best ceo speeches of all time

35 Speeches by Iconic CEOs

From Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg to Apple's Steve Jobs

10 Inspirational Speeches and Emails by Leaders

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• 10 Best Leadership Emails and Speeches by Leaders 

Have you ever felt greatly moved and inspired after listening to a speech by your role model? Or read an email by your CEO that made your day? Nothing can compare to the power of the right words at the right time, especially when they come from someone we respect and appreciate. 

If you’re here, you’re probably looking for some motivation or preparing to inspire your team on a big day. In any case, we have got you covered with examples of the best leadership speech examples (and some leadership email examples too!)

10 Best Leadership Emails and Speeches

Here is a curated list of some of the most inspiring speeches and emails from leaders across the world in different industries.

1. Email by Starbucks’ ex-CEO Howard Schultz, August 2015

Whether you like him or not, you have to admit that Schultz knows how to make a difference. In August 2015, signals of a Chinese economic slowdown sparked panic, causing more than $1 trillion worth of losses in the Asian markets. This brought the Dow down by 588 points and gave birth to the popular hashtag #GreatFallOfChina.

Howard Schultz, Starbucks’ CEO at the time, wanted to make sure that all 190,000 of the company’s employees were aware of the issue. As a result, he sent a persuasive message, asking them to pay special attention to customers. Excerpt:

“Our customers are likely to experience an increased level of anxiety and concern. Please recognize this and—as you always have—remember that our success is not an entitlement, but something we need to earn, every day. Let’s be very sensitive to the pressures our customers may be feeling, and do everything we can to individually and collectively exceed their expectations.

…The experience we deliver in our stores, the strength and equity of our brand, and the primary reason for our current and future success is because of all of YOU. I believe in you and have never been prouder to be your partner.”

It’s not only about using inspirational words. It’s not just reassuring employees that Starbucks, as a publicly-traded company, will continue to do well despite market volatility. 

It’s not even about Schultz’s admiration for his partners alone. It isn’t just one of them; it is all of them.

2. “A Tryst With Destiny” by Jawaharlal Nehru, August 1947

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru is one leader whose words and actions touched the populace. Nehru gave the “Tryst with Destiny” address on the eve of Independence Day. It shed light on India’s century-long fight against the British Empire.

It addressed issues that go beyond India’s history. It is regarded as one of the finest leadership speech examples of the 20th century. This pivotal address captures the triumphant finale of India’s largely nonviolent freedom movement against the British empire.

Excerpt: 

“Long years ago we made a tryst with destiny, and now the time comes when we shall redeem our pledge, not wholly or in full measure, but very substantially. At the stroke of the midnight hour, when the world sleeps, India will awake to life and freedom. A moment comes, which comes but rarely in history, when we step out from the old to new, when an age ends, and when the soul of a nation, long suppressed, finds utterance….” 

Tryst with Destiny is definitely one of the orations that not just Indians, but people across the world, will keep going back to.

3. “Learning From the West” by Narayana Murthy, 2001

One of Narayana Murthy’s most compelling speeches was given at the Lal Bahadur Shastri Institute of Management. It focused on certain Western values that all Indians should imbibe, such as intellectual independence, professionalism, and accountability, among others. 

“As it is said in the Vedas: Man can live individually, but can survive only collectively. Hence, the challenge is to form a progressive community by balancing the interests of the individual and that of the society. To meet this, we need to develop a value system where people accept modest sacrifices for the common good.” 

4. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella’s email to employees, 2017

In 2016, Microsoft launched a Twitter bot called “Tay” to enhance artificial intelligence communication between humans. However, things went horribly wrong when hackers and others forced Tay to start making racist and vulgar comments, causing Microsoft to shut down Tay and apologize just a few hours later.

Without a doubt, the “Tay crew” was devastated by this failure. You may imagine their surprise when they received the following statements in an email from their CEO.

“Keep pushing, and know that I am with you … (The) key is to keep learning and improving.”

This is one of the top leadership email examples. Your team needs to know you’re looking out for them. We all make errors. The point is, how can you assist your employees in recovering from their mistakes?

5. Stanford commencement address by Steve Jobs, June 2005

Steve Jobs delivered a commencement address at Stanford University in 2005, and it will give you goosebumps. It’s an awe-inspiring speech, as well as a wonderful lesson in determination from one of history’s most prominent speakers. 

“You have to trust in something: your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever,” he said. “This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” 

You must watch the full speech. It will leave you inspired and motivate you to do better. 

6. “Go Kiss the World” by Subroto Bagchi at IIM Bangalore, 2006

Bagchi, the co-founder of Mindtree, spoke to the Class of 2006 at IIM Bangalore about how to define success. His blind mother’s final words to him were, “Go kiss the world.

This speech is an inspiration to India’s youth, encouraging them to recognize and develop their inner qualities, allowing them to fulfill their truest potential.

“… success is your ability to rise above your discomfort, whatever may be your current state. You can, if you want, raise your consciousness above your immediate surroundings. Success is not about building material comforts – the transistor that he never could buy or the house that he never owned.”

7. V.K. Krishna Menon’s speech at the United Nations, January 1957

V.K. Krishna Menon defended India’s position on Kashmir in a remarkable eight-hour address. The speech given on January 23, 1957, is still the longest-ever given at the United Nations Security Council.

“Why is it that we have never heard voices in connection with the freedom of people under the suppression and tyranny of Pakistani authorities on the other side of the cease-fire line? Why is it that we have not heard here that in ten years these people have not seen a ballot paper? With what voice can either the Security Council or anyone coming before it demand a plebiscite for the people on our side who exercise franchise, who have freedom of speech, who function under a hundred local bodies?”

8. Email by Jeff Bezos after Times criticism

The New York Times published a critical article in the summer of 2015, positioning Amazon as a cruel employer, that prioritizes company performance over employee well-being.

Amazon’s CEO, in an internal memo, asked his employees to read the Times article and to “escalate to HR” any incidents similar to those reported, even urging them to email him directly. 

“I strongly believe that anyone working in a company that really is like the one described in the NYT would be crazy to stay. I know I would leave such a company.

But hopefully, you don’t recognize the company described. Hopefully, you’re having fun working with a bunch of brilliant teammates, helping invent the future, and laughing along the way.”

Criticism is never pleasant, but it sure helps us identify blind spots and opportunities for progress.

9. Kiran Bedi’s speech on visionary leadership, 2010

The talk by India’s first female IPS officer at TEDWomen on innovative leadership was truly amazing and inspiring. In her speech, Kiran Bedi shares her journey to become who she is and what visionary leadership entails.

“I joined the Indian Police Service as a tough woman, a woman with indefatigable stamina because I used to run for my tennis titles, etc. But I joined the Indian Police Service, and then it was a new pattern of policing. For me, policing stood for power to correct, power to prevent, and power to detect. This is something like a new definition ever given in policing in India—the power to prevent.”

10. Email by PepsiCo’s Indra Nooyi after Donald Trump’s presidential victory

Last but not least is an email from Indra Nooyi, CEO of PepsiCo. She wrote to non-American citizens to cast aside their fear of joblessness after Donald Trump’s victory in the election for the 45th President of the US. 

She knew that an America under Donald Trump could cause a slew of issues for her minority-race staff. She wrote to her employees an email, an excerpt of which is mentioned below.

“We serve more countries and territories than the United Nations, and our associates encompass virtually all of the world’s nationalities, cultures, faith and traditions. That diversity is a source of strength, an engine of creativity, dynamism, and prosperity. And it reflects the simple recognition that no matter what our differences, each of us is committed to doing our part for one another and this company that fills us with pride.”

An unforgettable leadership email example, this well-written piece of communication went a long way in reassuring the employees at PepsiCo.

As humans, we need to inspire and be inspired from time to time. We hope this list of the best leadership speech examples, as well as emails, will help you get inspired. If you have come across any interesting leadership speech ideas , do let us know!

Here are some examples of excellent speeches that inspire.  – “Tryst with Destiny” by Jawaharlal Nehru  – Narayan Murthy’s speech on the role of Western values in Indian society – The Stanford commencement address by Steve Jobs  – “Go kiss the world” by Subroto Bagchi – Kiran Bedi’s speech on visionary leadership

There are many ways to start a speech. You can begin with a quote, personal anecdote, powerful statement/phrase, an interesting statistic, a “what if” scenario, and so on.

You can greet the audience with phrases, such as the following. “Hello, ladies and gentlemen.” “Good morning/good afternoon/good evening.” “Welcome, fellow colleagues.” “It is my pleasure to have you all here.” “Thank you for joining me today.” 

Speeches hold the power to motivate us, especially when they come from someone we respect and appreciate.

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Motivational Speech from CEO to Employees

Inspiring people and keeping them motivated is one of the most important attributes of a leader. It’s not always easy to motivate your employees. But as a leader, it’s your job to do so—and you should never give up on that mission. Here are some tips for giving the best motivational speech as a CEO to employees for inspiring people.

3 Tips to write the best Motivational Speech from CEO to Employees

If you’re here, you’re probably looking for motivation or preparing to inspire your team on a big day. Let’s look at some of the influential and persuasive tools used by these CEOs.

1. Inspire your team members by acknowledging and celebrating wins, big and small.

• It helps to establish a culture where everyone who works for your company feels like they are part of something bigger than themselves.
• If a project succeeds, it’s important to recognize that success and give credit where credit is due. Celebrate small wins along with big ones.
• Be sure to recognize any employee who goes above and beyond their job description or makes an effort to help others out of the kindness of their heart.

2. Building a culture of recognition is an effective means of motivating employees to regularly exceed their goals.

• Recognition is a powerful motivator. It’s not just about patting someone on the back, but rather it involves letting people know that their efforts are valued.
• In order for recognition to be effective, it should be done in a public way, in a timely fashion, and be meaningful. Use your speech to recognize the efforts of your employees.

3. Inject wit, humor, and empathy into your words to build trust, create bonds, repair relationships, and create joy in the workplace.

• As you know, humor is a great way to connect with people . It builds trust, creates bonds, repairs relationships, and creates joy in the workplace.
• It can also motivate your employees and make them feel good about themselves. And if you want to make someone feel special or important—or even just lighten the mood at a tense moment—a joke is often just what’s needed!
• Telling personal stories also works wonders.

Best CEO speeches to employees

Great CEOs rely on various communication tools to inspire their teams and influence others to take action. Here are some of the CEOs who have successfully found the courage to show their true selves through inspirational speeches added to their presentations.

1. Howard Schultz:

If you go and ask any presentation expert about who, according to them, is one of the best storytelling executives in the business currently, they’ll probably say former Starbucks CEO Howard Schultz.

• Schultz often returned to his story about how he rose from rags to riches, from being a child of often unemployed parents in Brooklyn public housing to becoming the CEO of the world’s most successful coffeehouse chain. He’d use the story as a starting point to describe the history and mission of Starbucks and to explain many decisions he made regarding the company.
• He mentioned in his speeches how he took inspiration from his father , who was injured and unable to work, which gave him the urge to launch a company that took care of its workers and provided them with benefits, like insurance and adequate time-off.
• By framing his business goals in a personal story about his values , Schultz made his corporate mission understandable and described his strategic decisions in a way that made sense to anyone.
• Check his complete speech here .

I love Starbucks. Many of you do, too. We all have a stake in our future. It is something we all share. And this serves as an invitation to come build it. Howard Schultz:

2. Sheryl Sandberg:

Not everyone is comfortable sharing their stories from their struggling period, just like Sheryl Sandberg once felt reluctant to share her tale of tragedy in her public speeches.

• Today, the Facebook COO masterfully reveals deeply personal stories in her talks, and these make her messages powerful and brings hope.
• One of Sandberg’s most effective uses of personal storytelling happened during her 2016 UC Berkeley commencement speech after tragically and suddenly losing her husband Dave Goldberg in 2015. Sandberg chose not to mourn but to harness that painful tragedy to deliver a talk that was profoundly affecting and inspiring. She described her experience of losing her husband, then explained how she was able to rise from her unbearable grief into a stronger, more resilient person.

When life sucks you under, you can kick against the bottom, break the surface, and breathe again…you can choose joy and meaning.” Sheryl Sandberg:

Sandberg’s exhortation was powerful and uplifting despite its origin in a tragedy. She figured out how to unlock the power of a personal setback story for a presentation message that fosters endurance and drives the forward movement.

3. Rowan Trollope:

Five9 CEO Rowan Trollope never fails to use firsthand anecdotes in his speeches. These stories make him feel relatable rather than like an untouchable executive who seems significantly snobbish and highly professional, not having a moment to listen to his employees’ needs and impulses.

• As a leading SVP at Cisco, he delivered the 2016 Cisco Keynote at Enterprise Connect. He opened the speech with the story of his first experience with weightlessness at the “Zero-G Experience” when his instructor warned him he would laugh when he was finally weightless (all people do), he resolved to remain stoic. However, once he got up into the air and floated, he burst out laughing uncontrollably—reminding him that he was human, just like everyone who’d been weightless before him (even professional astronauts).
• Trollope’s story not only showed his humanity but also endeared him to the audience , giving him an understandable jumping-off point to explain to listeners what he wanted to do with Cisco products. He wanted to create products and devices that delighted users, whether they were professionals in the industry or just picking up the technology for the first time.

Like his weightlessness story, most of Trollope’s tales are entertaining and full of humility. They work to demonstrate his “humanness”—taking him down off any “executive pedestal” and making him approachable and accessible. This results in a message that feels relevant and understandable to everyone listening. Read Trollope’s complete speech and be inspired.

“Organizations are spending $275B a year as an industry to deliver an experience that a lot of times, most people don’t like. That feels like an opportunity to me.”  Rowan Trollope

Motivation is something that everyone needs, and it’s up to you as a leader to inspire your employees. If you want people to surround themselves with positive energy every day, then you have to do the same for them. It’s easy for leaders to get caught up in their own personal issues and forget about the people who rely on them for support. Remember: it’s all about building relationships with others because without them, what would we have?

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13 Best Motivational Speeches for Entrepreneurs (2024)

Who couldn’t use a few of the best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs?

Business can be hard. Heck, life can be hard.

We’re all on a journey, and we’ve all been down in the dumps before, wondering if what we’re doing is really worth it.

Wondering if what we’re doing is really making an impact.

But, it’s important that we’re always moving forward. This is a lesson that I learned early in life.

I remember I was around 4 years old, and I was learning to ride my bike with my uncle and my father.

Of course, I fell off multiple times while I was learning to cycle, and I remember the time I cut my knee pretty badly.

At that point I really just wanted to quit and go home. But, my family told me: “you can’t quit now, you’re almost there. Just try it once more!”

You’ve probably heard that before too, right?

So, I got back on that bike. I didn’t want to, but you just need to power through and face your challenges head-on.

Sure enough, that was the first time that I rode that bike without any help.

After that, I was so glad I kept moving forward and that I never gave up.

Now, that probably wasn’t the motivational speech that you expected when you clicked on this article, but it’s evidence that we can do so much more than we think we’re capable of when we’re spurred on by others.

And that’s exactly why we’ve created this article – we’ve listed all of our favorite motivational speeches here, because we already know how much more you can achieve with a little bit of extra motivation .

So, let’s jump into it!

Post Contents

Will Smith – Pursuit of Happiness

Al pacino – any given sunday, steve jobs – 2005 stanford commencement speech, matthew mcconaughey – university of houston speech, sheryl sandberg – harvard business school motivational speech, sylvester stallone – balboa speech, arnold schwarzenegger – famous motivational speech, richard st.john – 8 secrets of success, eric thomas – i can, i will, i must, denzel washington – fall forward, key takeaways, want to learn more.

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13 Best Motivational Speeches for Entrepreneurs

Considered one of the best motivational speeches, this famous motivational speech from the 2006 film, Pursuit of Happyness , features Will Smith and his son playing basketball.

At the start of the clip, you’ll see Smith’s son (his actual son, Jaden Smith) playing around with a basketball, and he shouts out, “I’m going pro!”

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After hearing this, Smith decides to try and level his son’s expectations, mentioning that he himself never really excelled at basketball, so his son shouldn’t expect to either.

His son is visibly disappointed by this comment, and Smith notices this.

Smith then proclaims: “don’t ever let somebody tell you that you can’t do something, not even me.”

“You got a dream, you gotta protect it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

This motivational speech is a special one. Even though both Will and Jaden Smith are acting, they’re still father and son, and you can see how this scene reflects their own family dynamic.

It’s a short motivational speech, but it’s one of the best motivational speeches of all time, in our opinion.

Al Pacino’s speech from the American Football drama, Any Given Sunday, is next up on our list.

This famous motivational speech really gets your blood flowing – perfect for watching before you tackle a difficult day .

The motivational speech revolves around the idea of inches being so important in American Football, even if we have the tendency to overlook them.

He talks about the different ways that his team can gain advantages over their opponents, even if it’s only an inch at a time.

He proclaims: “when we add up all those […] inches, that’s what makes the difference between winning and losing”.

This point is applicable throughout life, too – it’s the people who go the extra mile who tend to find success more often than not.

And sometimes, you won’t notice it at first, but like Pacino mentions, it’s the sum of all the small parts which lead you to victory.

Motivational speeches like this one pump you up when you need it most.

Steve Jobs, one of the key figures behind tech giant Apple’s success, is next up on our list of the best motivational speeches of all time.

In his 2005 Stanford commencement speech, the former Apple CEO dives deep into his own journey as an entrepreneur , and he speaks openly about the issues that he’s faced along the way and how he overcame them.

During this classic motivational speech, Jobs talks about how he was actually a college dropout and that this was one of the most important times of his life. 

He mentioned that he dropped out of college to take classes that he was truly interested in, rather than studying topics he wasn’t deeply passionate about.

One of those classes that he took up after dropping out was calligraphy. He was so compelled by the high standard of handwriting.

To many, this might seem like a strange choice, but he connects the experience that he gained from that class to the font choices that he installed on Apple computers.

If Jobs had never taken that calligraphy class, he wouldn’t have cared so much about a seemingly small detail, like fonts, but Apple was the first company to add different typefaces to their operating systems. 

He goes on to say: “You can’t connect the dots if you’re looking forward, you can only do it looking backwards. So, you need to keep moving forward and hope that the dots align somehow.”

The key message from this famous motivational speech is that we’re always learning. We’re always growing and finding out new information. It’s all about what we choose to do with that information that really defines us.

As Jobs said: “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.”

Next up on our list of motivational speeches is Matthew McConaughey, with his commencement speech at the University of Houston.

The Oscar-winning actor delivers some very pertinent points during his speech, but the one that stuck out for me was how he spoke of joy being a “constant approach”.

McConaughey said: “Joy is always in process, it’s always under construction.”

He spoke of how he was previously judging his success on metrics that he thought were important to him, like the number of academy awards he won, or the amount of money his films grossed.

But, it was only when he decided to focus on the whole process of creating a film, and enjoying every aspect of it, that he found true success in those metrics.

It turned out that, when he took everything one step at a time, and truly enjoyed his craft, he found that things just fell into place.

“Define success for yourself.”

Find what you want to achieve, and enjoy the entire journey – not just the high points, but the lows too.

Matthew McConaughey ended up delivering one of the best motivational speeches from the past few years.

Sheryl Sandberg, the American entrepreneur, tech executive, author, and current COO of Facebook, is the next addition to our list of the best motivational speeches with her talk at the Harvard Business School in 2012.

Besides talking about her own experiences as an entrepreneur, and her work at Facebook with Mark Zuckerberg, Sandberg mentions a very pertinent idea. One that we can all do well to remember.

“Motivation comes from working on things that we care about.”

This is certainly true for entrepreneurship – those who are running businesses and working to tackle problems that engage them are more likely to find success.

And, according to Sandberg, it’s so important that we continue to work, because that’s the most important thing.

All in all, this is one of the best motivational speeches for students that we’ve seen.

Rocky Balboa , played by Sylvester Stallone, is a famed character best known for his courage, hard work, and determination.

In Rocky Balboa, the sixth film in the Rocky franchise, Stallone delivers one of the hardest-hitting motivational speeches of all time.

Stallone starts off the motivational speech by saying: “The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows.”

He goes on to talk about the value of hard work and commitment and emphasizes that “it ain’t about how hard you hit, it’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.”

As an entrepreneur, this motivational speech really hits home. There will be struggles on your journey to success , but as Stallone says, it’s all about “how much you can take and keep moving forward, that’s how winning is done.”

Remember this when your back is up against the wall – winners never give up!

This is one of the most iconic motivational speeches. You’ll often find it in motivational speech mashup videos on YouTube or even on Spotify.

Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Austrian-American actor, entrepreneur, politician, and former My Olympia, is next up on our list of the most famous motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

He starts his motivational speech with a simple, powerful message.

“Work your ass off.”

Schwarzenegger then discusses how having a goal was so pivotal for him on his journey to success in a variety of fields.

He also talks about how “only a quarter of people really enjoy what they’re doing in life.”

Schwarzenegger also believes that everybody should be constantly working to get closer to their main goal and properly utilize every hour of their day.

“Imagine if you worked on a business every day for an hour . Imagine how further along you would get.”

This is perhaps the most important message from this motivational speech – it’s down to us to make the most of our limited time on earth. And this message, which everybody can get behind, is why we believe this is one of the best motivational speeches of all time.

Next up on our list, we’ve got an infamous TED talk from Richard St.John – also one of the shortest motivational speeches that we’ve ever seen, but it sure is impactful.

St.John mentions at the start of the video that this talk is a condensed version of 7 years of research (including research from more than five hundred interviews with successful professionals).

One of the most interesting points that St.John mentions is that if you want to be successful at something, you need to “put your nose down in something and get damn good at it.”

But, the most motivational part of St.John’s speech for us was where he talks about passion.

He said: “if you do something you love then the money comes along later.”

This section of the motivational speech is especially relevant for entrepreneurs – if you’re building a brand , then try and be invested in it as much as possible – a commitment to the cause will really help you find success in the long run. 

When you’re trying to find success, you need to love what you do!

Eric Thomas is a fantastic speaker, and in this classic motivational speech, he empowers us to believe that we can always get through adversity, no matter what the challenge is.

Thomas repeats this line throughout the speech: “I can get through this. I will get through this. I must get through this.”

He also cleverly uses our loved ones as a source of inspiration in this motivational speech.

He asks us to focus on the 3 people we love the most and challenges us to question our own decisions regarding motivation.

“You gotta think about those people every day.”

“You have some days when you think about hitting the snooze button? […] The days you don’t feel like getting up, just think about them.”

Instead of being lazy and complacent, we need to think about our loved ones and question what they’d think if we were procrastinating 24/7 .

Honestly, it’s fine doing something for yourself, but knowing that you’ve made your loved ones proud just makes everything feel 10 times better. This is one of the main messages from this motivational speech. 

And that’s why this is one of the best motivational speeches of all time. It takes the onus away from working for yourself and instead focuses on putting in the work for people you couldn’t bear to let down.  

Elon Musk – USC Commencement Motivational Speech

Elon Musk is an icon of inspiration for countless people worldwide. Known for his out-of-the-box thinking and visionary technology, Musk shows us that anything is possible if we put our minds to it.

