just do it.” – Ajaero Tony Martins

“Ambition is the steam that drives men forward on the road to success. Only the engine under full steam can make the grade.” – Maxi Foreman

Conclusion

Don't be afraid to make bold decisions and set big goals for yourself because success is built upon big dreams. If you do get sidetracked or discouraged, don't fret. Just keep this list of remarkably motivational quotes bookmarked and you'll have just the pep talk you need, whenever you need it. And remember:

“People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing. That's why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

Ready to make some big career moves, but not sure if your resume is up to par? Check today with a free resume review. 

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