In the USC Commencement motivational speech, Elon immediately demonstrates his tendency to break away from the status quo. He tells us he was advised to stick to 3 items that he wanted to mention, but he’s going to share four.

Elon tells his listeners that they need to work proportionally to the accomplishments they want to achieve. “If you want to start a company, you need to work super hard.”

Elon’s speech here is compelling because it’s so authentic. He doesn’t talk about being lucky or following your gut instinct. Musk tells us that great things come from an equally astronomical amount of work.

Musk also acknowledges the power of great people, “all a company is, is a group of people that have gathered together.” Elon says that if you want a great company, you need a great team.

Musk’s third point is to “focus on signal over noise.” In other words, concentrate on developments that make the product better, “don’t just follow the trend.”

The final piece of advice from Elon’s speech? “Take risks.” Jump into new opportunities and pursue different things.

Ed Shereen – Being Weird is a Wonderful Thing

Ed Sheeran might not be the first person you think of when you visualize the world’s greatest thought leaders. Yet, he constantly moves millions of people with his music and his words.

At the 9 th Annual American Institute for Stuttering Benefit Gala, Sheeran talked about how Eminem helped him overcome his speech impediment.

Sheeran admits to being a “very, very weird child” with a birthmark on his face, large glasses, and no eardrum on one side of his head. He says that “stuttering was actually the least of my problems when I went to school,” but he found it extremely difficult.

Sheeran notes that not being able to express himself in the right way was his biggest concern with his stutter. However, when his dad bought him an Eminem CD when he was young. Listening to it helped him to learn how to speak fast and accomplish his stutter.

Ed’s insights are a great source of inspiration for entrepreneurs learning how to deal with the stress of public speaking and believing in themselves.

Now, Ed believes that “being weird is a wonderful thing”. He asks us to “embrace yourself, embrace your quirks, and embrace your weirdness.”

Jim Carrey – Maharishi University Commencement Motivational Speech

Jim Carrey’s commencement speech at the Maharishi University is filled with so much wisdom it’s difficult to decide which to focus on.

Perhaps the most important statement Jim made for entrepreneurs and business leaders was that “fear” will always be a big player in our lives. However, Jim notes, “you get to decide how much.” You can spend your life in fear, or you can follow your heart.

Jim says that countless people choose their path out of fear. They stick to what’s safe and easy because they’re afraid to ask, “what if?” However, Carrey says that the only way to live is to ask the universe for what you need.

Jim Carrey invites his listeners to “risk being seen in all of your glory.” He says that our job isn’t to figure out how we’re going to reach success, but to simply “open the door in your head” and walk through it when the time is right.

“You will fail at something. Accept it.”

In the last entry on our list of the best motivational speeches, Denzel Washington discusses failure.

But, Washington doesn’t shirk away from failure ; he embraces it.

He says that “every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

This is certainly true when it comes to entrepreneurship . You learn so much from everything you do, whether it’s a win or a loss.

But, the most important thing isn’t necessarily winning or losing. It’s about getting out there and giving it everything you’ve got. That’s why this is one of our favorite motivational speeches about life. 

“Never be discouraged. Never hold back. And when you fall in life, remember this: fall forward.”

So, that’s our list of the best motivational speeches for entrepreneurs.

We hope you enjoyed those clips. We just want to highlight a couple of key points present across all of these motivational speeches.

• It’s important that you love what you do . Be invested. Be present. And be the best you can be.
• Failure isn’t a bad thing . If you learn from it, and continue to move forward, it can lead to great things.
• You need to want it. Entrepreneurship, along with many things in life, can be tough. You want it bad? Prove it.

Okay, that’s all from me today. Did I miss any motivational speeches off from this list? Let me know in the comments section – I read them all!

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4 Memorable Motivational Speeches & 4 Terrific Takeaways for CEOs

April 23, 2016 | Category: Blog

The printing press, the radio, television, the internet … none of these technological advances has managed to kill oratory. In fact, you could argue that each has transformed the motivational speech, bringing it to more people than otherwise could partake of it. As advanced as our technology is, there is still no substitute for the power of the communication between a speaker and a receptive audience. Fortunately, we live in a time when we can gain access to recordings and transcripts of the greatest speeches of all time, and CEOs may find that reading, watching, or listening to these speeches can jump-start stalled motivation. Here are 4 memorable speeches with timeless takeaways for today’s CEO.

1. Meryl Streep, Vassar, 1983

One of the most respected actresses of our time, Meryl Streep spoke more than 30 years ago about selling out your dreams. She said, “That choice, between the devil and the dream, comes up every day in different little disguises. I’m sure it comes up in every field of endeavor and every life. My advice is to look the dilemma in the face and decide what you can live with. If you can live with the devil, Vassar hasn’t sunk her teeth into your leg the way she did mine.” In other words, can you live with yourself if you sell out your dream? She goes on to say, “I firmly believe that this engagement in the attempt for excellence is what sustains the most well-lived and satisfying, successful lives.” By all measures, 30-plus years later, Ms. Streep has lived her words. Strive for excellence, not the easy way, and not the lesser of two evils.

2. Winston Churchill, 1955, House of Commons

In 1955, Winston Churchill’s farewell speech to the House of Commons mainly concerned Britain’s approach to nuclear weapons. But the speech also turns back toward hope from this grim subject, as Churchill’s most famous speeches do, emphasizing the power of determination to overcome obstacles. “The day may dawn when fair play, love for one’s fellow-men, respect for justice and freedom, will enable tormented generations to march forth serene and triumphant from the hideous epoch in which we have to dwell. Meanwhile, never flinch, never weary, never despair.” These were particularly powerful words, coming from one of the world’s greatest leaders and someone who led a nation through horrors that had been unimaginable only a generation earlier. Our most noble values, like justice, freedom, and love for mankind, equip us to overcome more than we imagine.

3. The Dalai Lama, Oslo, 1989

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989, and his address to the Nobel Committee reflected the concept that fulfillment comes, at least partly, through commitment to our part in universal responsibility. He said, “People inflict pain on others in the selfish pursuit of their happiness or satisfaction. Yet true happiness comes from a sense of brotherhood and sisterhood. We need to cultivate a universal responsibility for one another and the planet we share.” In other words, what we do has effects that ripple outward more than we know, for good or ill. Ultimately, we are all in this together.

4. Anne Lamott, University of California at Berkeley, 2003

Writer Anne Lamott has made no secret of the demons she has battled, and her graduation speech at UC Berkeley in 2003 emphasized the importance of pursuing what is genuine rather than outcomes that may ultimately ring hollow. She told the new graduates, “I’d been wanting to be a successful author my whole life. But when I finally did it, I was like a greyhound catching the mechanical rabbit she’d been chasing all her life – metal, wrapped up in cloth. It wasn’t alive; it had no spirit … So from the wise old pinnacle of my 49 years, I want to tell you that what you’re looking for is already inside you.” Each of us has an inner strength that can surprise and amaze, and that’s more important than the number on the bottom line.

The power of oration hasn’t been negated by any technology so far. If you’re in need of some inspiration, I would suggest reading, watching, or listening to powerful words by someone you respect and admire. It can be just the thing to jostle us out of ourselves long enough to come unstuck and start moving forward. I encourage you to check my speaking and training services , leadership coaching , and corporate culture services .

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The Best-Performing CEOs in the World

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The knock on most CEOs is that their focus is too myopic—that they’re fixated on achieving short-term goals to increase their pay. If you studied results produced over the long term, which leaders would truly show strong performance? HBR’s ranking of the 100 best CEOs provides an answer.

To compile our list, we examined how active CEOs of global public companies performed over their entire tenures. We took a scientific, objective approach, basing our evaluation on hard data, rather than on reputation or anecdote. For each executive, we looked at three metrics: the total industry-adjusted shareholder returns produced, the total country-adjusted shareholder returns, and the total increase in market capitalization.

The CEOs who made the 2014 list have undeniably been effective. On average, the top 50 have delivered total shareholder returns of 1,350% during their time on the job. That translates into an annual return of 26.2%. Adjusting for industry effects, average total shareholder returns for the top 50 are 1,161%, and for country effects, 1,087%. But the results turned in by the #1 CEO on our list, Jeff Bezos, were especially impressive. Under his leadership, Amazon produced country-adjusted returns of 15,189% and industry-adjusted returns of 14,917% and grew its market capitalization by $140 billion.

We also collected biographical and compensation data on the CEOs to see if we could identify what they had in common and whether there was any correlation between performance and pay. While the top 100 have each had unique journeys to success, there do seem to be two preferred pathways: Over a quarter of the CEOs have MBAs, and nearly as many studied engineering. But in some ways, Bezos’s place at the top says it all: The best CEO in the long haul turned out to be one who frequently underperformed in the short term—while continuing to make big bets on the future.

The knock on most business leaders is that they don’t take the long view—that they’re fixated on achieving short-term goals to lift their pay. So which global CEOs actually delivered solid results over the long run? Our 2014 list of top performers provides an objective answer. Adi Ignatius A few years ago I sat down […]

The knock on most business leaders is that they don’t take the long view—that they’re fixated on achieving short-term goals to lift their pay. So which global CEOs actually delivered solid results over the long run? Our 2014 list of top performers provides an objective answer.

A few years ago I sat down with Starbucks founder Howard Schultz in his Seattle office to discuss the challenges of being a CEO. At one stage I asked whether he felt there was a disconnect between the person he would like to be and the persona he needs to project while running a public company. Serving as a CEO, he said, “has been difficult—and lonely.” Yet he’d found that it was indeed possible to be values-driven while also winning Wall Street’s respect. “But the only ingredient that works in this environment is performance—so we have to perform.”

• This story is by the staff at Harvard Business Review.

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10 Of The Greatest Leadership Speeches Of All Time

The world may be dominated by social media these days, but we should never underestimate the power of a great speech..

In fact, despite the prevalence of Facebook and Twitter, videos of some of the  greatest leadership speeches are still immensely popular. Here are 10 examples of fantastic, motivational speeches that will show you why.

1.    Martin Luther King: I have a dream

Any article featuring inspirational speeches must include this ground-breaking speech. 

On 28th August 1963, Martin Luther King addressed a crowd of over 250,000 . In it, he calls for an end to racism and equality for all. In 1999, this speech was ranked the top American speech of the 20th century in a 1999 poll of scholars of public address.

2.    Steve Jobs: How to live before you die

In 2005, Steve Jobs gave a Commencement Address to Stanford University that will leave you with goosebumps. It’s a brilliant speech, and also a great lesson from one of the most influential presenters in history.

3.    President Obama: Seeking a new beginning

In June 2009, President Obama gave a rousing speech at Cairo University . This speech shows Obama at his best, building a fantastic rapport with his audience.

4.    Randy Pausch: The last lecture

Carnegie Mellon Professor, Randy Pausch, gave his last lecture to a crowded auditorium. 

This presentation is about achieving your childhood dreams and it’s a great one to study for tips on building a connection with your audience and really getting them on your side.

5.    Rosalinde Torres: What it takes to be a great leader

In this incredibly inspirational speech, Torres describes 25 years of observing great leaders at work and then shares ways to learn how to lead .  

6.    Bill Clinton: 2008 Speech to the Democratic National Convention

If you’re looking for an example of fantastic communication skills, look no further than this former US President . This speech shows how great content, teamed with exceptional delivery, can really bring the house down.

7.    J.K. Rowling: Harvard Commencement

Commencement addresses are always very inspirational speeches and this is no exception. Rowling immediately gets her audience on side, inspiring and delighting as she goes.

8.    John Wooden: The difference between winning and succeeding

As the coach of UCLA basketball team, John Wooden led his team to record wins that remain unbeaten. In this speech, he redefines success with incredible simplicity.

9.    Richard St. John: 8 secrets of success

In this amazing TED Talk, Richard St. John delivers an incredibly motivational speech asking why people are successful. Is it because they’re clever, or lucky ?

10.    Nelson Mandela: Inauguration speech

When you’re thinking about leadership speeches, Nelson Mandela’s inauguration speech in 1994 must be on the list. Mandela was the first democratically elected president of South Africa. He led his country through the end of apartheid and into a united history they had never seen before. 

These 10 examples of leadership speeches show you just how powerful the spoken word can be. These speakers are all experts in their field and captivate their audiences to give incredible, motivational speeches, which lift and inspire . 

Want more inspiration? Get motivated by other brilliant famous team leaders here . 

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The 15 greatest speeches of all time, by 15 inspirational women

We celebrate the greatest speeches of all time, spoken by women who have changed the world for the better

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Let these greatest speeches of all time empower you as a woman and unite us all in a quest for positive change. Words can be incredibly powerful, as is shown in these insightful, spine-tingling and, at times, revolution-inspiring speeches, spoken by great women throughout history, such as Maya Angelo and Emmeline Pankhurst, as well as modern change-makers like Amanda Gorman and Emma Watson . 

It's easy for women's voices to get lost in a sea of historical rhetoric. The most quoted speeches of all time are often those delivered by men, the words of many great women swept under the carpet. Swimming against the current, women have had to speak louder to get their voices heard. In the words of Virginia Woolf, they've had to create a room of their own. So we've rounded up fifteen inspirational women to celebrate those who found a room and encouraged others to do the same. 

Many of these speeches remain relevant for women fighting for equality in a social and political landscape where women are still under-represented. Take for example, Emma Watson's UN "He For She" speech— a decade later, we are still fighting for  equal pay . Or Hillary Clinton's impassioned delivery of "women's rights are human rights"—a quote that feels more relevant than ever considering the overturning of  Roe Vs Wade  in the US and ongoing regressive and oppressive policies worldwide. 

Now more than ever, women must support other women and not only allow their voices to be heard but help amplify the message they share. To inspire you to do the same, these are fifteen of the greatest speeches of all time. 

The greatest speeches of all time by women

1. virginia woolf, "a room of one's own" (1928).

"My belief is that if we live another century or so—I am talking of the common life which is the real life and not of the little separate lives which we live as individuals—and have five hundred a year each of us and rooms of our own; if we have the habit of freedom and the courage to write exactly what we think..."

Based on a series of lectures Woolf delivered in October 1928, A Room Of One's Own has since been heralded as a feminist manifesto. Her words continue to inspire women in 2015 nearly a century after she first spoke them. 

The speech strikes at the heart of patriarchy and argues that without financial independence and access to education—ideological, social and creative freedom is out of reach. Virginia knew this truth all too well: her own father believed only boys profited from schooling. As a result, she didn't go. Her strength of spirit defied even her own father: "Lock up your libraries if you like", she said, "but there is no gate, no lock, no bolt that you can set upon the freedom of my mind."

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2. Emma Watson, "Gender equality is your issue too" (2014)

"I am from Britain and think it is right that as a woman I am paid the same as my male counterparts. I think it is right that I should be able to make decisions about my own body. I think it is right that women be involved on my behalf in the policies and decision-making of my country. I think it is right that socially I am afforded the same respect as men. But sadly I can say that there is no one country in the world where all women can expect to receive these rights."

In 2014, Emma Watson partnered with UN Women to launch their HeForShe campaign fighting to end gender inequality and it's still relevant nearly a decade later.

"In 1995, Hilary Clinton made a famous speech in Beijing about women’s rights. Sadly many of the things she wanted to change are still a reality today." Watson continues, and speaking of Clinton... 

3. Hillary Clinton, "Women's Rights Are Human Rights" (1995)

"If there is one message that echoes forth from this conference, let it be that human rights are women’s rights and women’s rights are human rights once and for all. Let us not forget that among those rights are the right to speak freely—and the right to be heard."

Five words that said it all: "Women's rights are human rights".

In 1995, Hillary Clinton's speech at the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing marked a watershed moment for women's rights. What makes this speech so inspirational isn't just the words she spoke but where she spoke them. Defying both US administration and Chinese pressure to dilute her remarks, she went for the jugular. It was a full-blown attack against policies abusing "unheard" women around the globe—not just China.

4.  Malala Yousafzai's "I am here to stand up for their rights, to raise their voice" (2014)

"I am those 66 million girls who are deprived of education. And today I am not raising my voice, it is the voice of those 66 million girls. Sometimes people like to ask me why should girls go to school, why is it important for them. But I think the more important question is why shouldn’t they? Why shouldn’t they have this right to go to school?"

At the age of 17 Malala Yousafzai was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize for her work fighting for every child to receive an education. As the youngest winner of the prize,  the activist's powerful acceptance speech is not one to be forgotten. 

"Let us become the first generation that decides to be the last that sees empty classrooms, lost childhoods and wasted potentials. Let this be the last time that a girl or a boy spends their childhood in a factory. Let this be the last time that a girl is forced into early child marriage.

"Let this end with us. Let’s begin this ending . . . together . . . today . . . right here, right now. Let’s begin this ending now."

5. Sojourner Truth, "Ain't I A Woman" (1851)

'I have as much muscle as any man, and can do as much work as any man. I have plowed and reaped and husked and chopped and mowed, and can any man do more than that?'  

Named Isabella Baumfree , it says a great deal about Sojourner that she called herself Truth. She spoke it. An African-American abolitionist and women's rights activist, Truth was born into slavery in New York, sold at auction with a flock of sheep for $100 in 1806, escaping with her baby daughter in 1826. 

Oprah Winfrey has recited Truth's inspirational speech many times since.

6. Nora Ephron, "Commencement Address To Wellesley Class Of 1996" (1996)

"Whatever you choose, however many roads you travel, I hope that you choose not to be a lady. I hope you will find some way to break the rules and make a little trouble out there. And I also hope that you will choose to make some of that trouble on behalf of women."

Nora also spiked her speech with words of caution: "Understand: every attack on Hillary Clinton for not knowing her place is an attack on you," she rallied. Her words still echo today and one sentence rings eternally true: "Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim."

7. Aung San Suu Kyi, "Freedom From Fear" (1990)

"Fearlessness may be a gift but perhaps more precious is the courage acquired through endeavour, courage that comes from cultivating the habit of refusing to let fear dictate one's actions, courage that could be described as 'grace under pressure'—grace which is renewed repeatedly in the face of harsh, unremitting pressure."

Burma's "woman of destiny" has inspired millions during her lifetime of political activism and captivity, held under house arrest for 15 of the past 21 years in Burma. Receiving the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990, this now-famous speech followed in acceptance appeals to the spirituality of human nature: it's bravery, compassion and conviction.

8. Gloria Steinem, "Address to the Women of America" (1971)

"This is no simple reform. It really is a revolution. Sex and race, because they are easy, visible differences, have been the primary ways of organizing human beings into superior and inferior groups, and into the cheap labour on which this system still depends. We are talking about a society in which there will be no roles other than those chosen, or those earned. We are really talking about humanism."

In 1971 Gloria Steinem delivered an inspiring Address to the Women of America . It would soon be regarded as one of the most memorable speeches of the second-wave feminist era. What made her speech so powerful wasn't just its attack on sexism, but its focus on the intersectional issues of racism and class.

9. Greta Thunberg, "We'll be watching you" (2019)

"I shouldn’t be up here. I should be back in school on the other side of the ocean. Yet you all come to us young people for hope. How dare you? You have stolen my dreams and my childhood with your empty words, and yet I’m one of the lucky ones. People are suffering, people are dying. Entire ecosystems are collapsing. We are in the beginning of a mass extinction and all you can talk about is money and fairytales of eternal economic growth."

Greta Thunberg was only a teenager when she gave one of the most powerful speeches on climate change . Thunberg's United Nations speech in 2019 is the one everyone remembers when the name Greta Thunberg comes to mind. Albeit only a teenager, she has made many a powerful speech since, including asking world leaders to stop delivering ‘empty promises’. 

10. Maya Angelou, "On the Pulse of Morning" (1993)

'"Here on the pulse of this new day, you may have the grace to look up and out And into your sister's eyes, Into your brother's face, your country And say simply Very simply With hope Good morning."

Maya Angelou was only the second poet in history to read a poem at a presidential inauguration, and the first African American and woman. Touching upon the themes of change, inclusion and responsibility, it has since been called Angelou's "autobiographical poem".

Maya Angelou was an extraordinarily wise woman . One of her most inspiring quotes to live by? 

"If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude."

11. Ruth Bader Ginsberg, "The Value of Diversity" (2009)

"As you leave here and proceed along life’s paths, try to leave tracks. Use the education you have received to help repair tears in your communities. Take part in efforts to move those communities, your Nation, and our world closer to the conditions needed to ensure the health and well-being of your generation and generations following your own."

Ruth Bader Ginsberg delivered this passionate keynote speech to graduates at Sciences Po in 2009. Nicknamed the 'notorious RBG' for her fighting spirit and tireless pursuit towards equality, in terms of both gender and race, this speech emphasises the importance of 'repairing the tears' in communities and coming together to build a stronger world for the generations after us. 

She explains earlier in the speech: "We will all profit from a more diverse, inclusive society, understanding, accommodating, even celebrating our differences, while pulling together for the common good."

After her passing in 2020, former President of the United States Barack Obama published a statement that read: “She was someone who believed that equal justice under law only had meaning if it applied to every single [individual].”

12. Julia Gillard "Misogyny speech" (2012)

"I rise to oppose the motion moved by the Leader of the Opposition, and in so doing I say to the Leader of the Opposition: I will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man. I will not. The government will not be lectured about sexism and misogyny by this man—not now, not ever.

"I hope the Leader of the Opposition has a piece of paper and he is writing out his resignation, because if he wants to know what misogyny looks like in modern Australia he does not need a motion in the House of Representatives; he needs a mirror. That is what he needs."

In an iconic moment in feminist history, Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard gave an impassioned speech on misogyny that has continued to hold its power to this day. Julia's speech was in response to opposition leader Tony Abbott accusing her of sexism, calling for her to sack Speaker Peter Slipper following an accusation of misogynistic text messages. 

Julia later said of the speech : "After every sexist thing directed at me that I’d bitten my lip on, now I was going to be accused of sexism – the unfairness of that. That anger propelled it.”

13. Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie "We should all be feminists" (2011)

“Why the word feminist? Why not just say you are a believer in human rights, or something like that?” Because that would be dishonest. Feminism is, of course, part of human rights in general - but to choose to use the vague expression human rights is to deny the specific and particular problem of gender. It would be a way of pretending that it was not women who have, for centuries, been excluded. It would be a way of denying that the problem of gender targets women. That the problem was not about being human, but specifically about being a female human. For centuries, the world divided human beings into two groups and then proceeded to exclude and oppress one group. It is only fair that the solution to the problem acknowledge that.”

Award-winning Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s TedTalks is widely regarded as one of the platform’s best-ever speeches. So much so, that it’s been published as a book and translated into 32 languages. 

In the thirty-minute talk address, she argued for women’s rights and inclusivity and drew on her own experiences. Oh, and Beyonce sampled the speech in her song Flawless .

14. Amanda Gorman "The Hill We Climb" (2021)

“We are striving to forge our union with purpose.

To compose a country committed to all cultures, colours, characters, and conditions of man.

And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.”

The first person ever to be named National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman — then only 22 — was catapulted to fame after she performed her poem “The Hill We Climb” at the 2021 inauguration of Joe Biden. Her work addresses sustainability, feminism, racism, and inequality. 

15. Michelle Obama "The 2018 United State of Women Summit" (2018)

“I wish that girls could fail as bad as men do and be OK. Because let me tell you, watching men fail up, it is frustrating. It’s frustrating to see a lot of men blow it and win. And we hold ourselves to these crazy, crazy standards.”

Speaking to Tracee Ellis Ross at the 2018 United State of Women Summit in Los Angeles, Michelle Obama called on the need for girls to be believed in, invested in, and nurtured the way that boys and men are. “If we want our daughters to dream bigger than we did, then we have more work to do,” she said. The speech launched a global petition calling lawmakers to #LeveltheLaw to “empower girls and women around the world”. 

If you're searching for more inspiration on the themes in these speeches, we've rounded up all the best feminist books to add to your reading list and four feminist petitions to sign. 

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The 24 Best Motivational Speeches Our Employees Have Ever Heard

Published: July 19, 2023

It was halftime during one of my 7th-grade football games. And we were losing 14 - 0. With our knees planted in the grass, my team was quietly huddled, drenched in sweat and defeat. Suddenly, it was game over.

That's when our assistant coach burst into our circle and shattered our pity party, delivering one of the best motivational speeches I've heard to this day.

I can't directly quote him because he said some inappropriate things for a blog post (and, in hindsight, probably for a bunch of 13-year-olds too).

The point is he harnessed the power of words to rejuvenate a physically and emotionally drained team. And we came back clawing to win the game.

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Motivational Speech

A motivational speech can come from anywhere or anyone, but it usually has a specific audience in mind.

Whether it's a graduation speech, an all-company meeting, a championship sporting event, or a conference keynote, these speeches are designed to change how their listeners see the challenges facing them in the future.

Like in sports, being motivated at work is crucial for your performance. This rings especially true when you have a looming deadline, an important meeting, or colleagues or customers depending on your performance.

Think about the last time you felt generally unmotivated. What brought you out of that feeling? Sometimes all it takes to get you going is a good night's sleep or witnessing the benefits of your labor.

Still, other times, you might listen to someone say something that resonates with you — that alters how you've been looking at a particular task or problem.

Motivational speeches and speakers can come in all different forms, but this is the one thing they have in common — resonance. They resonate with the right listener at the right time and in the right way.

Who knows, this article is doing some for you right now. (I can dream, can't I?)

We selected 24 of the best motivational speeches from business, sports, entertainment, and other fields to help you stay motivated no matter what your work throws at you. Watch these videos if you want to feel inspired by a project.

Trust me, I was wiping my eyes after I saw them. And while the messages vary from speech to speech, they can put you in the optimal frame of mind for tackling and crushing your next big challenge.

(Disclaimer: Some speeches may contain NSFW language.)

Elon Musk: "The Importance of Never Giving Up" (2020)

Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Al Pacino: "Inch by Inch" (1999)

Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

The Best Motivational Speeches of All Time

1. elon musk: "the importance of never giving up" (2020), theme of speech: perseverance and resilience.

Elon Musk's "The Importance of Never Giving Up" speech about perseverance and determination is decisive.

In this speech, Musk emphasizes failing and learning from failures as keys to success. He recounts his life and career, demonstrating how he overcame challenges.

One key takeaway from Musk's speech is his advice to adopt a growth mindset.

Musk encourages listeners to view setbacks as learning experiences. He also highlights the value of perseverance, persistence, and taking risks.

Elon Musk's word serves as an upbeat reminder that perseverance, patience, and the desire to attempt things repeatedly in the face of difficulty are essential for success.

"If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it."

2. Angela Ahrendts: "Leading with Empathy" (2023)

Theme of the speech: empathetic leadership....

The "Leading with Empathy" talk by Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of emotional intelligence and compassion in leadership.

According to Ahrendts, leaders must view their employees as whole people with lives outside of work. Leaders can instill trust, respect, and mutual support in their employees and organizations.

Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of team mission as well. Leaders can inspire their teams by connecting them to a greater goal.

She believes that working together fosters creativity, innovation, and growth.

"Leading with Empathy" is a powerful reminder that leadership requires more than technical knowledge. To truly inspire and motivate their employees, leaders must understand their emotional needs and create a supportive, inclusive environment.

"Empathy is the glue that holds relationships together, whether they are personal or professional."

3. Arianna Huffington: "The Power of Sleep" (2023)

Theme of the speech: sleep and productivity.

The Huffington Post's founder, Arianna Huffington, emphasized the importance of sleep to overall health. In her 2023 speech, "The Power of Sleep," she discusses how sleep deprivation affects our health, productivity, and happiness.

Huffington observes that we have been taught to sacrifice sleep for success. She also mentions that well-rested employees are more creative, efficient, and effective.

To address these issues, Huffington proposes a cultural shift that recognizes sleep as essential to health and wellness.

She advises individuals and organizations to prioritize sleep, avoid technology before bedtime, and create a restful sleep environment. Sleep, according to Huffington, is a necessity, not a luxury.

By recognizing the importance of sleep, people and businesses can enhance their health, productivity, and general well-being.

Arianna Huffington's "The Power of Sleep" speech in 2023 emphasizes the importance of sleep and the dangers of sleep deprivation.

It promotes a culture where getting enough sleep is essential for health and well-being.

"Sleep is the Swiss Army knife of health, it does everything."

4. Tim Cook: "Inclusion and Diversity" (2023)

Theme of the speech: inclusion and diversity.

Apple CEO Tim Cook advocates for inclusion and diversity. He has been instrumental in the company's initiatives to advance fairness and equality inside its ranks and across the technology sector.

Cook has prioritized diversity and inclusion at Apple because he believes it is proper and necessary for innovation and business success.

Unconscious bias training, diverse recruitment, and employee resource groups contributed to his success.

Outside of Apple, Cook has advocated for LGBTQ+ rights and immigration reform. He has raised awareness of these issues and advocated for social change as a business leader.

Tech leaders and others have lauded Cook's commitment to diversity and inclusion. He has raised awareness of these issues, leading to significant change at Apple and elsewhere.

"Inclusion and diversity are not just buzzwords, they are fundamental values that drive innovation and creativity."

5. J.K. Rowling: “The Fringe Benefits of Failure, and the Importance of Imagination” (2008)

Theme of speech: failure.

In J.K. Rowling's 2008 Harvard commencement speech, the Harry Potter author explored how two phenomena -- failure and imagination -- can be crucial to success.

While failure can help you understand where your true passion lies, and where you should focus your energy moving forward, imagination is what will allow you to empathize with other people so you can use your influence to do good.

“We do not need magic to change the world, we carry all the power we need inside ourselves already: we have the power to imagine better.”

"You have to understand your own personal DNA. Don't do things because I do them or Steve Jobs or Mark Cuban tried it. You need to know your personal brand and stay true to it."

6. Sheryl Sandberg: "Lean In" (2021)

Theme of the speech: gender equality and leadership.

Sheryl Sandberg's 2021 talk, "Lean In," encourages women to lean into their careers and leadership roles. She urges women to stand up for one another and themselves to overcome societal and cultural hurdles.

Sandberg highlights the need to have distinct objectives and goals and be prepared to take calculated risks to achieve them.

She also underlines how crucial it is for more female leaders to advance diversity and gender equality across all industries.

Sandberg's speech also emphasizes collaboration. She urges women to mentor other women and look for sponsors and mentors themselves.

The "Lean In" talk by Sheryl Sandberg emphasizes women's voices and perspectives in all aspects of society.

To remove barriers and foster more inclusive and varied workplaces and communities, Sandberg urges women to pursue their professional ambitions with confidence and with the help of their communities.

"We need women at all levels, including the top, to change the dynamic, reshape the conversation, to make sure women's voices are heard and heeded, not overlooked and ignored."

7. Jim Carrey: Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management (2014)

Theme of speech: taking risks.

Jim Carrey might make a living as the goofiest comedian around, but in 2014, he combined classic Carrey humor with unforgettable insight at Maharishi University of Management's graduation ceremony.

Jim Carrey opened his speech dishing punchlines, but he eventually opened up about his upbringing and the role fear plays in our lives. You can actually hear the amazement in the students' reactions in the video above.

“I learned many great lessons from my father -- not the least of which is that you can fail at what you don't want, so you might as well take a chance on doing what you love.”

8. Steve Jobs: "How to Live Before You Die" (2005)

Theme of speech: life and career.

Considering the YouTube video of Steve Jobs' 2005 Stanford commencement speech has 24 million views, it's likely that you've seen this one already.

In the speech, Jobs plays on two themes: connecting the dots (anecdote: how taking a calligraphy class helped inspire the design of the Mac) and love & loss (anecdote: how getting fired from Apple helped inspire his greatest innovations).

Perhaps the most memorable part his speech comes at the end, when he quotes the (now-famous) lines from the final issue of his favorite publication, The Whole Earth Catalog:

“Stay hungry. Stay foolish.”

9. Matthew McConaughey: "The Pursuit of Happiness" (2022)

Theme of the speech: discovering true happiness and fulfillment in life..

In "The Pursuit of Happiness," famed actor and motivational speaker Matthew McConaughey provides his enlightened viewpoint on obtaining true happiness and fulfillment.

McConaughey presents a genuine and approachable study of what it means to live a fulfilling life through sincere storytelling and personal anecdotes.

The speech discusses the significance of authenticity and remaining true to oneself. McConaughey encourages people to define their success rather than succumb to social pressures or external expectations.

He stresses aligning our behaviors and decisions with our fundamental values and passions.

McConaughey expresses his conviction in the power of thankfulness and the importance of living in the present moment. He encourages people to create a grateful mindset, recognizing the blessings and possibilities surrounding them.

By appreciating the present and finding joy in the journey, individuals can experience more profound happiness and fulfillment.

"Happiness is not a destination. It's a state of mind, a journey, and a choice we make every day."

10. Denzel Washington: "Fall Forward" (2011)

In his 2011 UPenn commencement speech, Denzel Washington highlighted three reasons why we need to embrace failure in order to be successful. First, everybody will fail at something at some point, so you better get used to it.

Second, if you never fail, take that as a sign that you're not really trying. And third, at the end of the day, failure will help you figure out what path you want to be on.

“Fall forward. Here's what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out twenty-six-hundred times in his career — the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs.

Fall forward.

Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that—because #1,001 was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success.”

11. Vera Jones: “But the Blind Can Lead the Blind…” (2016)

Theme of speech: perseverance.

Last year at INBOUND, Vera Jones told a moving story about the life lessons she's learned from raising her blind son.

She explains how having faith in your future and letting it lead you toward your true purpose will help you overcome blinding obstacles.

She also discusses how following your passion and trusting your vision develops empathy, which is a critical leadership skill.

“Passionately play your position no matter how bad things get. You are significant. Why we are here is not for our own glory. Ultimately, we're here to lead and serve everybody else. By doing that, we encourage others to do the same.”

12. Oprah Winfrey: "The Power of Self-Belief" (2020)

Theme of Speech: Self-Belief and Confidence

Oprah Winfrey's 2020 speech "The Power of Self-Belief" emphasized the importance of self-assurance. She attributed her success to her unwavering self-assurance.

According to Oprah, self-belief is not about being arrogant or overconfident. She stresses the significance of overcoming self-doubt and fear, which can prevent people from reaching their goals.

Oprah used personal stories to demonstrate how self-confidence has aided her in life and work. She encouraged her audience to believe in themselves and to embrace their inner strength.

The Power of Self-Belief" reminded us how important it is to have faith in ourselves and our ability to succeed.

"The biggest adventure you can ever take is to live the life of your dreams."

13. Charlie Day: Merrimack College Commencement Speech (2014)

Best known for his role in the sitcom It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia, actor Charlie Day had lots of wisdom to share during the 2014 commencement speech at his alma mater, Merrimack College.

Day explained to the audience how college degrees are inherently valueless, since you can't trade them in for cash. Instead, it's you, your hard work, and the risks you take that provide real value in life.

“You cannot let a fear of failure or a fear of comparison or a fear of judgment stop you from doing the things that will make you great. You cannot succeed without the risk of failure.

You cannot have a voice without the risk of criticism. You cannot love without the risk of loss. You must take these risks.”

14. Brené Brown: "The Power of Vulnerability" (2013)

The video above is an animated excerpt from researcher Brené Brown's speech, " The Power of Vulnerability ." In the speech, Brown explores how our fear of not being good enough (among other fears) drives us to shield ourselves from our own vulnerabilities.

The alternative to wearing this emotional suit of armor: Embrace vulnerability through empathizing with others.

"Empathy is a choice, and it's a vulnerable choice. Because in order to connect with you, I have to connect with something in myself that knows that feeling."

15. Kobe Bryant: “The Path to Greatness" (2020)

Theme of the speech: embracing dedication, perseverance, and a relentless pursuit of greatness..

Bryant emphasizes setting ambitious goals and working tirelessly to achieve them. Through captivating storytelling and personal anecdotes, he reveals the sacrifices and relentless effort required to excel at the highest level.

Bryant's speech is a testament to the power of hard work, discipline, and a growth mindset in attaining greatness.

The speech also explores embracing failure as a stepping stone to success. Bryant shares how setbacks and challenges can fuel personal growth and resilience.

He encourages individuals to embrace failure, learn from it, and use it as motivation to push beyond their limits.

Bryant's speech goes beyond the realm of sports, offering valuable insights and life lessons applicable to all areas of life.

His relentless pursuit of greatness and unwavering commitment to excellence inspires individuals striving to achieve their goals and dreams.

"I have self-doubt. I have insecurity. I have fear of failure. I have nights when I show up at the arena and I'm like, 'My back hurts, my feet hurt, my knees hurt. I don't have it. I just want to chill.'

We all have self-doubt. You don't deny it, but you also don't capitulate to it. You embrace it."

16. David Foster Wallace: "This Is Water" (2005)

From the opening minutes of David Foster Wallace's 2005 Kenyon College commencement speech , in which he questions commencement speech conventions, it's clear that Wallace has some serious wisdom to share.

The crux of his speech: Many of us are oblivious to our own close-mindedness. We picture ourselves as the centers of our own, individual universes, instead of seeing the bigger, more interconnected picture.

“If you're automatically sure that you know what reality is and who and what is really important, if you want to operate on your default setting, then you, like me, probably won't consider possibilities that aren't annoying and miserable.

But if you've really learned how to think, how to pay attention, then you'll know you have other options.

It will actually be within your power to experience a crowded, hot, slow, consumer hell-type situation as not only meaningful, but sacred — on fire with the same force that lit the stars: love, fellowship, the mystical oneness of all things deep down.”

17. Carol Dweck: "The Growth Mindset" (2020)

Theme of the speech: cultivating a growth mindset for personal and professional development..

In "The Growth Mindset," Carol Dweck, a renowned psychologist, and author, delivers an enlightening speech on the power of adopting a growth mindset for personal and professional growth.

Dweck's extensive research on mindset and achievement provides the foundation for her impactful message.

Dweck explains the difference between a fixed mindset, where individuals believe their abilities are fixed traits, and a growth mindset, where individuals believe their abilities can be developed through effort and learning.

She demonstrates how a growth mindset fosters resilience, learning, and innovation through relatable stories and compelling examples.

Dweck's speech resonates with individuals seeking personal and professional development, as she provides insights into how adopting a growth mindset can positively impact all areas of life.

Her research-based approach and engaging speaking style make "The Growth Mindset" an inspiring resource for individuals striving for continuous growth and improvement.

"The passion for stretching yourself and sticking to it, even when it's not going well, is the hallmark of the growth mindset."

Famous Short Speeches With Inspirational Takeaways

18. al pacino: "inch by inch" (1999), theme of speech: teamwork.

Yes, this speech is from a football movie (Any Given Sunday), but trust me: This isn't your stereotypical rah-rah-go-get-'em sports speech. It's deeper than that. It's about life, and loss, and ... gosh darn it just listen to Al Pacino.

He's pouring his soul out!

“Either we heal as a team or we're gonna crumble, inch by inch, play by play, till we're finished. We're in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me.

And we can stay here and get the $&#@ kicked out of us, or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell, one inch at a time.”

19. Satya Nadella: "Empowering Others" (2023)

Theme of the Speech: Empowerment and Collaboration

Satya Nadella's 2023 lecture, "Empowering Others," emphasizes the importance of leadership that empowers others rather than focusing on personal success.

He emphasizes the importance of leaders cultivating a culture of inclusion and belonging in which everyone feels respected and able to accomplish their best work.

Nadella also discusses the significance of technology in positive development. Some of society's most important issues may be resolved by technology, but proper development and application are required.

According to Nadella, empathy and emotional intelligence are essential for outstanding leadership. He suggests that Leaders listen to and understand. their team members' needs and motivations.

Leaders can develop a culture of trust and collaboration that will help the team flourish.

Satya Nadella's "Empowering Others" provides a special message about leadership in the current day. By emphasizing diversity, empathy, and responsible innovation, Nadella encourages audiences to strive for excellence while being mindful of their impact on others and the world.

"Success is not just about what we achieve individually, but what we enable others to achieve."

20. Sylvester Stallone: Speech from Rocky Balboa (2006)

Theme of speech: never give up.

I had to put this one next since it plays along the same themes as Denzel Washington's UPenn speech. In the scene above, from the 2006 film Rocky Balboa, the title character (played by Sylvester Stallone) is having a heart-to-heart with his son.

The advice he gives him: Don't let your failures or the adversity you face slow you down. Keep. Moving. Forward.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows. It's a very mean and nasty place, and I don't care how tough you are, it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.

You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done!”

21. Will Smith: Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)

Theme of speech: don’t let them bring you down.

Here's another speech from the big screen, this time from the 2006 film The Pursuit of Happyness.

In the scene above, Will Smith's character explains to his son why he shouldn't pursue basketball (because he'll end up being "below average") before having a major change of heart.

“Don't ever let somebody tell you ... you can't do something. Not even me. All right? You got a dream. You gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they want to tell you can't do it. If you want something, go get it. Period.”

22. Mel Robbins: "The 5 Second Rule" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Action and Overcoming Self-Doubt

The "The 5 Second Rule" speech by Mel Robbins promotes action to achieve goals and overcome concerns and doubts.

When confronted with a decision or action that needs to be completed but you are hesitating or procrastinating, countdown from 5, and then act. According to Robbins, this method breaks habit loops that keep us unhealthy.

Counting down and taking action may assist us in overcoming uncertainty and self-doubt and moving toward our objectives. For success, Robbins also promotes mentality and self-talk.

She believes that to realize our potential, we must consciously reframe negative thoughts and limiting beliefs.

Mel Robbins' presentation "The 5 Second Rule" is a practical and efficient technique to overcome procrastination and achieve goals.

Robbins inspires listeners to take command of their lives and achieve by emphasizing attitude, self-talk, and positive actions.

"You are never going to feel like doing the things that are tough, difficult, or uncertain, but you have a choice."

23. Angela Duckworth: "The Power of Grit" (2020)

Theme of the Speech: Spirit and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth examines the significance of perseverance and resilience in achievement in her book "The Power of Grit." According to Duckworth, grit—passion and determination—is essential for long-term success and overcoming obstacles.

Duckworth addresses grit and mentality, believing that people who view challenges and setbacks as opportunities for growth rather than threats will develop resilience and determination over time.

She advocates for a growth mindset, which believes people can acquire intelligence and other qualities through hard work. Duckworth places a premium on rigorous practice to achieve skill and mastery.

She recommends soliciting feedback, setting challenging goals, and intentionally improving abilities and succeeding. Angela Duckworth's "The Power of Grit" illuminates long-term achievement.

Duckworth emphasizes attitude, focused practice, and resilience to urge listeners to acquire grit and pursue their passions with tenacity.

"Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality."

24. Kurt Russell: “This is Your Time” (2004)

Theme of speech: inspiring and believing in your team.

The Miracle on Ice is still considered the biggest upset in Olympic hockey history. And for good reason. The Soviet Union won six of the last seven Olympic gold medals, and the U.S. team consisted only of amateur players.

It was obvious the Soviets were better. But, in the movie Miracle, which told the incredible story of the 1980 U.S. Olympic Hockey Team, Kurt Russell's character — Coach Herb Brooks — knew that this game was different.

The U.S. was better than the Soviets that day. And his speech conveyed such a strong belief in his team that they pulled off one of the greatest sports moments of the 20th century.

“If we played 'em ten times, they might win nine. But not this game… Not tonight. Tonight, we skate with them. Tonight, we stay with them. And we shut them down because we can!

Tonight, WE are the greatest hockey team in the world. You were born to be hockey players, every one of you. And you were meant to be here tonight. This is your time.”

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The 6 Most Memorable Commencement Speeches From Business Titans

O n rare occasions, a commencement speaker can jolt graduates to attention with a personal, even uncomfortable truth from their working lives. Here are seven speakers who departed from the usual bromides about “believing in yourself,” and mined their own lives for failure, doubts and blind spots that marked their ascent to the top of their fields.

Jimmy Iovine, University of Southern California, 2013

Music producer Jimmy Iovine observed that the successes he had achieved as a music producer didn’t amount to anything when he made the switch to selling Beats headphones. “So who believed that Dr. Dre and I could sell hardware,” he wondered aloud. “No one,” he answered in a speech that underscored the transient nature of success. “I learned even at 50, I had to be a beginner again.”

“Please remember this: Your diploma does not represent the end of your education, but the beginning of your continuing education,” he added.

Sheryl Sandberg, Barnard College, 2011

Two years before Sheryl Sandberg published Lean In , the Facebook COO was already sewing the seeds of the movement in an address to Barnard’s graduating class.

“Ask a woman why she did well on something, and she’ll say, ‘I got lucky. All of these great people helped me. I worked really hard.’ Ask a man and he’ll say or think, ‘What a dumb question. I’m awesome.’ So women need to take a page from men and own their own success.”

Jeff Bezos, Princeton University, 2010

Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos related a hard bit of advice from his grandfather: “Jeff, one day you’ll understand that it’s harder to be kind than clever.” Bezos warned that the gift of creativity was a double-edged sword that could lead to complacency and worse, a know-it-all attitude, a lesson that he candidly admits he learned the hard way.

“Cleverness is a gift, kindness is a choice. Gifts are easy — they’re given after all. Choices can be hard. You can seduce yourself with your gifts if you’re not careful, and if you do, it’ll probably be to the detriment of your choices.”

Carl Icahn, Drexel University, 2008

Corporate raider Carl Icahn cut through the uplifting sentiments of commencement addresses with a stern assessment of the nation’s business elite, holding up the average American CEO as the precise opposite of a role model.

“With exceptions, we have terrible management in this country,” he said. “The system is dysfunctional. I can tell you how bad our boards are, with exceptions of course. I sit on a lot of boards. I don’t have to watch Saturday Night Live anymore; I just go to the board meetings.”

Bill Gates, Harvard University, 2007

Bill Gates highlighted a blind spot in his education that persisted for decades. “I knew nothing about the millions of people living in unspeakable poverty and disease in developing countries,” he told Harvard’s graduates, recounting how he was stunned when he first encountered the death tolls from curable diseases that had ravaged the world’s poorest communities.

“You have awareness of global inequity, which we did not have. And with that awareness, you likely also have an informed conscience that will torment you if you abandon these people whose lives you could change with very little effort.”

Steve Jobs, Stanford University, 2005

Steve Jobs drew a remarkable connection between a calligraphy course that would shape the future of Apple.

“If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class,” he said, “and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do,”

“So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.”

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TOP 10 MOTIVATIONAL SPEECHES OF ALL-TIME

Motivational speeches are like the nuclear option for leaders. And they are typically a part of every good leaders toolkit. The motivational speech is a powerful tool that can be used to motivate and engage an audience into action and delivering a specific set of results. The motivational speech speaks directly to the hearts and minds people, cutting through the fluff and the inessential, to get right to the heart of the matter.

Having said that, chances are you’re here because you’re either looking for some good material to give your own motivational speech to fellow colleagues and team members. Or, you’re here looking to follow the path of self-leadership, by purposely listening to empowering motivational speeches to galvanize yourself into action. Despite the reason, one thing is for sure, you’re looking for the best motivational speeches of all-time, and you’ll find them here.

So, let’s dive in and see how much we can spur ourselves into action with these powerful motivational speeches:

Note: These motivational speeches are listed in order of lives touched, a.k.a. the amount of views they’ve managed to garner over the years. Our list starts from 10 and counts down to the #1 most watched speech.

10. Les Brown, “It’s Possible”

Year: 2014 – Views: 6.8 million

Setting: Les Brown is a legendary motivator, coach, author, and is considered one of the world’s most renowned motivational speakers. He’s given thousands of speeches all of the world, but this motivational speech is one of his most popular. The date for the video is the publication date of when Les added it to YouTube; however, the speech was likely given years before. That said, here’s one of our favorite quotes from his speech:

“Act on your dream as if your life depends on it. Why? Because it does.” – Les Brown

9. J.K. Rowling, “Harvard Commencement Speech”

Year: 2008 – Views: 7.5 million

Setting: J.K. Rowling is arguably one of the most popular and successful author’s in the world, who’s responsible for the famous book series; ‘Harry Potter’. Rowling gave this speech at a Harvard commencement ceremony on the benefits of failure and the importance of imagination. That said, her speech is still one of the most popular motivational speeches of all-time; which is why it’s made our list. Here’s our favorite quote from her speech:

“Rock bottom became a solid foundation on which I rebuilt my life”. – J.K. Rowling

8. Any Given Sunday, “Inches”

Year: 1999 – Views: 10.1 million

Setting: This “Inches” speech given by Al Pacino in the hit move ‘ Any Given Sunday ‘ is definitely one of the most powerful motivational speeches ever given in movie setting. Sure, there are other speeches in other movies that may give some competition, but this one hits hard, because it deals with more than just sports, it speaks to life.

Having said that, here’s our favorite motivational speech quote:

We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And, we can stay here and get the sh** kicked out of us… or we can fight our way back into the light. We can climb out of hell one inch at a time.” – Coach Tony D’Amato

7. Eric Thomas, “You Owe You”

Year: 2015 – Views: 11.7 million

Setting: Eric Thomas is an extremely popular motivational speaker, author, and educator who’s raw and no-nonsense message about what it takes to succeed in life has helped millions of people all over the world. In fact, this “You Owe You” speech, which he gave in one of his workshops in New Zealand, is his quintessential work. And it’s one of his most love speeches of all-time. Here’s our favorite quote from his speech:

“Become a victor, not a victim” – Eric Thomas

6. Rocky Balboa, “Sunshine and Rainbows”

Year: 2006 – Views: 20 million

Setting: This powerhouse speech is from “Rocky Balboa”, just one of the many great movies created as part of the inspiring Rocky series. Certainly there are other great speeches included in all of the other Rocky movies, but this one in particular is a masterpiece. that said, here’s our favorite line from this short but sweet motivational speech.

“Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it.” – Rocky Balboa

5. Arnold Schwarzenegger, “Rules of Success”

Year: 2009 – Views: 31 million

Setting: Arnold Schwarzenegger’s classic “Rules of Success” speech was given at USC’s 2009 commencement speech. His speech is so popular, that it’s been chopped up and added to countless other motivational montages over the years, which are not included in the 31 million views Tally. That said, it is by far, one of Arnold’s greatest motivational speeches of all-time. Here’s are favorite line from his speech:

“I wanted to become a champion; I was on a mission. So rule number one is, of course, trust yourself, no matter how and what anyone else thinks.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

4. Mel Robbins, “How To Stop Screwing Yourself Over”

Year: 2011 – Views: 31.2 million

Setting: Mel Robbins  is a former lawyer who became a television host, then best-selling author, and now motivational speaker. She’s already sold millions of books, with her most famous being ‘The 5 Second Rule’. That said, this was one of her first motivational speeches which she gave at a Ted Talk, and before she became the success icon that she is today. Our favorite quote from this speech is the following:

“You wouldn’t hang out with people who talk to you the way you talk to yourself.” – Mel Robbins

3. Denzel Washington, ‘Put God First’

Year: 2015 – Views: 34 million

Setting: Denzel Washington is one of the most famous and highly respected actors in the world. With 60 different films under his belt, three Golden Globe Awards, two Academy Awards, and a Tony Award, people want to know what he has to say. So, in 2015 Denzel was invited to give a commencement speech at Dillard University. And it was a speech that would turn out to be one of best motivational speeches of all-time. Here’s our favorite line from his inspiring speech:

“Put God first in everything you do. Everything that you think you see in me. Everything that I’ve accomplished, everything that you think I have – and I have a few things. Everything that I have is by the grace of God. Understand that. It’s a gift.” – Denzel Washington

2. Steve Jobs, ‘Stanford Commencement Speech”

Year: 2005 – Views: 46 million

Setting: Steve Jobs  was the visionary founder and CEO of Apple. He pioneered the personal computer, founded a handful of other companies, and became a multi-billionaire before passing. That said, he was an inspiration to many, and in 2005 he was invited to give a commencement speech at Stanford. It was a speech that would just about break the internet. Here’s our favorite quote form this motivational speech:

“You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something — your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs

1. Admiral William H. McRaven, “Make Your Bed”

Year: 2014 – Views: 51 million

Setting: Admiral William H. McRaven served as the 9th commander of the United States Special Operations Command. In 2014, McRaven gave a commencement speech to UT Austin’s graduating class. His speech would go viral, leading it to become what is now one of the most viewed motivational speeches of all-time. Here’s our favorite quote from this powerful speech:

“If I have learned anything in my time traveling the world, it is the power of hope. The power of one person, a Washington, a Lincoln, King, Mandela, and even a young girl from Pakistan, Malala, one person can change the world by giving people hope.” – Admiral William H. McRaven

Final Thoughts

We hope you enjoyed our collection of what we believe to be (and which are supported by the numbers) the best motivational speeches of all-time. If this collection inspired you, please do us, and the world a favor, and the share the page with somebody. You never know who’s life you could touch or change with a few powerful words.

Till you reach your aims,

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The STRIVE is on a mission to inspire and uplift 1 billion people by 2032. Our primary aim is to help as many people as possible believe in the uncommon thought, that they can be more than they are, do more than they've done, and achieve more prosperity than they've ever dreamed possible. Let's achieve the impossible together.

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TOP 35 QUOTES ABOUT BETTERING YOURSELF

Personal growth is the process of improving yourself over time. It consists of developing new skills, improving your attitude and actions, and it can have a dramatic effect on your over all well-being and outlook on life. In short, bettering yourself is one of the easiest ways to better your life. So, to inspire you to dig deep and put in the time and effort to change your life for the better, we’ve rounded up these handful of bettering yourself quotes.

Use them to remind yourself how important it is to change yourself before you can change your life. That said, if you’re ready to be inspired, let’s dive right into these quotes:

BEST BETTERING YOURSELF QUOTES

1. “The time is now. Stop hitting the snooze button on your life.” – Mel Robbins

2. “Every morning, we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better.” – Alan Bonner

3. “Do not bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself.” – William Faulkner

4. “There’s always room for improvement.” – Joey Logano

5. “Formal education will make you a living; self-education will make you a fortune.” – Jim Rohn

6. “Look within, for within is the wellspring of virtue, which will not cease flowing, if you cease not from digging.” – Marcus Aurelius

7. “By improving yourself, the world is made better. Be not afraid of growing too slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.” – Benjamin Franklin

8. “Be yourself, but always your better self.” – Karl G. Maeser

9. “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” – Frederick Douglass

10. “When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.” – Paulo Coelho

11. “I’m a big believer in growth. Life is not about achievement, it’s about learning and growth, and developing qualities like compassion, patience, perseverance, love, and joy, and so forth.” – Jack Canfield

12. “Ever since I was a child I have had this instinctive urge for expansion and growth. To me, the function and duty of a quality human being is the sincere and honest development of one’s potential.” – Bruce Lee

13. “The greatest discovery of our generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind.” – William James

14. “No matter where you are, no matter what you did, no matter where you’re from, you can always become a better version of yourself.” – Madonna

15. “Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.” – John C. Maxwell

16. “If you always do what you’ve always done, you’ll always be where you’ve always been.” – T.D. Jakes

17. “Unless you try to do something beyond what you have already mastered, you will never grow.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

18. “The goal is not to be perfect by the end. The goal is to be better today.” – Simon Sinek

19. “You’ve got to have rule to live by, and one of mine is always say yes. Put yourself in danger of something amazing happening to you.” – Tom Bilyeu

20. “Always be a work in progress.” – Emily Lillian

21. “Make the most of yourself….for that is all there is of you.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

22. “There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self.” – Ernest Hemingway

23. “With the new day comes new strength and new thoughts.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

24. “You’re either green and growing or you’re ripe and rotting.” – John Addison

25. “We cannot become what we want to be by remaining what we are.” – Max DePree

26. “Man is made or unmade by himself. In the armory of thought he forges the weapons by which he destroys himself. He also fashions the tools with which he builds for himself heavenly mansions of joy, strength and peace. By right choice, and true application of thought, man ascends to divine perfection. By the abuse and wrong application of thought, he descends below the level of the beast.” – William James

27. “If you truly want to become a better you, it is imperative that you learn to feel good about yourself.” – Joel Osteen

28. “No matter how good you get you can always get better, and that’s the exciting part.” – Tiger Woods

29. “If I really want to improve my situation, I can work on the one thing over which I have control – myself.” – Stephen R. Covey

30. “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse.” – Joe Paterno

31. “There is only one corner of the universe you can be certain of improving, and that’s your own self.” – Aldous Huxley

32. “Everyone can rise above their circumstances and achieve success if they are dedicated to and passionate about what they do.” – Nelson Mandela

33. “The swiftest way to triple your success is to double your investment in personal development.” – Robin Sharma

34. “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.”  – Oprah Winfrey

35. “We are products of our past, but we don’t have to be prisoners of it.”  – Rick Warren

Related: Inspiring One Word Quotes

FINAL THOUGHTS

Great job making it to the end of these quotes about bettering yourself. We hope they inspire you to reach for your potential in all that you do.

Remember, if you’re trying to better yourself, you’re further ahead than most. Why? Because most people don’t try to be better, and because the don’t try they rarely hit the mark.

So aim high, reach for the stars, and strive for your potential, and someday you will.

Till you reach those aims,

PS – If you enjoyed these bettering yourself quotes then you may also enjoy these self-growth quotes or even these quotes on progress and growth .

TOP 100 SUCCESS AND MOTIVATIONAL BLOGS FOR 2024

They say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – and that’s why we recommend you check out some of these top motivational blogs daily.

The Official Top 100 Motivational Blogs From Around The World

Why do we recommend such a thing? It’s because we know striving for goals and dream-chasing isn’t easy.  Hustling, grinding, and reaching for our dreams is no walk in the park. 

In fact, just about every person who is striving for a goal or a dream will at some point lose their motivation during their pursuit. Of course you won’t fully lose your motivation, nor will it be forever.

But you’ll have your down days. As such, it is our aim is to minimize such occurrences.  So how do we plan on doing this?

Well, here’s how…

We plan to help you better strive for your potential and reach for your dreams by providing you with a few awesome resources…100 of them actually.  But, these are not just any resources, these are 100 of the most encouraging and motivational blogs from around the world. 

Our hope is that you’ll be able to at least find some of these motivational blogs useful for maintaining your motivation. Certainly you’ll be able to find something within these blogs to stay fired up for consistent achievement throughout the year.

NOTE:  The following list of motivational blogs have been updated recently

We’ve been keeping track of the very best and most popular motivational blogs since 2017. And without fail, we’ve updated this list every year since.

Some of the blogs listed have an inspirational and self-improvement focus, but the common thread among them all is their ability to motivate you to be, do, and have more.  A handful of the motivational blogs listed are quite mainstream, so you may already be aware of them.

However, there are others that are up-and-coming sites that provide immense value, and are highly motivational as well.

“People Often Say That Motivation Doesn’t Last. Well, Neither Does Bathing – That’s Why We Recommend It Daily.” – Zig Ziglar –

What is Motivation?

Before we get into the rankings, let’s briefly discuss what motivation is.  Why?  Because clarity leads to awareness, awareness leads to better decisions, and better decisions leads to better results.

One of our favorite definitions of motivation, is simply, “Motivation is the driving force by which humans achieve their goals.” We like it because it sums up why we all want to be motivated.   We all want to achieve something.

Another great definition of motivation is “Motivation as the state or condition of being motivated or having a strong reason to act or accomplish something.”

Both definitions speak to the fact that most people want to be motivated to achieve.  They both demonstrate that we all wish accomplish those things we’ve made up their minds to do, and know that feeling motivated plays a big part in how much success we find.

How to Use This Resource

To get the most out of this resource, bookmark it.  This way, when , not if , you start to run low on motivation, you’ll have a reliable resource you can easily come back to when you need to find more resources to help you stay motivated.

Start Taking Action on  Your Goals

In a way, you can consider using this page as type of motivational refueling (or recharging) station.   If you start to run low of motivation , just come on back and pick one of the 100 listed motivational sites to help you refuel your empty tank or recharge.

“Without Ambition One Starts Nothing. Without Work One Finishes Nothing. The Prize Will Not Be Sent To You. You Have To Win It.” –  Ralph Waldo Emerson –

Use this motivational resource and stay fired up to win it .

The Ranking

In the past the ranking used for these motivational blogs was acquired by using Alexa rankings; however, Alexa was unplugged last year. As such we’ve employed a different ranking methodology for this year’s list. The rankings below have been determined by the popularity of each site. We’ve compiled an estimated monthly search volume for each site listed using the combined services of Ahrefs, SEMRush, and UberSuggest.

Now, we know traffic doesn’t necessarily convey how “motivational” a blog or site is, but it does demonstrate a level of value that the market and search engines have placed on them, which is why we’ve chosen to use monthly traffic as a ranking factor.

With that being said, the rankings on this resource page may change over the course of the year, as traffic volumes for sites change seasonally.  Also, some of the motivational sites listed may be ranked lower than you’d expect based off your own experience with the brand, but that’s because the site’s listed below do not account for a blogs/brands YouTube traffic and audience.

At the moment, this is the most comprehensive list of motivational blogs on the internet for 2024. So, check each of them out, and allow them to keep you fired up to unleash your potential daily. 

Without further ado, here is your list:

Top Motivational Blogs

Note: The traffic volumes listed above are estimates based off of our research at the time of our rankings. The figures do change from month to month.

Got Motivation?

Want to achieve your goals – but can’t stay motivated long enough to find success?  Then  this is f or you .

Stay Motivated

As students of human potential, we are always looking for ways to improve.  But just like you, we are only human, and some days our fire wanes.  And well, a fire half lit leads to potential half fulfilled. 

As such, we lean on many of these resources to keep us motivated to put forth the effort and enthusiasm necessary to live and work to our potential every single day, and so should you.

The STRIVE  supports big thinking and deep self-belief , and aims to produce as much motivation as possible to get you striving towards your grand ideas, so you can become  all that you were born to be. Our hope is that these top motivational blogs will contribute to your motivation as well, and as a result, to your overall success in life.

Without a doubt, happy, actualized, confident people, fired-up and fearlessly following their dreams are the ones truly set to make this world better.  So, if you found value in this resource, please share it with your friends, family, or colleagues by using the share buttons on the bottom of this page.  You never know what kind of magic a little motivation will create in one’s life.

“It’s Hard To Beat a Person Who Never Gives Up.” – Babe Ruth –

PS – If you enjoyed this list of top motivation blogs, then you’ll absolutely love our list of top inspirational sites .

If you’re seeking out some of the greatest warrior quotes of all-time, then you’ll love this page. However, before we dive into them, consider this fact. There is an animating force within us that we’ve increasingly suppressed over the years. This innate and extremely valuable energy that exists within us all has been ignored, devalued, and diminished with each passing decade.

Unfortunately, this animating force is none other than your fighting warrior spirit. And it’s a fighting spirit that needs to be cultivated, because we all go to battle daily — we battle with internal demons, like our struggles to get motivated, to conquer bad habits, or improve our personal lives — or our external battles, like striving to create a life, business, and career that we can be proud of.

“We Are All Warriors.” – stephen pressfield –

In short, we are all warriors in a sense. And because we are all warriors, it is important to keep our fighting spirit strong. As such, we aim to reignite this heroic quality of yours with these exceptional and highly motivational warrior quotes. We hope these quotes will reanimate that heroic warrior spirit within you, so that you can lean into your challenges. But most importantly, we hope these Warrior Quotes guide, motivate, and better equip you to be victorious over those daily battles you experience in your day-to-day life.

BEST WARRIOR QUOTES AND SAYINGS

1. “Every victorious warrior draws his strength from the highest source; his love.” – Tapan Ghosh

2. “Life’s battles don’t always go to the stronger or faster man, but soon or late the one who wins is the one who thinks he can!” – Walter D. Wintle

3. “There has been a constant war, a war with fear. Those who have the courage to conquer it are made free and those who are conquered by it are made to suffer until they have the courage to defeat it.” – Alexander The Great

4. “In the warrior’s code there’s no surrender, though his body says stop… his spirit cries, never!” – Survivor, Burning Heart

5. “Strategy is the craft of the warrior.” – Miyamoto Musashi

6. “All men are warriors and life for everything in our universe is nothing but war.” –  David Zindell

7. “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.” – Bruce Lee

8. “Warriors want a worthy opponent. There is no redress in fighting the pathetic.” – Donna Lynn Hope

9. “Victorious warriors win first and then go to war, while defeated warriors go to war first and then seek to win.” – Sun Tzu

10. “Courage, above all things, is the first quality of a warrior.” – Karl Von Clausewitz

11. “Let your plans be dark and as impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.” – Sun Tzu

12. “Feel no fear before the multitude of men, do not run in panic, but let each man bear his shield straight toward the fore-fighters, regarding his own life as hateful and holding the dark spirits of death as dear as the radiance of the sun.” – Spartan Proverb

13. “The Spartans do not ask how many are the enemy but where are they.” – Plutarch

14. “We choose whether to be warriors or to be ordinary.” – Carlos Castaneda

15. “ Discipline is your best friend. It will take of you like nothing else can.” – Jocko Willink

16. “Victory are reserved for those warriors who are willing to pay it’s price.” – Sun Tzu

17. “You should reach the limits of virtue before you cross the border of death.” – Aristodemus, Spartan Warrior

18. “A warrior’s greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” – Confucius.

19. “Rise up, warriors, take your stand at one another’s sides, our feet set wide and rooted like oaks in the ground. ‘‘…learn to love death’s ink-black shadow as much as you love the light of dawn. ‘Here is courage, mankind’s finest possession, here is the noblest prize that a young man can endeavor to win.” – Tyrtaeus, Spartan Poet

20. “He who sweats more in training bleeds less in war.” – Spartan Warrior Creed

21. “I am not afraid of an army of lions led by sheep: I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.” – Alexander The Great

22. “To win any battle, you must fight as if you are already dead.” – Miyamoto Musashi

23. “A true warrior fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.” – G.K. Chesterton

24. “You should reach the limits of virtue before you cross the border of death.” – Aristodemus, Spartan Warrior

25. “To hold it together when everyone else would understand if you fell apart, that’s true strength.” – Miyamoto Musashi

26. “A warrior has to believe, otherwise he cannot activate his intent positively.” – Theun Mares

27. “The only reason a warrior is alive is to fight, and the only reason a warrior fights is to win.” – Miyamoto Musashi

28. “Be a warrior, not a worrier.” – Warrior Saying

29. “But if you choose the way of the warrior, living a life of service, it will demand of you the best you have. You may not need to be great, but the world needs your greatness.” – Erwin Raphael McManus

30. “A warrior seeks to act rather than talk.” – Carlos Castaneda

Fearless Warrior Quotes

One attribute that separates a great warrior from the average is their fearlessness. A great warrior knows that being fearless is not about never being afraid, but it’s about feeling the fear, and diving in anyway. With that said, here are some powerful fearless quotes to inspire that fearless warrior that resides within you.

31. “It’s natural to feel fear. All great warriors are afraid. Only the stupid and the delusional are not.” – Rick Riordan

32. “There is nothing outside of yourself that can ever enable you to get better, stronger, richer, quicker, or smarter. Everything is within.” – Miyamoto Musashi

33. “All men die, but not all men really live.” – William Wallace

34. “But where life is more terrible than death, it is then the truest valor to dare to live.” – Inazo Nitobe

35. “The warrior stands, ready to defend, ready to fight for those he serves. He is a warrior of virtue, A knight of conscience. He is who we all wish to be.” – Anthony Hincks

36. “Toil and risk are the price of glory, but it is a great thing to live with courage and die leaving an everlasting fame.” – Alexander The Great

37. “Fear is the first taste of defeat! The Warrior only breathes the air of the brave and Warrior only feasts on the fruit of victory!” – The Ultimate Warrior

38. “Warriors should suffer their pain silently.” – Erin Hunter

39. “A warrior with a cause is the most dangerous soldier of all.” – Michael Scott

40. “There is no greater warrior than a mother protecting her child.” – N.K. Jemisin

41. “You’re a warrior. Warriors don’t give up and they don’t back down. Pick up your sword, your shield, and fight.” – Warrior Quotes

42. “A warrior lives by acting, not by thinking about acting, nor by thinking about what he will think he has finished acting.” – Carlos Castaneda

43. “A warrior never worries about his fear.” – Carlos Castaneda

44. “To be a warrior is to learn to be genuine in every moment of your life.” – Chogyam Trungpa

45. “A warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken.” – Shissai

46. “I do what I do because it is the right thing to do. I am a warrior, and it is the way of the warrior to fight superior odds.” – Paul Watson

47. “The amateur believes he must first overcome his fear; then he can do his work. The professional knows that fear can never be overcome. He knows there is no such thing as a fearless warrior or a dread-free artist.” – Steven Pressfield

48. “Warriors don’t raise to the level of expectations , they fall to the level of their training.” – Archilochu

49. “Any great warrior is also a scholar, and a poet, and an artist.” – Steven Seagal

50. “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time” – Leo Tolstoy

Motivational Warrior Quotes

Life challenges us constantly. And this goal and dream chasing stuff can make our daily battles seem all the more challenging. But the great news is, we got your back. We are here to encourage and push you forward when setbacks come your way.

With that being said, keep digesting these powerful warrior quotes. Each one consumed only strengthens and emboldens that heroic fighting spirit.

51. “The big difference between a warrior and a victim is that the victim represses and the warrior refrains.” – Don Miguel Ruiz

52. “A warrior must believe in his strength of will, of purpose, of heart and soul.” –  David Gemmell

53. “Competition doesn’t scare a true warrior, it makes him better.” – Andrew Whitworth

54. “Come back with your shield, or upon it.”  – Spartan Mother

55. “A fool is ‘happy’ when his cravings are satisfied. A warrior is happy without reason. That’s what makes happiness the ultimate discipline” – Dan Millman

56. “Every great warrior must learn to endure and overcome the adversities of life.” –  Lailah Gifty Akita

57. “One mark of a great soldier is that a great soldier fights on his own terms or fights not at all.” – Sun Tzu

58. “Warriors know when to pick their fights.” – Sara Maa

59. “Surprise is the warrior’s greatest weapon.” – Erin Hunter

60. “The warrior fights with courage not with anger.” – Ashanti Proverb

61. “Fear doesn’t go away. The warrior and the artist live by the same code of necessity, which dictates that the battle must be fought anew every day.” – Steven Pressfield

62. “The wise warrior avoids the battle” – Sun Tzu

63. “Tomorrow’s victory is today’s practice.” – Chris Bradford

64. “Fate whispers to the warrior, ‘You can not withstand the storm.’ The warrior whispers back, ‘I am the storm.'” – Warrior Quote

65. “Defeat exists but not suffering. A true warrior knows that when he loses a battle, he is improving the skill with which he wields a sword. He will be able to fight more skillfully next time.” – Paulo Coelho

66. “A warrior does not give up what he loves, he finds the love in what he does.” – Dan Millman

67. “Some warriors look fierce, but are mild. Some seem timid, but are vicious. Look beyond appearances; position yourself for the advantage.” – Deng Ming-Dao

68. “Silence is the warrior’s art — and meditation is his sword. With it, you’ll cut through your illusions.” – Dan Millman

69. “A cowardly man thinks he will ever live, if warfare he avoids; but old age will give him no peace, though spears may spare him.” – Havamal

70. “Come and take it.” – Leonidas

71. “A warrior must only take care that his spirit is never broken.” – Shissai

72. “Before a battle, planning is everything. Once the fighting has begun, it’s worthless.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

73. “Protecting yourself is self-defense. Protecting others is warriorship.” – Bodhi Sanders

74. “The essence of warriorship, or the essence of human bravery, is refusing to give up on anyone or anything.” – Chogyam Trungpa

75. “When you become fully responsible for your life, you can become fully human; once you become human, you may discover what it means to be a warrior.” – Dan Millman

76. “ God doesn’t give the hardest battles to his toughest soldiers, he creates the toughest soldiers through life’s hardest battles” – Warrior Saying

77. “Weapons may be carried by creatures who are evil, dishonest, violent or lazy. The true warrior is good, gentle and honest. His bravery comes from within himself; he learns to conquer his own fears and misdeeds.” – Brian Jacques

78. “You are a warrior! Built to endure. Able to conquer. Nothing can hold you down.” – Beatrice Garrett

79. “Untroubled, scornful, outrageous – that is how wisdom wants us to be: she is a woman and never loves anyone but a warrior.” – Friedrich Nietzsche

80. “Better to fight and fall than to live without hope .” – Volsunga

Inspirational Warrior Quotes

This next batch of warrior quotes when reflected upon will inspire and encourage you. Read them out loud, embrace them, and then allow them to unleash the courage that resides deep within you.

81 . “In case of doubt, push on just a little further and then keep on pushing.” – George S. Patton

82. “Warriors do not lower themselves to the standards of other people; they live independently; according to their own standards and code of conduct.” – Bohdi Sanders

83. “Some must be warriors, that others may live in peace.” – Mercedes Lackey

84. “We are all warriors.” – Steven Pressfield

85. “The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn’t look like there’s a light at the end of the tunnel, he’s going to keep digging, he’s going to keep trying to do right and make up for what’s gone before, just because that’s who he is.” – Joss Whedon

86. “A true warrior, like tea, shows his strength in hot water.” – Warrior Quotes

87. “Cowards shrink from challenges, weaklings flee from them, but warriors wink at them .” – Matshona Dhliwayo

88. “Out of every one hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are just targets, nine are the real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” – Heraclitus

89. “During times of persistent hardship is when the warrior learns the most about his fortitude.” – Bodhi Sanders

90. “Being a warrior is an attitude!!” – Santosh Kumar

91. “Warriors are not what you think of as warriors. The warrior is not someone who fights, because no on has the right to take another life. The warrior, for us, is on who sacrifices himself for the good of others. His task is to take care of the elderly, the defenseless, those who can not provide for themselves, and above all, the children, the future of humanity.” – Sitting Bull

92. “Of every one-hundred men, ten shouldn’t even be there, eighty are nothing but targets, nine are real fighters, and we are lucky to have them, for they make the battle. Ah, but the one, one of them is a warrior, and he will bring the others back.” – Heraclitus

93. “It is better to die on your feet than to live on your knees.” – Emiliano Zapata

94. “Being a warrior is not about the act of fighting. It’s about being so prepared to face a challenge and believing so strongly in the cause you are fighting for that you refuse to quit.” – Michael J. Asken

95. “A warrior is not a person that carries a gun. The biggest war you ever go through is right between your own ears. It’s in your mind. We’re all going through a war in our mind, and we have to callus our minds to fight that war and to win that war.” – David Goggins

96. “I am a warrior not because I always win but because I will always fight.” – Warrior Quotes

97. “Hard work, dedication, and discipline – these are the keys to becoming a successful martial artist and warrior. Without them, you will never achieve your full potential.” – Khabib Nurmagomedov

98. “The basic difference between an ordinary man and a warrior is that a warrior takes everything as a challenge while an ordinary man takes everything as a blessing or a curse.” – Carlos Castaneda

99. “To be heroic is to be courageous enough to die for something; to be inspirational is to be crazy enough to live a little.” – Criss Jami

100. “Weakness is strong. I must be stronger.” – Jocko Willink

101. “Long is the way and hard, that out of hell leads up to light.” – John Milton

102. “Nothing can resist a human will that will stake its very existence on its purpose.” – Benjamin Disraeli

103. “A responsible Warrior is not someone who takes the weight of the world on his shoulders, but someone who has learned to deal with the challenges of the moment.” – Paulo Coelho

104. “It is not enough to win a war; it is more important to organize the peace.” – Aristotle

105. “I don’t know how I’m going to win, I just know I’m not going to lose.” – Gokham Saki

106. “I will either find a way or make one” – Hannibal

107. “I’ll tell you what bravery really is. Bravery is just determination to do a job that you know has to be done.” – Audie Murphy

108. “A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week.” – George S. Patton

109. “Warriors don’t hide from their fears; they embrace them.” – Brittain Ladd

110. “It’s time to go to war with yourself.” – David Goggins

111. “You cannot expect victory and plan for defeat.” – Joel Olsteen

112. “A man who has nothing which he is willing to fight for, nothing which he cares more about than he does about his personal safety, is a miserable creature who has no chance of being free.” – John Stuart Mill

113. “For glory gives herself only to those who have always dreamed of her.” – Charles De Gualle

114. “What counts is not necessarily the size of the dog in the fight — it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

115. “ Your mind is a battlefield, be its commander, not its soldier.” – Anonymous

116. “I should never have surrendered. I should have fought until I was the last man alive.” – Geronimo

117. “The warrior is always first a servant… The warrior does not serve because they cannot lead; they know that a person cannot lead if they do not serve.” – Erwin Raphael McManus

118. “In war, there is no substitute for victory.” – General Douglas MacArthur

119. “To be prepared for war is one of the most effective means of preserving peace.” – George Washington

120. “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander The Great

121. “An action committed in anger is an action doomed to failure.” – Genghis Khan

122. “If you are a true warrior, competition doesn’t scare you. It makes you better.” – Andrew Whitworth

123. “Generally speaking, the Way of the warrior is resolute acceptance of death.” – Miyamoto Musashi

124. “Be a warrior when it comes to delivering your ambitions. And a saint when it comes to treating people with respect, modeling generosity, and showing up with outright love.” – Robin Sharma

125. “Warrior poets are lovers of truth and lovers of people, and we’re defenders of both.” – John Lovell

126. “Messenger boy: The Thessalonian you’re fighting, he’s the biggest man I’ve ever seen.  I wouldn’t want to fight him. Achilles:  That is why no one will remember your name.” – Troy

127. “I don’t believe a champion is the biggest, baddest, meanest dude in the world. I think the champion is like a warrior; it’s like the head knight or lead samurai: humble men of integrity, respect, and honor that treat people kindly.” – Jon Jones

128. “A true warrior isn’t measured by the size of their strength, but by the strength of their heart.” – Anonymous

129. “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human who led an easy life.” – Teddy Roosevelt

130. “It is better to be a warrior in a garden, than to be a gardener in a war.” – Miyamoto Musashi

131. “The road of life is long and unforgiving, no place for a child.” – Anonymous

132. “Cowards die many times before their deaths, the valiant never taste death but once.” – Julius Caesar

133. “Real men despise battle, but will never run from it.” – George Washington

Bonus Warrior Quote

Bonus: Want to know how to become mightier than the mightiest warrior? If your answer is yes, then you’ll want to heed the insight of this last warrior quote. It is by far one of our favorites, and we stand behind it 100%.

“He Who Conquers Himself Is The Mightiest Warrior.” – Confucius –

There you have it, the most powerful warrior quotes and sayings ever uttered. No doubt, life is a battle. So is work, raising a family, and chasing your dreams, all of it. So, never forget, you are a warrior.

With that being said, we hope these warrior quotes have not only helped you reanimate your fighting spirit, but also reawakened within you the spirit of victory. To get the most out of them, bookmark the page, and come back often. Use them whenever you need a little encouragement as you take on life’s battles head on. Use them to help you WIN !

PS – If you enjoyed these warrior quotes, then you’ll probably love these Spartan Quotes , and you may even enjoy this write up about the warrior mindset and success .

STOP WAITING, START DOING:  100+ QUOTES ABOUT TAKING ACTION

I had a mentor in my younger years who would always tell people about this special poem his father had him memorize while he was growing up.

The father posted this special poem on their fridge so that he and his brother could see the words from this poem every single day before going to school.  You could say it was the father’s way of ensuring his kids realized the importance of taking action and striving to realize their life’s potential.

A Story of Action

This is what the poem read:

“Spring has past, summer has gone and winter is here…. And the song that I was meant to sing…. remains unsung, for I have spent my days stringing and unstringing my instrument.”

That poem was powerful because it was written by a man whose heart was filled with regret over living a life half lived.  It’s was written by a man who was always getting ready to sing the great song of his life, he was always getting ready to start achieving, he was always getting ready to start fulfilling all the possibilities of what his life was meant be…but he got busy being busy.  He didn’t take action, and so his life became a story of inaction.

Unfortunately, far too many people can relate to this poem. Far too many people have already become stuck in a similar cycle of never getting started on “that thing”, be it a dream, a desire, or that goal that really stirs their heart.

The result?

Potential unrealized.  Happiness unrealized.  A great and fulfilling life… unrealized.

If you’re reading this, and you feel like you’ve been waiting on the sidelines of life for far too long, perhaps today is the day you stop stringing and unstringing your instrument .  Perhaps today is the day you stop waiting and start doing .  The day that you decide your story will be a story of action.

Here’s Your Nudge

So is it?  Is today the day you start taking action on all the things you want for you and your life? If you’re not sure, let me nudge you in the right direction. Here are some of the best stop waiting quotes and quotes about taking action. If you’re ready to get off your couch and into action let’s dive right in:

TAKE ACTION QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOU TO STOP WAITING AND START DOING MORE TO MAKE YOUR DREAMS A REALITY

1. “Shallow men believe in luck or in circumstance. Strong men believe in cause and effect.”  –  Ralph Waldo Emerson

2. “Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.” – J. Paul Getty

3. “Do you want to know who you are? Don’t ask. Act! Action will delineate and define you.”  –  Thomas Jefferson

4.  “Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.”  –  Dale Carnegie

5. “If you want to become a multi-millionaire in three years, no matter how much you pray and think positively, it will not happen if you do not take action.” – Robin Sharma

6.    “God provides the wind, but man must raise the sails.” – St. Augustine

7.    “We uncover our nature through action.” – Steven Pressfield

8.  People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.”  –  Lewis Cass

9. “Your doubts create mountains. Your actions move them.”  –  Mel Robbins

10.   “Start small and dream big.” – Robert Kiyosaki

11. “Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear.”  –  Norman Vincent Peale

12. “Small deeds done are better than great deeds planned.”  –  Peter Marshall

13. “You are what you do, not what you say you do.”  –  Carl Jung

14. “When it is obvious that the goals cannot be reached, don’t adjust the goals, adjust the action steps.” –  Confucius

15.  “If you never want to be criticized, for goodness’ sake don’t do anything new.”  –   Jeff Bezos

16. “There is only one proof of ability—action.”   –  Marie Ebner-Eschenbach

17.  “Clarity comes from action, not thought.” – Marie Forleo

18.   “Doing nothing gets you nothing.”  – Sean Reichle

19.   “Work never killed anyone. It’s worry that does the damage. And the worry would disappear if we’d just settle down and do the work.”  –  Earl Nightingale

20  “Action is the foundational key to all success.”  –  Pablo Picasso

22. “Nothing will work unless you do.”  –  Maya Angelou

21. “The only impossible journey is the one you never begin.”  –  Tony Robbins

23.   “The longer you’re not taking action the more money you’re losing” – Carrie Wilkerson

24.  “If you wait until you are ready, as the saying goes, you will wait forever.”  –  Gene Simmons

25. “For every reason it’s not possible, there are hundreds of people who have faced the same circumstances and succeeded.”  –  Jack Canfield

26. “Don’t rest and don’t stop – ever. Most valuable chips you have are your mind-set, actions, persistence, and creativity.” – Grant Cardone

27. “I’m not a person who defends myself very often. I kind of let my actions speak for me.”  –  Tom Brady

28. “Get action. Seize the moment. Man was never intended to become an oyster.” –  Theodore Roosevelt

29. “ Rich people act in spite of fear. Poor people let fear stop them.” – T. Harv Eker

30. “Take action in order to move toward your goals.” – Les Brown

31. “Take action! An inch of movement will bring you closer to your goals than a mile of intention.” – Steve Maraboli

32. “You’ll never plough a field by turning it over in your mind.” – Irish Proverb

33 . “Men of action are favored by the goddess of good luck.” – George S. Clason

34 . “Be not afraid of going slowly. Be afraid only of standing still.”  –  Chinese proverb

35. “One day or day one. It’s your decision.” – Take Action Quote

36. “Thinking will not overcome fear, but action will.” – W. Clement Stone

37. “The greatest wisdom not applied to action and behavior is meaningless data.” – Peter Drucker

38. “Believe. Take action. Have confidence. Be Disciplined .” – Take Action Quotes

39 . “Every action of our lives touches on some chord that will vibrate in eternity.” – E. H. Chapin

40. “I knew that if I failed, I wouldn’t regret that, but the one thing I might regret was not trying” – Jeff Bezos

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

42. “The best way to create a future is to set a goal and take action.” – Debasish Mridha

43. “Don’t wait until you are ready to take action. Instead, take action to be ready.” – Jensen Siaw

44. “You take action based on where you want to be, not based on where you are.” – Terry Crews

45. “It is easy to sit up and take notice. What is difficult is getting up and taking action.” – Honore de Balzac

46. “You don’t have to be great to start, but you do have to start to be great.” – Zig Ziglar

47. “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs

48. “To wish for change will change nothing. To make the decision to take action right now will change everything.” – Nick Vujicic

49. “Our emotions are the motivating kicks in the rear that alert our bodies that it’s time to take action and make a thought a physical reality.” – Jen Sincero

50. “An acre of performance is worth a whole world of promise.” – James Howell

Halfway There

Alright, you are more than halfway through our take action quotes. Be sure to keep reading till the end to fully prime yourself for massive action. Let’s go!

Related: Hustle Quotes to Inspire Action

51. “Action will destroy your procrastination.” – Og Mandino

52. “Insight without action is worthless. Taking action is the only path to change.” – Marie Forleo

53. “The momentum of continuous action fuels motivation, while procrastination kills motivation.” – Steve Pavlina

54. “I never worry about action, but only inaction.” – Winston Churchill

55. “Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.” – Benjamin Disraeli

56. “Words can inspire but only action creates change.” – Simon Sinek

57. “The undertaking of a new action brings new strength.” – Richard L. Evans

58. “Disciplined, consistent, and persistent actions are more of a determining factor in the creation of success than any other combination of things.” –  Grant Cardone

59. “The key to success is action, and the essential in action is perseverance.” – Sun Yat-Sen

60. “Stop waiting, start doing.” – The STRIVE

61. “Actions speak louder than words man.” – Kevin Hart

62. “If you actually get up everyday and you got that action, and you got that energy that’s like ‘I have to go and do this because I’m trying to get here.’ You know everyday you’re working towards that, well you’re going to get there. It may take you longer, some may do it shorter. But,  you’re not going to lose .” – Kevin Hart

63. “If you have ambition, your actions have to match that, and too many people are just like not putting in the work.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

64. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful people keep moving. They make mistakes, but they don’t quit.” – Conrad Hilton

65. “Ambition is the first step to success. The second step is action.” – Mel Robbins

66. “Let your actions do your talking for you.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

67 . “Take big, audacious action in the direction of your dreams and do not let the fact that you’re wetting your pants stop you.” – Jen Sincero

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

69. “What really distinguishes this generation in all countries from earlier generations … is its determination to act, its joy in action, the assurance of being able to change things by one’s own efforts.” – Hannah Arendt

70. “Well done is better than well said.”  –  Benjamin Franklin

71. “It doesn’t matter how many times you fail. You only have to be right once and then everyone can tell you that you are an overnight success.” – Mark Cuban

72. “The only difference between success and failure is the ability to take action.” – Alexander Graham Bell

73. “Knowledge without action cost money .” – David Bach

74. “Stop thinking, stop pondering, stop strategizing, stop debating. go do.” – Gary Vaynerchuk

75. “Action is the antidote to despair.” – Joan Baez

76. “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

77. “Take action: If you win , you will be happy, if you lose, you will be wise.” – The STRIVE

78. “A superior man is modest in his speech, but exceeds in his actions.” – Confucius

79. “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” – Lao Tzu

80. “Action is the bridge between your dreams and its fulfillment.” – Nathan Lee Morales

81. “All our dreams can come true, if we have the courage to pursue them.” – Walt Disney

82. “We all have the same 24 hours a day. You ever stop to think about that? But how we use that 24 hours makes the difference between success and failure.” – Mary Kay Ash

83. “Twenty years from now you’ll be more disappointed by the things you did not do than the ones you did.” – Mark Twain

84. “It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult.” – Seneca

85. “Do not follow where the path may lead. Go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

86. “Do it now. Sometimes ‘later’ becomes ‘never.'” – Anonymous

87. “If we seek for the best times to act, we may miss some opportunities. We must seize the moment and make it great.” – Orly Wahba

88. “Do something now. If not you, who? If not here, where? If not now, when?” – Theodore Roosevelt

89. “There is nothing impossible to him who will try.” – Alexander The Great

90. “The path to success is to take massive determined action.”  –  Tony Robbins

91. “Ask yourself if what you’re doing today is getting you closer to where you want to be tomorrow.” – Anonymous

92. “You can’t build a reputation on what you are going to do.” – Henry Ford

93. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

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

95. “The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity.” – Amelia Earhart

96. “The Universe doesn’t give you what you ask for with your thoughts; it gives you what you demand with your actions.” – Dr. Steve Maraboli

97 . “The perils of overwork are slight compared to the dangers of inactivity.” – Thomas Edison

98. “If one advances confidently in the direction of one’s dreams, and endeavors to live the life which one has imagined, one will meet with a success unexpected in common hours.” – Henry David Thoreau

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

100. “Go for it now. The future is promised to no one.” – Wayne Dyer

101. “Either you make a mark on the world, or the world will make a mark on you.” – Paulo Coelho

102. “Dream big, start small, but most of all, start.”  –  Simon Sinek

Related: Seize Your Moment Quotes

Bonus Take Action Quote

Bonus Quote: This is our last and final quote on taking action. If there is any quote you remember from this page, it should be this one. Read it, embrace it, live it!

“Whatever You Can Do, Or Dream You Can, Begin It. Boldness Has Genius, Power, And Magic In It.” – johann wolfgang von goethe –

Stop Waiting, Start Doing

Today is the day my friend.  No more excuses , no more wasting time, no more putting off your dreams till tomorrow.

Leverage these take action quotes to stop waiting and start doing.  You got this!  Now go take some action today!

Till next time,

PS – If you enjoyed these take action quotes, then you’ll love these encouraging quotes to help you follow through on your dreams .

Success and achievement are so much easier to reach when you have momentum. Unlike motivation, momentum is an action, and can be kept regardless of how we feel. With momentum, progress comes much more readily. However, without it, our progress and the likelihood of achieving our goals quickly fades. So, to help you jumpstart the momentum in your life, and inspire you to keep pushing forward, we’ve decided to publish some of the best quotes on momentum.

Our hope is that these momentum quotes will keep you on track to push through those slumps that would normally get you off track of your goals and aspirations. So, if you’re ready to dive into these inspiring quotes about momentum, let’s get to it:

BEST QUOTES ABOUT MOMENTUM FOR SUCCESS AND ACHIEVEMENT

1. “People who succeed have momentum. The more they succeed, the more they want to succeed, and the more they find a way to succeed.” – Tony Robbins

2. “It’s not about speed, it’s about momentum.” – Anonymous

3. “Momentum is whatever your attitude determines it to be.” – Lou Holtz

4. “Never confuse motion with action.” – Benjamin Franklin

5. “Keep moving ahead because action creates momentum, which in turn creates unanticipated opportunities.” – Nick Vujicic

6. “Each morning we are born again. What we do today is what matters most.” – Buddha

7. “Success is like a snowball… You gotta get it moving and the more you roll it in the right direction the greater it gets.” – Steve Ferrante”

8. “The rhythm of daily action aligned with your goals creates the momentum that separates dreamers from super-achievers .” – Darren Hardy

9. “The momentum of continuous action fuels motivation, while procrastination kills motivation.” – Steve Pavlina

10. “Just keep going. Everybody gets better if they keep at it.” – Ted Williams

Momentum Motivation Quotes

The section above consisted of our top 10 momentum quotes, but this next section is the by far the most motivational momentum quotes we’ve come across. Leverage these momentum motivation quotes if you’re looking for a good nudge to start taking action.

11. “The law of momentum: An object in motion will stay in motion until it meets a resisting force. Keep pushing forward.” – Momentum Quote

12. “Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.” – Arthur Ashe

13. “Don’t watch the clock; do what it does. Keep going.” – Sam Levenson

14. “Excitement must lead to immediate action or you will lose the power of momentum. More dreams die because we fail to seize the moment. Do it now!” – Tony Robbins

15. “Momentum demands movement.” – Anonymous

16. “One way to keep momentum going is to have constantly greater goals.” – Michael Korda

17. “One play can change your momentum forever.” – Sherman Alexie

18. “Daily action, is how momentum is built. Add vision, goals and learning to your doing, and you will be unstoppable.” – Devani Alderson

19. “Most of life is routine – dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going. If you wait for inspiration you’ll be standing on the corner after the parade is a mile down the street.” – Ben Nicholas

20. “It does not matter how slow you go, so long as you do not stop.” – Confucius

21. “Motivation is knowing you are learning, growing, and succeeding toward your desired outcome while sustaining positive momentum.” – Jaren L. Davis

22. “If you have time to judge other people, you have way too much time on your hands. Get off your ass and do something meaningful.” – Shane Gibson

23. “The most effective way to do it, is to do it.” – Amelia Earhart

24. “Always work hard. Intensity clarifies. It creates not only momentum, but also the pressure you need to feel either friction, or fulfillment.” – Marcus Buckingham

25. “Momentum solves 80% of your problems.” – John C. Maxwell

26. “Let fear give you the momentum to move forward — not hold you back.” – Richard Branson

27. “Sometimes being pushed to the wall gives you the momentum necessary to get over it!” – Peter de Jager

28. ‘When you find yourself in the thickness of pursuing a goal or dream, stop only to rest. Momentum builds success.” – Suzy Kassem

29. “Always get up and keep moving forward… It may be slow but it is still progress.” – Diana Morrow

30. “If we fail to adapt, we fail to move forward.” – John Wooden

Inspiring Positive Momentum Quotes

If you’re looking for some inspiring positive momentum quotes then this collection is for you. Every quote curated for this section is meant to inspire you to strive to make momentum a positive habit you embrace. Enjoy.

31. “A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” – Winston Churchill

32. “The momentum of the mind can be vexingly, involuntarily capricious.” – Gregory Maguire

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

34. “I just wanna build momentum again. Keeping yourself in work is one thing, keeping yourself in good work’s is another. But if it doesn’t work out, so be it. As the Taoists say, learn to accept that which you cannot change.” – Ian Hart

35. “Choose to believe something good can happen. Expecting it to happen energizes your goal and actually gives it momentum.” – Nikita Koloff

36. “People with momentum can get so much done. Momentum is easy to lose and almost impossible to fake.” – Shaun King

37. “Once you believe that what you’re setting out to do will be worth the effort , dedication and sacrifice that you’re about to put in, you’ve already taken the first step in creating momentum.” – Amanda Rider

38. “Momentum? Momentum is the next day’s starting pitcher.” – Earl Weaver

39. “Momentum in success does not mean just moving.” – Ryan Hicks

40. “Commitment is the ignitor of momentum.” – Peg Wood

41. “With momentum, you can literally do anything. Momentum is the energy that takes a few small steps and turns the results into something you could never see coming.” – Tim Denning

42. “Get momentum on your side and your life won’t look the same.” – Benny Hsu

43. “The act of building momentum is pretty much a stepping stone to real change: creating a new habit.” – Aly Juma

44. “To stay present in everyday life, it helps to be deeply rooted within yourself; otherwise, the mind, which has incredible momentum, will drag you along like a wild river.” – Eckhart Tolle

45. “For any movement to gain momentum, it must start with a small action.” – Adam Braun

46. “It’s the same with success and failure. There’s always the momentum thing, but you just have to put whatever happened in the past behind you.” – Ben Stokes

47. “Build confidence and momentum with each good decision you make from here on out and choose to be inspired.” – Joe Rogan

48. “Momentum is essentially the force created by a moving object. You likely heard about this concept in your high school physics class, but momentum goes far beyond the laws of motion. Momentum, when applied to ideas of motivation, enables you to start thinking clearly, see that your goals are reachable, and find a sense of purpose , power, and direction. Learning how to build momentum is, therefore, one of the first steps to finding success in life.” – Brendan Baker

49. “Momentum crushes any creative resistance you have, eliminates the need to be motivated and helps you in invisible ways you can’t even see.” – Tim Denning

50. “Momentum begets momentum, and the best way to start is to start.” – Gil Penchina

Keep Up The Momentum Quotes

Momentum is all about keeping things moving in the right direction, and these keep up the momentum quotes should definitely assist you in doing just that. So, leverage these quotes to keep yourself encouraged and inspired to keep up the momentum in whatever endeavor you’re undertaking at the moment. Keep to it!

51. “If you want to achieve the greatest success life has to offer, you need to make a habit of building unstoppable momentum.” – Anthony Moore

52. “You must tell yourself, “No matter how hard it is, or how hard it gets, I’m going to make it.” – Les Brown

53. “The moment you want to quit, is the moment when you need to keep pushing.” – Anonymous

54. “You have to believe in yourself and keep up the momentum when no one else does — that makes you a winner right there.” – Venis Williams

55. “Sometimes thinking too much can destroy your momentum.” – Tom Watson

56. “Forward momentum. That’s my new motto. No regrets. And no going back.” – Gayle Forman

57. “Just keep going like crazy and look back when it’s over. Otherwise you just get confused.” – Cliff Burton

58. “Almost any decision is better than no decision – just keep moving.” – Danielle LaPorte

59. “It takes a leader to create the momentum, it takes a vision to direct the momentum, it takes a massive action to build on the momentum, and it takes self-discipline to sustain the momentum.” – Farshad Asl

60. “Success seems to be connected with action. Successful men keep moving.” – Conrad Hilton

61. “Most of life is routine – dull and grubby, but routine is the momentum that keeps a man going.” – Ben Nicholas

62. “Momentum helps build positive thinking and energy to help you progress towards your goals.” – Brendan Baker

63. “The key to building up your momentum is to get yourself involved in the progress. When you take action and make progress, you are in the cycle. The momentum will come and you will want to do more.” – Shawn Lim

64. “Keep pushing. You’re making more progress than you know and it will all be worth it in the end.” – Atlas Rowe

65. “You get some momentum going, get the adrenaline flowing and anything can happen.” – Frank Permuy

66. “When you turn 60, the key is to not stop moving. Once you start to stop moving, you rust. You got to just keep going.” – Christie Brinkley

67. “It’s very simple; just look at your life to see where you’re heading. You’re always in a momentum of something.” – Maria Erving

68. “The world is wide, and I will not waste my life in friction when it could be turned into momentum.” – Frances Willard

69. “Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success.” – Henry Ford

70. “Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” – Jim Rohn

Quotes About Momentum For Entrepreneurs, Businesses, and Success

This final batch consists of quotes about momentum for business, entrepreneurs, and success in general. So, if you’re an entrepreneur, a business owner, or someone who is currently doing some dream chasing, then you’ll appreciate these momentum quotes for the ambitious.

71. “Momentum is really a leader’s best friend. Sometimes it’s the only difference between winning and losing.” – John C. Maxwell

72. “Develop and maintain momentum by working continuously toward your sales goals every day.” – Brian Tracy

73. “Consciousness is only possible through change; change is only possible through movement.” – Aldous Huxley

74. “Consistency is the key to achieving and maintaining momentum.” – Darren Hardy

75. “The one great element in continuing the success of an offensive is maintaining the momentum.” – George C. Marshall

76. “The most important thing you can do to achieve your goals is to make sure that as soon as you set them, you immediately begin to create momentum.” – Tony Robbins

77. “Without momentum, you can’t triple and quadruple your business.” – Dean Graziosi

78. “I want to measure momentum as much as I want to measure accomplishment.” – Simon Sinek

79. “In my own personal life and in my business I am looking for new ways to understand and measure momentum.” – Simon Sinek

80. “Everything in life needs attention, and if you don’t give it attention, you lose it.” – Patrick Bet-David

81. “Be more intentional about the attention that you’re giving to different aspects of your life that are important to you and you will not lose momentum. But if you take attention off, be prepared to lose momentum in that part of your life.” – Patrick Bet-David

82. “Momentum is key to any business’s success and can often be elusive, which is why it is so important to know how to build a momentum model.” – Ken Gosnell

83. “To achieve the life you want to live requires momentum to be in your favor.” – Patrick Bet-David

84. “What separates the achievers from the couch potato? Momentum. It’s something every successful person or business possesses.” – Benny Hsu

85. “If you have the guts to keep making mistakes, your wisdom and intelligence leap forward with huge momentum.” – Holly Near

86. “If you just do one thing everyday in the pursuit of the growth of your business you’re going to find yourself in a new rhythm, you’re going to find yourself in a position of developing some momentum.” – Eric Worre

87. “One overlooked ingredient to successful organizations and leaders is the ability to create and sustain momentum.” – Ken Gosnell

88. “In an economy that already has lost some momentum, one must remain alert to the possibility of weakening asset values in financial markets.” – Alan Greenspan

89. “The number one reason why so many entrepreneurs lose momentum is because of start/stop.” – Patrick Bet-David

90. “While a good leader sustains momentum, a great leader increases it.” – John C. Maxwell

91. “When you have momentum in business, everything seems to roll forward, stuff gets done, things happen, employees are proactive, customers are happy and extraordinary results are produced.” – Benard Mokua

92. “Success requires first expending ten units of effort to produce one unit of results. Your momentum will then produce ten units of results with each unit of effort.” – Charles J. Givens

93. “Over time, the momentum of your consistency creates the friction needed for progress against the gravity of inertia.” – LeAura Alderson

94. “Always keep momentum, it’s this prime directive for managing a startup.” – Sam Altman

95. “Movement is the prerequisite for growth, growth is the prerequisite for velocity, velocity is the prerequisite for momentum, so get moving.” – Holly L

96. “I will go anywhere as long as it is forward.” – David Livingston

97. “The engine of your business isn’t you, your product, nor your stellar supply chain– it’s the momentum you have. The only true job of a leader is to inspire momentum in their teams and then ensure this movement is heading in the right direction.” – Raj Jana

98. “Momentum builds slow with hard work. But, lousy leaders let the steam out quickly. Of all the things you do, make building momentum a priority.” – Dan Rockwell

99. “Want to know how to build momentum in your business? Well, the key is consistent effort. When you take action day after day despite not seeing results, that work will pay off for you.” – Dan Holstein

100. “ Execution  is the foundation for momentum.” – Tony Jeary

101. “Every knock is a boost.” – Elbert Hubbard

102. “Fear isn’t an excuse to come to a standstill. It’s the impetus to stand up and strike.” – Arthur Ashe

103. “Good work has a snowball effect , it keeps leading to more good work.” – Richa Chadha

104. “One positive step can put an end to negative momentum. Now is when you can take it.” – Ralph Marston

105. “Our future is only limited by our commitment to keep the momentum going.” – Anne Sweeney

Bonus Quote on Momentum

Bonus: Here is our last quote on momentum. We believe it summarizes how and why of momentum the best. So, observe closely and apply generously.

“Effort Creates Action, Action Creates Momentum, Momentum Creates Success.” – DWAYNE ‘THE ROCK” JOHNSON –

We hope you enjoyed our collection of Momentum Quotes. If you found any that inspired you in any way, please consider sharing it with someone who could use a good reminder on the power of momentum.

With that said, don’t hesitate to leverage these quotes yourself whenever you feel like you need a little push to keep your own momentum going.

PS – If you enjoyed these momentum quotes, then you’ll probably enjoy these inspiring quotes on progress and growth , as well as these motivational quotes on never giving up .

50+ MONDAY GRIND QUOTES TO HELP YOU SMASH THROUGH PROCRASTINATION

Monday mornings can be hard, even for the best of us. The very thought of getting on with the new week can feel like a long arduous journey up a mountain must first be maid, but with an elephant tied to our backs. It’s a feeling we all experience, but successful people know how to smash through those feelings and get their grind on regardless of how they feel. And that’s exactly what we want to help you do with these Monday grind quotes.

“Either You Run The Day Or The Day Runs You.”

So, if you’re looking for some powerful words to help you start your week off right, then you’ll love these Monday Grind quotes. If you’re ready for that nudge, let’s dive in:

TOP MOTIVATIONAL QUOTES FOR THE MONDAY GRIND

1. “Monday, I grind. Tuesday, I grind. Wednesday, I grind. Thursday, I grind. Friday, I grind. Saturday, I grind. Sunday, I grind. And, that’s why I’m here today.” – Eric Thomas

2. “New week. Focus more. smile more. And grind harder.” – Anonymous

3. “Monday is another day to be KILLING IT.” – Monday Grind Quote

4. “It’s Monday, and the grind continues.” – Anonymous

5. “There are many opportunities in every single day, and Monday is the perfect day to seize them all.” – Isabella Koldras

6. “Without ambition one starts nothing. Without work one finishes nothing. The prize will not be sent to you, you will have to WIN IT.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson

7. “Some people want it to happen, some people wish it would happen, others make it happen.” Michael Jordan

8. “Grind while they sleep, learn while they party, live like they dream.” – Anonymous

9. “It is only through labor and painful effort , by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.”  –  Teddy Roosevelt

10. “Monday is for people with a mission.” – Cristina Imre

11. “If you want this week to be better than last week, push harder today.” – The Strive

12. “You can’t expect to succeed if you only put in work on the days you feel like it.” – Monday Grind Quotes

13. “Talk less, GRIND more.”  –  Atlas Rowe

14. “Only I can change my life, no one can do it for me.” – Carol Burnett

15. “The past is gone. Today is full of possibilities.” – Karen Casey

16. “Grind in silence and let your achievements make the noise.” – Anonymous

17. “Every morning starts a new page in your morning. Make it a great one today.” – Doe Zantamanta

18. “Some people dream of success while others wake up and work hard at it.”  –  Napoleon Hill

19. “My entire life can be summed up in four word: I hustled. I conquered. ” – Anonymous

20. “All I know is grind.” – Ray Lewis

21. “You can’t have a million-dollar dream with a minimum-wage work ethic.”  –  Stephen C. Hogan

22. “It takes time, it’s a grind. There are no shortcuts. You have to grind and grind.” – Mark Cuban

23. “I SEE. I WANT. I GRIND. I GET.” – Monday Grind Quote

24 . “The world is yours and everything in it, it’s out there – Get on your grind and get it.” – Young Jeezy

25. “Good things happen to those who hustle.” – Anais Nin

We know the right motivational quote can inspire just about anyone into action, even on Mondays. So, if you are still dragging those feet, procrastinating, or lacking the fire to get moving, then keep pouring on these Monday Grind quotes.

Let’s go!!!

Related: Monday Motivation Quotes

26. “Don’t wish things were easier. Wish you were better.” – Jim Rohn

27. “Invest in your dreams. Grind now. Shine later.” – Monday Grind Quote

28. What I lack in talent, I compensate with my willingness to grind it out. That’s the secret of my life. – Guy Kawasaki

29. “Don’t stay in bed unless you can make money in bed.” – George Burns

30. “Formula for success: rise early, work hard, strike oil.”  –  J. Paul Getty

31. “I am grinding while your sleeping.”  –  Gary Vaynerchuk

32. “Success isn’t owned. It’s leased, and rent is due every day.”  –  J. J. Watt

33. “G + R + I + N + D = Get Ready It’s a New Day.” – The Strive

34. “Success is not for the lazy.” – Anonymous

35. “All the money you could want is out there. All you have to do is go after it.” – Curtis Carlson

36 . “You competition doesn’t care that it’s Monday, they are up and they are grinding.” – The Strive

37 . “You can’t cheat the grind, it knows how much you have invested. It wont give you anything you haven’t worked for.” – Eric Thomas

38. “If you can’t stop thinking about it, don’t stop working on it.” – Michael Jordan

39. “Today is your opportunity to build the tomorrow you want.” – Ken Poirot

40. “Hey, I know it’s a Monday. But it’s also a new day and a new week. And in that lies a new opportunity for something special to happen.” – Michael Ely

41. “If Joan of Arc could turn the tide of an entire war before her 18th birthday, you can get out of bed.” – E. Jean Carroll

42. “Believe on Monday the way you believe on Sunday.” Rita Schiano

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

44. ” Rise up and attack the day with enthusiasm” – Saikat Roy

45. “Vision without execution is hallucination.” – Thomas Edison

46. “Don’t whine for it, grind for it.” – Chanda Temple

47. “Success requires a positive mind and a steady grind.” – Grind Quote

48. “Everybody wants to be famous, but nobody wants to do the work. I live by that. You grind hard so you can play hard. At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and eventually it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off.” – Kevin Hart

49. “Success is what comes after your stop making excuses.” – Luis Galarza

50. “Action will destroy your procrastination.” – Og Mandino

51. “Do what you have to do until you can do what you want to do.” – Oprah Winfrey

52. “No grind, no grit, no greatness.” – Anonymous

53. “If you want to shine, you’ve got to grind.” – The STRIVE

54. “Surround yourself with people who dream bigger than you do.” – Jay Cutler

55. “Comfort is the enemy of progress.” – P.T. Barnum

Bonus Grind Quote

Bonus: Here’s one last Monday Grind quote to motivate you, encourage you, and push you into action.

“Greatness only comes before GRIND in the dictionary.” – The Strive

There you have it, the best quotes for finding that Monday grind motivation we all want and seek on those Monday’s that seem just a tad bit grueling. Now that you’ve gone through all the quotes, we hope any feelings you may have had to stall or procrastinate have vanished.

Remember, nothing comes easily, but if you’re willing to grind on the days you don’t feel like it (like Mondays), and push yourself into taking massive action, you can and will achieve amazing things.

With that being said, if you enjoyed this page please consider bookmarking it or sharing it. And if there were any individual Monday morning motivation quotes that really helped you smash through your procrastination, share the love. Keep grinding, and…..

PS – If you enjoyed these Monday grind quotes, then you’ll love these equally motivating quotes:

• Hustle Quotes
• Work Ethic Quotes
• Grind Quotes

There’s one premise that all our efforts are based off of here at The STRIVE, and it’s that hard work pays off. We believe that going the extra mile, putting in the effort, working late nights, and grinding in those early waking hours all adds up. We believe it, because it does, and because we’ve observed this to be true in just about every success story we’ve studied.

So, to keep you inspired and faithful to the fact that hard work and maximum effort brings positive results, we’ve rounded up these powerful hard work pays off quotes. May they help you stick to the spirit that has helped created countless millionaires, success icons, pros, and superstars across the ages.

BEST HARD WORK PAYS OFF QUOTES

1. “At the end of the day, you put all the work in, and eventually it’ll pay off. It could be in a year, it could be in 30 years. Eventually, your hard work will pay off.” – Kevin Hart

2. “Hard work pays off — hard work beats talent any day, but if you’re talented and work hard, it’s hard to beat.” – Robert Griffin III

3. “Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” – Colin Powell

4. “Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.” – Tim Notke

5. “Hard work pays off if you’re patient enough to see it through.” – Michael Chandler

6. “The harder you work for something, the greater you’ll feel when you achieve it.” – Anonymous

7. “Your hard work might not pay off today or tomorrow, but it will eventually pay off.” – Sonya Parker

8. “ Self-belief and hard work will always earn you success.” – Virat Kohil

9. “I know you’ve heard it a thousand times before. But it’s true — hard work pays off. If you want to be good, you have to practice, practice. If you don’t love something, then don’t do it.” – Ray Bradbury

10. “Hard work and determination equals success. Nothing comes easy. Put your mind to something.” – Kevin Hart

11. “Hard work pays off. The harder you work, the more people will notice.” – Sydney Sweeney

12. “The hard work definitely paid off and hard work always does.” – Gabby Douglas

13. “Hard word pays off later, laziness pays off now.’ – Anonymous

14. “The price of success: hard work, patience, and a few sacrifices.” – Edward Bok

15. “The only thing that overcomes hard luck is hard work.” – Harry Golden

16. “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.” – Kevin Durant

17. “There is no easy way. There is only hard work, late nights, early mornings, practice, rehearsal, repetition, study, sweat, blood, toil, frustration, and discipline.” – Jocko Willink

18. “Hard work always pays off, whatever you do.” – Justin Lynch

19. “I always remind my kids that hard work pays off. That’s how I go to where I am right now because of sacrifice and the work I put into it.” – Dwayne Wade

20. “Hard work pays the best dividends.” – Atlas Rowe

21. “A dream does not become reality through magic; it takes sweat, determination, and hard work.” – Colin Powell

22. “Hard work opens doors and shows the world that you are serious about being one of those rare – and special – human beings who use the fullness of their talents to do their very best.” – Robin Sharma

23. “Hard work pays off in the future but requires discomfort now. Laziness pays off now but guarantees discomfort in the future.” – Hal Elrod

24. “The road to success  is not easy to navigate, but with hard work, drive and passion, it’s possible to achieve the American dream.” – Tommy Hilfiger

25. “Work hard in silence, let success be your noise.” – Frank Ocean

26. “We are all great. No matter if you think you’re dumb, fat, been bullied, we all have greatness. You gotta find the courage. It’s going to be hard work, discipline, and the non-cognitive skills — hard work, dedication, sacrifice — that will set you apart. – David Goggins

27. “All roads that lead to success have to pass through hard work boulevard at some point.” – Eric Thomas

28. “Through hard work, perseverance and a faith in God , you can live your dreams.” – Ben Carson

29. “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” – Pele

30. “Hard work works!” – Denzel Washington

31. “Product outweighs talent.’ – Master P

32. “With hard work and effort, you can achieve anything.” – Antoine Griezmann

33. “Great things come from hard work and perseverance.  No excuses. ” – Kobe Bryant

34. “If you do the work you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.” – Michael Jordan

35. “Luck doesn’t exist, only hard work works.” – Serge Nubret

36. “If you believe hard work pays, and put in the time and effort that goes along with such a belief, success will surely follow.” – The STRIVE

37. “Nobody has the power to change the past, but we all have the power to change our future. Hard work pays off!” – Master P

38. “When you are willing to replace mundane excuses with hard work and your laziness with determination, nothing can prevent you from succeeding.” – Prem Jagyasi

39. “Hard work is the price we must pay for success.  I think you can accomplish anything if you’re willing to pay the price.” – Vince Lombardi

40. “Hard work creates champions .” – The STRIVE

41. “The road to success and greatness is always paved with consistent hard work.” – Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson

42. “A lot of hard work is hidden behind nice things.” – Ralph Lauren

43. “Without hard work, nothing grows but weeds” – .Gordon B. Hinckley

44. “Preparation for tomorrow is hard work today.” – Bruce Lee

45. “Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.” – Conan O’Brien

46. “I strongly believe if you work hard, whatever you want, it will come to you.” – Beyoncé

47. “Plans are only good intentions unless they immediately degenerate into hard work.” – Peter Drucker

48. “Hard work increases the probability of serendipity.” – Ken Poirot

49. “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” – Steve Jobs

50. “Chop your own wood and it will warm you twice.” – Henry Ford

51. “It takes many years to become an overnight success.” – Frank Sonnenburg

52. “People often ask me if I know the secret of success and if I could tell others how to make their dreams come true. My answer is, you do it by working.” – Walt Disney

53. “The common denominator for success is work.” – John D. Rockefeller

54.  “Work your ass off, there is no magic pill.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

55. “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas Edison

56 . “Consistently doing the work while your competition takes the day off, slows down, stops and restarts is what puts you ahead by miles and millions in just a few short years.” – Bedros Keuilian

57. “You have four choices in life: 1. Wish for it. 2. Whine for it. 3. Pout about not having it. 4. Work for it. Only one give you results.” – Andy Frisella

58. “The only thing that follows work is results.” – Ray Lewis

59. “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” – Calvin Coolidge

Related: Work Hard and You Will Succeed

Bonus Hard Work Pays Quote

Bonus: Here’s one last quote related to hard work paying off. This one is without a doubt one of our favorites because it touches on the truth of hard work, which is that it does pay, but only after you’ve first made a down payment with effort.

“Life Grants Nothing To Us Mortals Without Hard Work.” – horace –

There you have it, our collection of the most motivating Hard Work Pays Off quotes. We hope they help you put your nose to the grindstone and get to work on bringing your dreams to life.

That said, if you enjoyed this collection of Hard Work Pays Off quotes, then you’ll definitely enjoy these powerful resources as well:

• Trust The Process Quotes
• Hard Work and Success
• 10 Good Work Ethics

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Mastering CEO Town Hall Speeches: Strategies for Engaging Communication

• August 13, 2023

CEO town hall speeches are crucial events that require careful planning and execution to ensure effective communication. The success of these speeches hinges on the ability of CEOs to engage and captivate their audience. In this article, we explore strategies for mastering CEO town hall speeches and achieving engaging communication. Drawing from research and best practices, we discuss techniques such as utilizing visuals, incorporating storytelling, and employing humor. Additionally, we delve into effective communication techniques, emphasizing the importance of clearly defining objectives, using concise language, and encouraging two-way communication. By implementing these strategies, CEOs can enhance their communication skills and foster a stronger connection with their audience.

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

• Preparation is crucial for a successful CEO town hall speech
• Strategies for capturing audience attention include using engaging visuals, storytelling, humor, and strong opening statements
• Effective communication techniques for CEO speeches include defining purpose, using concise language, practicing active listening, encouraging two-way communication, and tailoring the speech to the audience
• Building trust and credibility as a CEO involves transparency, empathy, follow-through, appreciation, and fostering an inclusive work environment

The Importance of Preparation for CEO Town Hall Speeches

The success of CEO town hall speeches heavily relies on thorough preparation, as lack thereof can result in ineffective communication. Preparation techniques play a crucial role in engaging the audience during these speeches. Effective audience engagement is achieved through various strategies, including the use of engaging visuals and multimedia elements. Incorporating storytelling techniques helps make the speech more relatable to the audience. Humor creates a positive and engaging atmosphere, capturing the attention of the listeners. A strong and attention-grabbing opening statement sets the tone for the speech. Maintaining a confident and energetic delivery throughout the speech keeps the audience engaged. By employing these preparation techniques, CEOs can effectively communicate with their audience during town hall speeches.

Strategies for Capturing Audience Attention

Engaging visuals and multimedia elements can be used to capture the attention of the audience during a CEO town hall speech. These strategies are effective in creating an interactive and engaging atmosphere, encouraging audience participation. Some strategies to capture the audience’s attention include:

• Incorporating interactive activities: Including activities such as live polling, quizzes, or interactive Q&A sessions can actively involve the audience and make the speech more engaging.
• Encouraging audience participation: Allowing the audience to provide input, ask questions, or share their experiences during the speech can create a sense of involvement and make the speech more interactive.
• Utilizing multimedia elements: Incorporating videos, graphics, or slideshows can visually enhance the speech, making it more visually appealing and memorable for the audience.

Utilizing Engaging Visuals and Multimedia Elements

Utilizing visually stimulating graphics and multimedia elements enhances the effectiveness of a CEO town hall speech. Engaging visual aids and multimedia elements capture the attention of the audience and make the speech more compelling. By incorporating visually appealing graphics, such as charts, graphs, and infographics, the CEO can effectively convey complex information in a concise and easily understandable manner. Multimedia elements, such as videos and animations, add dynamism and excitement to the speech, making it more engaging and memorable. These elements not only enhance the delivery of key messages but also create a visually appealing and interactive experience for the audience. The use of engaging visual aids and multimedia elements in a CEO town hall speech is essential for maximizing audience engagement and ensuring effective communication.

Incorporating Storytelling Techniques for Relatability

Incorporating storytelling techniques in a CEO town hall speech allows for a more relatable and engaging experience for the audience. Crafting compelling narratives in a speech can captivate the emotions of the listeners and create a connection with the speaker. This technique involves using anecdotes, personal experiences, or case studies to illustrate key points and make them more memorable. By framing information within a narrative structure, the CEO can effectively convey their message and engage the emotions of the audience. This can help the audience to connect with the speaker on a deeper level and make the speech more impactful. Additionally, storytelling can also help to simplify complex ideas and make them easier to understand and digest. Overall, incorporating storytelling techniques in a CEO town hall speech enhances the communication experience and fosters a stronger connection between the speaker and the audience.

Using Humor to Create a Positive and Engaging Atmosphere

Humor can be an effective tool in fostering a positive and engaging atmosphere during a CEO town hall speech. By incorporating humor techniques, such as clever anecdotes, playful language, and well-timed jokes, the speaker can create a relaxed and enjoyable environment. This can increase audience engagement and make the speech more memorable. Humor can also help to build rapport between the CEO and the audience, as it creates a sense of shared understanding and camaraderie. However, it is important to use humor judiciously and appropriately, as what may be funny to one person may not be to another. Additionally, the speaker should consider the cultural context and sensitivities of the audience to ensure that the humor does not offend or alienate anyone. Overall, using humor can be an effective strategy for creating a positive and engaging atmosphere during a CEO town hall speech and increasing audience engagement.

Crafting a Strong and Attention-Grabbing Opening Statement

Crafting a strong and attention-grabbing opening statement is essential for capturing the audience’s interest and setting the tone for a CEO town hall speech. An impactful introduction can set the stage for a successful speech by immediately engaging the audience and piquing their curiosity. To achieve this, CEOs can employ several strategies:

• Start with a provocative question or statement that challenges the audience’s thinking.
• Use a compelling anecdote or story that relates to the topic of the speech.
• Incorporate surprising or thought-provoking statistics or facts that grab attention.

Mastering a Confident and Energetic Delivery

A confident and energetic delivery is crucial for capturing the attention and maintaining the engagement of the audience during a CEO town hall speech. Non-verbal communication plays a significant role in conveying confidence and energy. Body language, facial expressions, and gestures should be used effectively to enhance the delivery. Maintaining good eye contact with the audience indicates attentiveness and connection. Additionally, utilizing vocal variety, such as tone, pitch, and pace, can help convey enthusiasm and maintain audience interest. A CEO should project their voice clearly and use appropriate pauses for emphasis. It is also important to be aware of posture and movement on stage, as they can contribute to the overall impression. By mastering a confident and energetic delivery, a CEO can effectively engage the audience and make a lasting impact.

Effective Communication Techniques for CEO Speeches

Effective communication techniques for CEO speeches involve clearly defining the purpose and objectives of the speech, utilizing concise and impactful language, practicing active listening, encouraging two-way communication, and tailoring the speech to the specific audience and their interests.

Active Listening Techniques:

Maintain eye contact and nonverbal cues to show attentiveness

Paraphrase and summarize key points to demonstrate understanding

Ask clarifying questions to gather more information

Post-Speech Evaluation:

Collect feedback from employees to assess the effectiveness of the speech

Analyze the impact of the speech on employee morale and engagement

Address any unanswered questions or concerns raised during the speech

Follow-up Actions:

Implement necessary changes based on the feedback received

Communicate follow-up actions and progress to employees in a timely manner

Continuously evaluate and improve future CEO speeches based on previous evaluations and feedback.

Clearly Defining the Purpose and Objectives

In order to effectively communicate during CEO town hall speeches, it is essential to clearly define the purpose and objectives of the speech. This involves setting clear goals and outlining what the speech aims to achieve. By doing so, the messaging becomes more focused and impactful. Clear objectives provide a roadmap for the speech, ensuring that the CEO stays on track and delivers a coherent message to the audience. Additionally, defining the purpose and objectives helps in crafting effective messaging that aligns with the desired outcomes. This includes using concise and impactful language to convey key messages and ensure that the audience understands the intended meaning. By clearly defining the purpose and objectives, the CEO can enhance the overall effectiveness of the speech and successfully engage with the audience.

Using Concise and Impactful Language

Utilizing concise and impactful language is crucial for conveying key messages effectively and engaging the audience during CEO town hall speeches. To achieve this, CEOs can employ several strategies:

• Craft clear and succinct messages that capture the essence of their ideas.
• Use strong and persuasive language to create a lasting impact on the audience.
• Employ rhetorical devices such as repetition and parallelism to enhance the delivery of key points.

Encouraging Two-Way Communication and Tailoring the Speech

In addition to using concise and impactful language, effective CEO town hall speeches require encouraging two-way communication and tailoring the speech to the specific audience. Active listening plays a crucial role in fostering dialogue and understanding the needs and concerns of employees. By actively engaging with their audience, CEOs can create an inclusive atmosphere where employees feel valued and heard. Furthermore, tailoring the speech to the specific audience ensures that the content is relevant and resonates with their interests. CEOs can achieve this by conducting thorough research and understanding the demographics, preferences, and expectations of the audience. By incorporating active listening and specific audience targeting, CEOs can enhance the effectiveness of their town hall speeches and establish stronger connections with their employees.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can a ceo ensure that their town hall speech is well-prepared.

To ensure a well-prepared CEO town hall speech, executives should prioritize planning and invest sufficient time and resources. Adequate preparation is crucial for effective communication, capturing audience attention, and delivering key messages concisely and impactfully.

What Are Some Examples of Engaging Visuals and Multimedia Elements That Can Be Incorporated Into a CEO Town Hall Speech?

Engaging visuals and multimedia elements, such as compelling images, videos, and interactive slides, can enhance a CEO town hall speech. These elements capture attention, convey information effectively, and create a visually stimulating experience for the audience.

How Can Storytelling Techniques Be Used to Make a CEO Town Hall Speech More Relatable to the Audience?

Storytelling techniques create an emotional connection in CEO town hall speeches, enhancing relatability. By incorporating authentic narratives, CEOs can engage the audience, evoke empathy, and convey meaningful messages, fostering a deeper understanding and connection.

What Are Some Tips for Using Humor Effectively in a CEO Town Hall Speech to Create a Positive and Engaging Atmosphere?

Using humor effectively in a CEO town hall speech can create a positive and engaging atmosphere. Strategies include incorporating appropriate and relatable jokes, maintaining a professional tone, and ensuring the humor aligns with the overall message and objectives of the speech.

Why Is It Important for a CEO to Begin Their Town Hall Speech With a Strong and Attention-Grabbing Opening Statement?

The importance of a CEO’s opening statement lies in its ability to capture and maintain the attention of the audience. Attention-grabbing openers have a significant impact on the effectiveness of the town hall speech.

10 of the Most Famous and Inspirational Speeches from History

By Dr Oliver Tearle (Loughborough University)

What makes a great and iconic speech? There are numerous examples of brilliant orators and speechmakers throughout history, from classical times to the present day. What the best speeches tend to have in common are more than just a solid intellectual argument: they have emotive power, or, for want of a more scholarly word, ‘heart’. Great speeches rouse us to action, or move us to tears – or both.

But of course, historic speeches are often also associated with landmark, or watershed, moments in a nation’s history: when Churchill delivered his series of wartime speeches to Britain in 1940, it was against the backdrop of a war which was still in its early, uncertain stages. And when Martin Luther King stood in front of the Lincoln Memorial in 1963, he was addressing a crowd who, like him, were marching for justice, freedom, and civil rights for African Americans.

Let’s take a closer look at ten of the best and most famous speeches from great moments in history.

Abraham Lincoln, ‘ Gettysburg Address ’ (1863).

The Gettysburg Address is one of the most famous speeches in American history, yet it was extremely short – just 268 words, or less than a page of text – and Abraham Lincoln, who gave the address, wasn’t even the top billing .

The US President Abraham Lincoln gave this short address at the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania on 19 November 1863. At the time, the American Civil War was still raging, and the Battle of Gettysburg had been the bloodiest battle in the war, with an estimated 23,000 casualties.

Lincoln’s speech has been remembered while Edward Everett’s – the main speech delivered on that day – has long been forgotten because Lincoln eschewed the high-flown allusions and wordy style of most political orators of the nineteenth century. Instead, he addresses his audience in plain, homespun English that is immediately relatable and accessible.

Sojourner Truth, ‘ Ain’t I a Woman? ’ (1851).

Sometimes known as ‘Ar’n’t I a Woman?’, this is a speech which Sojourner Truth, a freed African slave living in the United States, delivered in 1851 at the Women’s Convention in Akron, Ohio. The women in attendance were being challenged to call for the right to vote.

In her speech, Sojourner Truth attempts to persuade the audience to give women the vote . As both an ex-slave and a woman, Sojourner Truth knew about the plight of both groups of people in the United States. Her speech shows her audience the times: change is coming, and it is time to give women the rights that should be theirs.

John Ball, ‘ Cast off the Yoke of Bondage ’ (1381).

The summer of 1381 was a time of unrest in England. The so-called ‘Peasants’ Revolt’, led by Wat Tyler (in actual fact, many of the leaders of the revolt were more well-to-do than your average peasant), gathered force until the rebels stormed London, executing a number of high-ranking officials, including the Archbishop of Canterbury and Lord Chancellor, Simon Sudbury.

Alongside Tyler, the priest John Ball was an important leading figure of the rebellion. His famous couplet, ‘When Adam delved and Eve span, / Who was then the gentleman?’ sums up the ethos of the Peasants’ Revolt: social inequality was unheard of until men created it.

Winston Churchill, ‘ We Shall Fight on the Beaches ’ (1940).

Winston Churchill had only recently assumed the role of UK Prime Minister when he gave the trio of wartime speeches which have gone down in history for their rhetorical skill and emotive power. This, for our money, is the best of the three.

Churchill gave this speech in the House of Commons on 4 June 1940. Having brought his listeners up to speed with what has happened, Churchill comes to the peroration of his speech : by far the most famous part. He reassures them that if nothing is neglected and all arrangements are made, he sees no reason why Britain cannot once more defend itself against invasion: something which, as an island nation, it has always been susceptible to by sea, and now by air.

Even if it takes years, and even if Britain must defend itself alone without any help from its allies, this is what must happen. Capitulation to the Nazis is not an option. The line ‘if necessary for years; if necessary, alone’ is sure to send a shiver down the spine, as is the way Churchill barks ‘we shall never surrender!’ in the post-war recording of the speech he made several years later.

William Faulkner, ‘ The Agony and the Sweat ’ (1950).

This is the title sometimes given to one of the most memorable Nobel Prize acceptance speeches: the American novelist William Faulkner’s acceptance of the Nobel Prize for Literature at Stockholm in 1950.

In his speech, Faulkner makes his famous statement about the ‘duty’ of writers: that they should write about ‘the human heart in conflict with itself’, as well as emotions and themes such as compassion, sacrifice, courage, and hope. He also emphasises that being a writer is hard work, and involves understanding human nature in all its complexity. But good writing should also remind readers what humankind is capable of.

Emmeline Pankhurst, ‘ The Plight of Women ’ (1908).

Pankhurst (1858-1928) was the leader of the British suffragettes, campaigning – and protesting – for votes for women. After she realised that Asquith’s Liberal government were unlikely to grand women the vote, the Women’s Social and Political Union, founded by Pankhurst with her daughter Christabel, turned to more militant tactics to shift public and parliamentary opinion.

Her emphasis in this speech is on the unhappy lot most women could face, in marriage and in motherhood. She also shows how ‘man-made’ the laws of England are, when they are biased in favour of men to the detriment of women’s rights.

This speech was given at the Portman Rooms in London in 1908; ten years later, towards the end of the First World War, women over 30 were finally given the vote. But it would be another ten years, in 1928 – the year of Pankhurst’s death – before the voting age for women was equal to that for men (21 years).

Franklin Roosevelt, ‘ The Only Thing We Have to Fear Is Fear Itself ’ (1933).

This is the title by which Roosevelt’s speech at his inauguration in 1933 has commonly become known, and it has attained the status of a proverb. Roosevelt was elected only a few years after the Wall Street Crash of 1929 which ushered in the Great Depression.

Roosevelt’s famous line in the speech, which offered hope to millions of Americans dealing with unemployment and poverty, was probably inspired by a line from Henry David Thoreau, a copy of whose writings FDR had been gifted shortly before his inauguration. The line about having nothing to fear except fear itself was, in fact, only added into the speech the day before the inauguration took place, but it ensured that the speech went down in history.

Marcus Tullius Cicero, ‘ Among Us You Can Dwell No Longer ’ (63 BC).

Of all of the great classical orators, perhaps the greatest of all was the Roman statesman, philosopher, and speechmaker, Cicero (whose name literally means ‘chickpea’).

This is probably his best-known speech. At the Temple of Jupiter in Rome, Cicero addressed the crowd, but specifically directed his comments towards Lucius Catiline, who was accused of plotting a conspiracy to set fire to the capital and stage and insurrection. The speech was considered such a fine example of Roman rhetoric that it was a favourite in classrooms for centuries after, as Brian MacArthur notes in The Penguin Book of Historic Speeches .

Queen Elizabeth I, ‘ The Heart and Stomach of a King ’ (1588).

Queen Elizabeth I’s speech to the troops at Tilbury is among the most famous and iconic speeches in English history. On 9 August 1588, Elizabeth addressed the land forces which had been mobilised at the port of Tilbury in Essex, in preparation for the expected invasion of England by the Spanish Armada.

When she gave this speech, Elizabeth was in her mid-fifties and her youthful beauty had faded. But she had learned rhetoric as a young princess, and this training served her well when she wrote and delivered this speech (she was also a fairly accomplished poet ).

She famously tells her troops: ‘I know I have the body but of a weak and feeble woman; but I have the heart and stomach of a king, and of a king of England too’. She acknowledged the fact that her body was naturally less masculine and strong than the average man’s, but it is not mere physical strength that will win the day. It is courage that matters.

Martin Luther King, ‘ I Have a Dream ’ (1963).

Let’s conclude this selection of the best inspirational speeches with the best-known of all of Martin Luther King’s speeches. The occasion for this piece of oratorical grandeur was the march on Washington , which saw some 210,000 men, women, and children gather at the Washington Monument in August 1963, before marching to the Lincoln Memorial. King reportedly stayed up until 4am the night before he was due to give the speech, writing it out.

King’s speech imagines a collective vision of a better and more equal America which is not only shared by many Black Americans, but by anyone who identifies with their fight against racial injustice, segregation, and discrimination.

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The 21 greatest graduation speeches of the last 60 years

By german lopez on may 11, 2016.

Graduation speeches are the last opportunity for a high school or college to educate its students. It's unsurprising, then, that these institutions often pull in some of the world's most powerful people to leave an equally powerful impression on their students. Here are the best of those speeches and some of the sections that resonate the most.

David Foster Wallace at Kenyon College, 2005

Jamie Sullivan

“There are these two young fish swimming along and they happen to meet an older fish swimming the other way, who nods at them and says, 'Morning, boys. How's the water?' And the two young fish swim on for a bit, and then eventually one of them looks over at the other and goes, 'What the hell is water?' This is a standard requirement of US commencement speeches: the deployment of didactic little parable-ish stories. The story thing turns out to be one of the better, less bulshitty conventions of the genre, but if you're worried that I plan to present myself here as the wise, older fish explaining what water is to you younger fish, please don't be. I am not the wise old fish.”

Steve Jobs at Stanford University, 2005

Stanford University

“No one wants to die. Even people who want to go to heaven don’t want to die to get there. And yet death is the destination we all share. No one has ever escaped it. And that is as it should be, because death is very likely the single best invention of life. It’s life’s change agent. It clears out the old to make way for the new. Right now the new is you, but someday not too long from now you will gradually become the old and be cleared away. Sorry to be so dramatic, but it’s quite true. Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life. Don’t be trapped by dogma, which is living with the results of other people’s thinking. Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.”

Ellen Degeneres at Tulane University, 2009

Tulane University

“I know that a lot of you are concerned about your future, but there’s no need to worry. The economy is booming, the job market is wide open, the planet is just fine. It’s gonna be great. You’ve already survived a hurricane. What else can happen to you? And as I mentioned before, some of the most devastating things that happen to you will teach you the most. And now you know the right questions to ask for your first job interview — like, ‘Is it above sea level?’ So to conclude my conclusion that I’ve previously concluded in the common cement speech, I guess what I’m trying to say is life is like one big Mardi Gras. But instead of showing your boobs, show people your brain. And if they like what they see, you’ll have more beads than you know what to do with. And you’ll be drunk most of the time.”

Conan O'Brien at Dartmouth College, 2011

“Way back in the 1940s there was a very, very funny man named Jack Benny. He was a giant star and easily one of the greatest comedians of his generation. And a much younger man named Johnny Carson wanted very much to be Jack Benny. In some ways he was, but in many ways he wasn’t. He emulated Jack Benny, but his own quirks and mannerisms, along with a changing medium, pulled him in a different direction. And yet his failure to completely become his hero made him the funniest person of his generation. David Letterman wanted to be Johnny Carson, and was not, and as a result my generation of comedians wanted to be David Letterman. And none of us are — my peers and I have all missed that mark in a thousand different ways. But the point is this: it is our failure to become our perceived ideal that ultimately defines us and makes us unique. It’s not easy, but if you accept your misfortune and handle it right, your perceived failure can be a catalyst for profound reinvention.”

Carol Bartz at University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2012

University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Accept failure and learn from it. Failure is part of life, it’s part of every career, and you have to know how to take advantage of it. The single greatest strength that this country has via Silicon Valley is that failure is seen as a sign of experience. Failure is part of work, it’s part of life. People are willing to take risks on the way to innovation. One of my fondest sayings is fail, fast, forward. Recognize you’ve failed, try to do it fast, learn from it, build on it, and move forward. Embrace failure, have it be part of your persona. You’re going to have long careers, as I’ve already told you, you’re going to have many failures — personal, business, professional. I’ve had my share. But just use this as a building block to your next success.”

President John F. Kennedy at American University, 1963

“Genuine peace must be the product of many nations, the sum of many acts. It must be dynamic, not static, changing to meet the challenge of each new generation. For peace is a process — a way of solving problems. With such a peace, there will still be quarrels and conflicting interests, as there are within families and nations. World peace, like community peace, does not require that each man love his neighbor — it requires only that they live together in mutual tolerance, submitting their disputes to a just and peaceful settlement.”

David McCullough Jr. at Wellesley High School, 2012

Wellesley High School

“Like accolades ought to be, the fulfilled life is a consequence — a gratifying byproduct. It’s what happens when you’re thinking about more important things. Climb the mountain not to plant your flag but to embrace the challenge, enjoy the air, and behold the view. Climb it so you can see the world, not so the world can see you. Go to Paris to be in Paris, not to cross it off your list and congratulate yourself for being worldly. Exercise free will and creative independent thought not for the satisfactions they will bring you but for the good they will do others — the rest of the 6.8 billion and those who will follow them. And then you too will discover the great and curious truth of the human experience is that selflessness is the best thing you can do for yourself. The sweetest joys of life, then, come only with the recognition that you’re not special, because everyone is.”

Stephen Colbert at Northwestern University, 2011

Joshua Sherman

“You have been told to follow your dreams, but what if it’s a stupid dream? For instance, Stephen Colbert of 25 years ago lived at 2015 North Ridge with two men and three women in what I now know was a brothel. He dreamed of living alone — well, alone with his beard in a large, barren loft apartment, lots of blonde wood, wearing a kimono, with a futon on the floor and a Samovar of tea constantly bubbling in the background, doing Shakespeare in the street for homeless people. Today, I am a beardless, suburban dad who lives in a house, wears no iron khakis, and makes Anthony Weiner jokes for a living. And I love it, because thankfully dreams can change. If we’d all stuck with our first dream, the world would be overrun with cowboys and princesses. So whatever your dream is right now, if you don’t achieve it, you haven’t failed, and you’re not some loser. But just as importantly — and this is the part I may not get right and you may not listen to — if you do get your dream, you are not a winner.”

Sheryl Sandberg at Harvard Business School, 2012

Harvard Business School

“I sat down with Eric Schmidt, who had just become the CEO [of Google], and I showed him the spreadsheet and I said, this job meets none of my criteria. He put his hand on my sheet and he looked at me and said, ‘Don’t be an idiot.’ Excellent career advice. And then he said, ‘Get on a rocketship. When companies are growing quickly and having a lot of impact, careers take care of themselves. And when companies aren’t growing quickly or their missions don’t matter as much, that’s when stagnation and politics come in. If you’re offered a seat on a rocketship, don’t ask what seat. Just get on.’”

Michael Lewis at Princeton University, 2012

Princeton University

“In a general sort of way you’ve been appointed leader of the group. Your appointment may not be entirely arbitrary. But you must sense right now its arbitrary aspect: you are the lucky few. Lucky in your parents, lucky in your country, lucky that a place like Princeton exists that can take in lucky people, introduce them to other lucky people, and increase their chances of becoming even luckier. Lucky that you live in the richest society the world has ever seen, in a time when no one actually expects you to sacrifice your interest to anything. All of you have been faced with the extra cookie. All of you will be faced with many more of them. In time you will find it easy to assume that you deserve the extra cookie. For all I know, you may deserve the extra cookie. But you will be happier, and you will be better off, if you at least pretend that you don't.”

Jon Stewart at the College of William & Mary, 2004

College of William & Mary

“Lets talk about the real world for a moment. ... I don’t really know to put this, so I’ll be blunt: we broke it. Please don’t be mad. I know we were supposed to bequeath to the next generation a world better than the one we were handed. So, sorry. I don’t know if you’ve been following the news lately, but it just kinda got away from us. Somewhere between the gold rush of easy internet profits and an arrogant sense of endless empire, we heard kind of a pinging noise, and then the damn thing just died on us. So I apologize. But here’s the good news: you fix this thing, you’re the next greatest generation, people.”

Oprah Winfrey at Spelman College, 2012

Spelman College

“You must have some kind of vision for your life, even if you don’t know the plan. You have to have a direction in which you choose to go. I never was the kind of woman who liked to get in a car and just go for a ride. I had a boyfriend that would say, ‘Let’s just go for a ride.’ I want to know where are we going. Do we have a destination? Is there a plan? Are we just riding? What I’ve learned is that’s a great metaphor for life. You want to be in the driver’s seat of your own life, because if you’re not, life will drive you.”

Neil Gaiman at the University of the Arts, 2012

Lennie Alzate

“The moment that you feel that, just possibly, you’re walking down the street naked, exposing too much of your heart and your mind and what exists on the inside, showing too much of yourself, that’s the moment you may be starting to get it right. The things I’ve done that worked the best were the things I was the least certain about, the stories where I was sure they would either work or more likely be the kinds of embarrassing failures that people would gather together and discuss until the end of time. They always had that in common. Looking back at them, people explain why they were inevitable successes. And while I was doing them, I had no idea. I still don’t. And where would be the fun in making something you knew was going to work? And sometimes the things I did really didn’t work. There are stories of mine that have never been reprinted. Some of them never even left the house. But I learned as much from them as I did from the things that worked.”

George Saunders at Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences, 2013

Syracuse University's College of Arts and Sciences

“Seek out the most efficacious anti-selfishness medicines energetically for the rest of your life. And do all the other things of course, the ambitious things: travel, get rich, get famous, innovate, lead, fall in love, make and lose fortunes, swim naked in a wild jungle river — after first testing it for monkey poop. But as you do, to the extent that you can, err in the direction of kindness. Do those things that incline you toward the big questions, and avoid the things that would reduce you and make you trivial. That luminous part of you that exists beyond personality — your soul, if you will — is as bright and shining as any that has ever been. Bright as Shakespeare’s, bright as Gandhi’s, bright as Mother Teresa’s. Clear away everything that keeps you separate from this secret luminous place. Believe it exists, come to know it better, nurture it, share its fruits tirelessly.”

Nora Ephron at Wellesley College, 1996

Wellesley College

“So what are you going to do? This is the season when a clutch of successful women who have it all get up and give speeches to women like you and say, ‘To be perfectly honest, you can’t have it all.’ Well, maybe young women don’t wonder whether they can have it all any longer, but in case any of you are wondering, of course you can have it all. What are you going to do? Everything is my guess. It will be a little messy, but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it’s going to be like, but surprises are good for you. And don't be frightened. You can always change your mind. I know. I've had four careers and three husbands. And this is something else I want to tell you, one of the hundreds of things I didn’t know when I was sitting here so many years ago: you are not going to be you, fixed and immutable you, forever.”

Aaron Sorkin at Syracuse University, 2012

Syracuse University

“Decisions are made by those who show up. Don't ever forget that you're a citizen of this world. Don't ever forget that you’re a citizen of this world, and there are things you can do to lift the human spirit, things that are easy, things that are free, things that you can do every day: civility, respect, kindness, character. You’re too good for schadenfreude, you’re too good for gossip and snark, you’re too good for intolerance — and since you're walking into the middle of a presidential election, it’s worth mentioning that you’re too good to think people who disagree with you are your enemy. … Don’t ever forget that a small group of thoughtful people can change the world. It’s the only thing that ever has.”

Barbara Kingsolver at DePauw University, 1994

DePauw University

“It’s not up to you to save the world. That’s the job of every living person who likes the idea of a future. But I’m going to go out on a limb here and give you one little piece of advice, and that is, like the idea of a future. Believe you have it in you to make the world look better rather than worse seven generations from now. Figure out what that could look like. And then if you’re lucky, you’ll find a way to live inside that hope, running down its hallways, touching the walls on both sides.”

Jane Lynch at Smith College, 2012

Smith College

“My counsel to you, women of Smith College: let life surprise you. Don’t have a plan. Plans are for wusses. If my life went according to my plan, I would never ever have the life I have today. Now, you are obviously good planners, or you wouldn’t be here. So stop it! Stop it now! Don’t deprive yourself of the exciting journey your life can be when you relinquish the need to have goals and a blueprint.”

Bill Gates at Harvard University, 2007

Harvard University

“In line with the promise of this age, I want to exhort each of the graduates here to take on an issue — a complex problem, a deep inequity, and become a specialist on it. If you make it the focus of your career, that would be phenomenal. But you don’t have to do that to make an impact. For a few hours every week, you can use the growing power of the internet to get informed, find others with the same interests, see the barriers, and find ways to cut through them. Don’t let complexity stop you. Be activists. Take on big inequities. I feel sure it will be one of the great experiences of your lives.”

Eugene Mirman at Lexington High School, 2009

Eugene Mirman

“What’s the worst grade you’ve ever gotten? A D? An F? When I was in eighth grade in Diamond Middle School on a homework assignment — this is true — I once got a -8. Sadly very true. I did my assignment worse than not doing it. But did I let getting a grade lower than the lowest possible grade stop me? No. I was put into resource room in special education, and I turned my F into a D. So you see sometimes you can fail, then barely pass, and then become a comedian.”

Michelle Obama at Spelman College, 2011

“Some of you may have grown up like me, in neighborhoods where few had the chance to go to college, where being teased for doing well in school was a fact of life, where well-meaning but misguided folks questioned whether a girl with my background could get into a school like Princeton. Sometimes I’d save them the trouble and raised the questions myself, in my own head, lying awake at night, doubting whether I had what it took to succeed. And the truth is that there will always be folks out there who make assumptions about others. There will always be folks who try to raise themselves up by cutting other people down. That happens to everyone, including me, throughout their lives. But when that happens to you all, here’s what I want you to do: I want you to just stop a minute, take a deep breath — because it’s going to need to be deep — and I want you to think about all those women who came before you.”

• The formula for a good life after college
• Girls have gotten better grades than boys for 100 years
• The job market for 2014 grads: still awful
• Editor Eleanor Barkhorn
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These Great Commencement Speeches Will Change How You Look at Success and Failure

Our greatest actors, writers, musicians, and leaders give really great advice—but it's not just for college graduates.

It's easy to dismiss the lessons delivered in a college commencement speech as reserved for bright, privileged kids with a degree at a fancy school who have their whole lives ahead of them. Anyone still grinding through college or living in the real world probably doesn't exactly feel like the target audience for these inspiring words. And that's not wrong!

But the point of these speeches isn't to give those bright-eyed youngsters lessons for that given moment in time. No one needs advice on how to relax after a lifetime of school and tests and teachers. This advice is for graduates to store away somewhere and remember once real life beats their ass. Because that'll happen. This is advice for the hard times to come. This is advice for the people still struggling away to kick off careers, to make dreams come true, etc., etc.

Barack Obama

School: Howard University

Class: 2016

Most inspiring quote: "So don't try to shut folks out, don't try to shut them down, no matter how much you might disagree with them. There's been a trend around the country of trying to get colleges to disinvite speakers with a different point of view, or disrupt a politician's rally. Don't do that—no matter how ridiculous or offensive you might find the things that come out of their mouths. Because as my grandmother used to tell me, every time a fool speaks, they are just advertising their own ignorance. Let them talk. If you don't, you just make them a victim, and then they can avoid accountability."

Ellen DeGeneres

School:  Tulane University

Class:  2009

Most inspiring quote:  "It was so important for me to lose everything because I found what the most important thing is. The most important thing is to be true to yourself."

School:  Los Angeles Trade Technical College

Class:  2015

Most inspiring quote:  "When you're the absolute best, you get hated on the most."

School:  Smith College

Class:  2012

Most inspiring quote:  "Life is just one, big improvisation." 

Amy Poehler

School:  Harvard University

Class:  2011

Most inspiring quote:  "Try putting your iPhones down every once in awhile and look at people's faces."

Elizabeth Warren

School:  Suffolk University

Class:  2016

Most inspiring quote:  "Knowing who you are will help you when it's time to fight. Fight for the job you want, fight for the people who mean the most to you and fight for the kind of world you want to live in. It will help when people say that's impossible or you can't do that. Look, if you take the unexpected opportunities when they come up, if you know yourself, and if you fight for what you believe in, I can promise that you will live a life that is rich with meaning."

David Byrne

School:  Columbia University

Class:  2013

Most inspiring quote:  "I believe that there is a way to have a very, very satisfying, enriching and creative life in the arts, but it depends on what criteria you use to look at that. But I would say that if you're being creative, with happiness, satisfaction, all that—you're succeeding."

Stephen Colbert

School:  Northwestern University

Most inspiring quote:  "If everybody followed their first dreams in life, the world would be ruled by cowboys and princesses."

Oprah Winfrey

Most inspiring quote:  "It doesn't matter how far you might rise. At some point you are bound to stumble because if you're constantly doing what we do, raising the bar. If you're constantly pushing yourself higher, higher the law of averages not to mention the Myth of Icarus predicts that you will at some point fall. And when you do I want you to know this, remember this: there is no such thing as failure. Failure is just life trying to move us in another direction."

Jon Stewart

School:  The College of William and Mary

Class:  2004

Most inspiring quote:  "So how do you know what is the right path to choose to get the result that you desire? And the honest answer is this: You won't."

George Saunders

School:  Syracuse University

Most inspiring quote:  "What I regret most in my life are failures of kindness. Those moments when another human being was there, in front of me, suffering, and I responded… Sensibly. Reservedly. Mildly."

Meryl Streep

School:  Barnard College

Class:  2010

Most inspiring quote:  "This is your time and it feels normal to you but really there is no normal. There's only change, and resistance to it and then more change."

Neil Gaiman

School:  University of the Arts

Most inspiring quote:  "Husband runs off with a politician? Make good art. Leg crushed and then eaten by mutated boa constrictor? Make good art. IRS on your trail? Make good art. Cat exploded? Make good art. Someone on the Internet thinks what you're doing is stupid or evil or it's all been done before? Make good art. Probably things will work out somehow, and eventually time will take the sting away, but that doesn't matter. Do what only you can do best. Make good art."

Conan O'Brien

School:  Dartmouth College

Most inspiring quote:  "I did a lot of silly, unconventional, spontaneous, and seemingly irrational things, and guess what? With the exception of the blue leather suit, it was the most satisfying and fascinating year of my professional life."

Toni Morrison

School:  Wellesley College

Most inspiring quote:  "Of course, you're general, but you're also specific. A citizen and a person, and the person you are is like nobody else on the planet. Nobody has the exact memory that you have. What is now known is not all what you are capable of knowing. You are your own stories and therefore free to imagine and experience what it means to be human without wealth. What it feels like to be human without domination over others, without reckless arrogance, without fear of others unlike you, without rotating, rehearsing and reinventing the hatreds you learned in the sandbox. And although you don't have complete control over the narrative—no author does, I can tell you—you could nevertheless create it."

Class:  2007

Most inspiring quote:  "Don't let complexity stop you. Be activists. Take on the big inequities. It will be one of the great experiences of your lives."

David Foster Wallace

School:  Kenyon College

Class:  2005

Most inspiring quote:  "The capital-T Truth is about life BEFORE death. It is about the real value of a real education, which has almost nothing to do with knowledge, and everything to do with simple awareness; awareness of what is so real and essential, so hidden in plain sight all around us, all the time, that we have to keep reminding ourselves over and over: 'This is water.'"

Denzel Washington

School:  University of Pennsylvania

Most inspiring quote:  "Fall forward. This is what I mean: Reggie Jackson struck out 2,600 times in his career, the most in the history of baseball. But you don't hear about the strikeouts. People remember the home runs. Fall forward. Thomas Edison conducted 1,000 failed experiments. Did you know that? I didn't know that because the 1,001st was the light bulb. Fall forward. Every failed experiment is one step closer to success."

Zadie Smith

School:  The New School

Class:  2014

Most inspiring quote:  "Walk down these crowded streets with a smile on your face. Be thankful you get to walk so close to other humans. It's a privilege. Don't let your fellow humans be alien to you, and as you get older and perhaps a little less open than you are now, don't assume that exclusive always and everywhere means better. It may only mean lonelier. There will always be folks hard selling you the life of the few: the private schools, private plans, private islands, private life. They are trying to convince you that hell is other people. Don't believe it. We are far more frequently each other's shelter and correction, the antidote to solipsism, and so many windows on this world."

School:  Stanford University

Class: 2005

Most inspiring quote:  "Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose."

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CEOs Need More Face Time, Not FaceTime

Yale SOM leadership expert Jeffrey Sonnenfeld explains how effective business leaders make the best use of face-to-face meetings with employees around the world.

• Jeffrey A. Sonnenfeld Senior Associate Dean for Leadership Studies & Lester Crown Professor in the Practice of Management

This commentary originally appeared in Chief Executive.

From the 1960s through the 1970s, AT&T advertised its long-distance service as “the next best thing to being there,” suggesting phone calls were a good substitute for seeing family members in person—but that might not work for the boss. Virtual meetings that save travel costs and provide visibility for CEOs of vast enterprises who can’t be everywhere at once are necessary but no substitute for face-to-face engagement.

According to a study by Harvard Business School’s Michael Porter and Nitin Nohria conducted just before the pandemic, CEOs work roughly 10 hours a day, with more than 61% of that time spent in face-to-face interactions. Porter and Nohria explain that it is through in-person exchanges that CEOs are most effective at exerting their influence, learn what is really happening, ensure proper delegation, advance parallel agendas and coach their team. With only so many hours in the day, leaders need to be highly focused on making the most of their limited time.

Don’t Make Your Visit Punitive

When Graham Phillips took over as CEO of Ogilvy & Mather, he told his top leadership around the world that he believed in office autonomy. “If you see me, that means you’re in trouble.” That was hardly inspiring and did not lead to welcoming receptions. By contrast, for the first decade of the Home Depot’s growth, co-founder Bernie Marcus and Arthur Blank conducted every management training program themselves, with warmth and humor but also modeling their high expectations.

Just Being There Is Not Enough

The protagonist of Jerzy Kosinski’s 1971 satirical novel Being There is an emotionally and intellectually disabled gardener with no knowledge of his own history, let alone the world’s. By being at the right place at the right time, he advances to top positions on Wall Street and in Washington and is lauded by the media. In real life, however, leaders cannot just get by with such serendipitous good fortune.

Speak the Truth

As Anne Mulcahy, the turnaround CEO of Xerox, told me, “It is important to have good sources. Taking the time to really listen to understand problems from the customer’s and employee’s perspectives. The most important thing we had to do was give our people an accurate assessment of the issues—the brutal truth but also to ensure our problems could be overcome and it was worth sticking around. A big piece of my time is face-to-face communication with all constituencies. I travel over 100,000 miles a year for tables, forums.”

Employees look to leadership for inspiration and will be only alarmed by whitewashing. “I have to say that our whole senior team worried about candidly discussing the problems of the company,” says Mulcahy. “I remember at one of our town meeting, a shop floor worker said, ‘I’m so glad that you know how bad things are.’ I recognized perhaps the most uncomfortable feeling was to believe that they were not hearing what rings true.”

Seek Spontaneity

A pathology in the military is the use of “executive eye wash” to create a superficial façade of orderliness while sweeping underlying chaos under the carpet. Grigory Potemkin, a Russian field marshal and lover of Empress Catherine II, impressed her by creating fake villages in 1787 to perk up her tour to recently seized Crimea. Decades ago, rival Coke and Pepsi executives in India would conspire to deceive their bosses at planned inspections by rolling each other’s beverage machines out in prominent venues to feature their products. Fully 60 years ago, Bill Hewlett and David Packard, founder of HP, institutionalized the novel element of what they called Managing by Wondering Around (MBWA), or conversing with workers in unrehearsed natural exchanges.

Woody Allen famously said in a 1977 New York Times interview that “Showing up is 80 percent of life.” Unfortunately, the remaining 20 percent requires preparation—and your presence.

Here are the highest-paid CEOs in the US , some of whom have 9-figure compensation packages

• Broadcom's Hock Tan tops a list of highly paid CEOs. His comp was valued at $161.8 million in 2023.
• Most top CEOs' earnings come through stock awards, often payable over several years.
• The median pay package for CEOs was $23.7 million in 2023, an 11.4% increase from the prior year.

No surprise: It pays to climb your way to the top of the org chart .

The highest-paid CEOs in the US aren't necessarily household names, but they're enjoying some pretty sweet pay packages — more than enough to avoid worries about higher prices for that morning coffee .

Take Hock Tan, head of chipmaker Broadcom. The value of his pay package was $161.8 million in 2023. Tan topped a list of the 100 highest-paid chiefs from Equilar, which analyzes data on executive compensation.

But though many compensation numbers are big, it's not all cash. Amit Batish, senior director of content and communications at Equilar, told Business Insider that much of the top dogs' hauls come through stock awards.

"That's kind of the bread and butter of executive compensation these days," he said.

To get the payouts, CEOs often have to achieve targets such as stock price thresholds.

About halfway through this year's proxy season, the median compensation package for CEOs on Equilar's list — comprised of companies with revenue of $1 billion or more — was valued at a cool $23.7 million in 2023, a jump of 11.4% from the prior year. The data were based on proxy statements filed through March 31.

The jump in compensation was stronger than the 7.7% increase CEOs overall saw at this point last year, according to Equilar data.

There are still some high-wattage chiefs a bit farther down the list, like Apple's Tim Cook, who comes in at No. 6 with compensation valued at $63.2 million, or Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO, at No. 9 with total comp valued at $48.5 million. But they haven't yet made it to the very top yet, according to Equilar.

Here are some of the highest-paid — and highest-profile — CEOs.

1: Hock Tan, Broadcom

The value of Tan's total compensation jumped to $161.8 million in 2023, a 167% increase over the prior year, according to Equilar. The pay ratio — how much more he takes home than the average employee of the chip and software maker — was 510 to 1.

The company had $35.8 billion in revenue in fiscal 2023.

2: Nikesh Arora, Palo Alto Networks

The value of Arora's total compensation as CEO of the cybersecurity company came to $151.4 million, a surge of 1,355%, according to Equilar. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 735 to 1.

Revenue reached $6.89 billion in fiscal 2023.

3: Sue Nabi, Coty

Nabi runs the beauty company Coty. The value of her compensation package was $149.4 million, an increase of 4,100%, according to Equilar. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 3,769 to 1. Revenue came to $5.55 billion in fiscal 2023.

4: Christopher Winfrey, Charter Communications

Winfrey, who took the top spot at the cable company in December 2022, landed total compensation valued at $89.1 million. The boss-to-worker pay ratio was 1,635 to 1, according to Equilar.

In fiscal 2023, revenue came to $54.6 billion.

5: Will Lansing, FICO

Lansing runs Fair Isaac Corp., which developed FICO, the most broadly used model for scoring credit . The value of his total compensation came to $66.3 million, an increase of 251%, according to Equilar. The CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 653 to 1.

The company's revenue totaled $1.5 billion in fiscal 2023.

A FICO spokesperson, through a statement to BI, said, in part: "Under Mr. Lansing's leadership the past 10 years, FICO has delivered total shareholder return that is in the top 1% of the S&P 500. Meanwhile, his base salary for 2023 was $750,000, well below industry peers and in the bottom quartile of S&P 500 CEOs."

6: Tim Cook, Apple

Cook's total compensation for running the tech giant was valued at $63.2 million, a drop of 36%, according to Equilar. The pay ratio was 672 to 1.

The company's revenue totaled $383.3 billion in fiscal 2023.

7: Jay Chaudhry, Zscaler

The value of Chaudhry's compensation package for running the cybersecurity company rose 39% to $57.8 million, according to Equilar. And the CEO-to-worker pay ratio stood at 319 to 1.

The company's top reached $1.6 billion in fiscal 2023.

8: Hamid Moghadam, Prologis

Moghadam's compensation package at the logistics real estate company was valued at $50.9 million, an increase of 6%. And the CEO-to-worker pay ratio was 400 to 1.

The company's revenue in fiscal 2023 came to $8 billion.

9: Satya Nadella, Microsoft

Nadella's total comp was valued at $48.5 million, a drop of 12%. The chief-to-worker ratio was 250 to 1.

The software giant's revenue was $211.9 billion in fiscal 2023.

10: Shantanu Narayen, Adobe

Narayen's compensation package was valued at $44.9 million, an increase of 42%. The CEO-to-worker package for the software company was 229 to 1. The company's fiscal 2023 revenue totaled $19.4 billion.

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