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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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16 Most Life-Changing Motivational Speeches & What You’ll Gain from Them

It’s all very well reading about ways to get ahead in life, but no account will ever reach you in quite the same way as hearing someone speak about their own experiences. While these people may be household names now, it wasn’t always that way, and this collection of some of the best motivational speeches will move you and inspire you to make your own dreams come true.

From Arnold Schwarzenneger talking about how he filled every moment of every day with steps to fulfil his ambition of becoming Mr. Universe, to J.K. Rowling’s life as an impoverished single mother, these speeches will fill you with the drive and determination to reach your full potential, and not let anything stand in your way.

Some are long, and some last just a few minutes, but each one will make you want to grab life with both hands and go for what you want, whatever it is.

“Most people have done all that they’re ever going to do – they raise a family, they earn a living, and then they die.”

That’s what we’re supposed to do, right? Wrong! Life is made for greater things, and you are meant for greater things.

When Les Brown was a child, he was labeled ‘educable mentally retarded’, and until a chance encounter with another teacher, he believed that he would amount to nothing. But this one teacher planted the seeds in Les’ head which would blossom and grow, and eventually make him one of the best motivational speakers of all time.

This speech will give you permission to rise above other people’s opinions, to break free of their prejudices, and make a success of whatever you do. Watch ‘It’s Not Over Until You Win! Your Dream is Possible’ and take those first steps towards following your passion and making your dream come true.

“Stress doesn’t come from the facts, stress comes from the meaning that we give the facts.”

Life is about choices. Every day we’re faced with hundreds of choices, and this speech by Tony Robbins will help you see that it’s the choices, not the conditions, which shape our lives.

Take a moment during this speech to pause and reflect on some choices you have made in the past, and really think about the direction your life took because of them, both good and bad. Tony Robbins explains in his inimitable way that we have the choice to focus on what we want, and that when we focus, we can achieve whatever we want.

Part of Tony’s speech explains how, when the economy is down, some people thrive and some people crash and burn, and the COVID 19 pandemic is the perfect example. Small businesses took a huge hit, and while some of them threw up their hands in despair and said ‘that’s it, it’s over for us’, others adapted, and saw it as an opportunity to expand, diversify, and turn the situation to their advantage.

And that’s the cornerstone of this video – how we react, how we adapt, and how we choose is the difference between success and failure.

“So every rep that I do gets me closer to accomplishing the goal to make this goal – this vision – into reality.”

Be inspired by Arnold Schwarzenneger as he talks about his goal of becoming Mr. Universe. Never wasting a second of his day, Arnie worked in construction, spent 5 hours in the gym, and went to acting classes, all of which took him further along his journey to making his dream come true.

We all have a propensity to waste time, but if you have a goal, if you have a passion that smolders away, take a leaf out of Arnie’s book and make sure that everything you do propels you forward.

And don’t be afraid to fail.

“Your conviction and your convenience don’t live on the same block.”

If you are a fan of The Secret, you will be familiar with Lisa Nicholls. In this video, Lisa tells Tom Bilyeu how she was willing to leave everything and everyone behind in order to grow into the version of herself that she knew she wanted.

Lisa explains how, as a young mother, she was forced to wrap her baby in a towel for two days because she had no money for diapers, and how it was at that moment that she vowed never to be that broke or that broken again.

Change, success, drive…they’re all inconvenient and disruptive, and Lisa Nicholls demonstrates that wonderfully in this emotional and highly motivating interview in which she declares “your story is not meant to be your fortress, your story is meant to be your fuel.”

Eric Thomas had a dream, a goal, and that goal was to be the best motivational speaker in the world. He didn’t achieve this by giving 70%, or 80%…he didn’t achieve it by staying in bed late in the mornings. He achieved it by giving 100% every minute of every day.

Listen to Eric’s words, hear the passion in his voice, and feel the lessons he is giving to you if you want to be the best at whatever you do.

“If we don’t take control of our environment, it takes control of us.”

This short piece by Tony Robbins has been designed to show you that you are in control of your own environment. Whether you realize it or not, what goes on around you has a massive influence on the way you feel and the way you act.

By taking leadership of your own life, you can defy outside influences and set your own tone for the day ahead, regardless of whatever or whoever is exerting pressure from the outside.

Follow Tony’s example of taking 10 minutes for yourself at the start of every day – for gratitude, prayer or wishes for family and friends, and a recap of what you want to accomplish that day, and your day will continue on that same path of thankfulness, hope, and goals.

“Your mind doesn’t know the difference between something you vividly imagined and something that’s real, literally!”

If you want to emulate the way successful people behave, take these 10 billionaires’ habits and adopt them yourself for 21 days.

Billed by Jim Kwik as being ‘like a magic pill’, these habits will rewire your brain into thinking and behaving like some of the world’s most successful people.

In this 8 minute clip, Jim shares how, for instance, your brain reacts the same way when you imagine your dog walking in as it does when your dog actually walks in, and this can apply to anything. What the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve.

As much as this applies to positive things, it also can be applied to negative things, so if you imagine failure, that’s what you will get. Fill your mind with thoughts of success and that’s what will happen.

None of these habits are difficult to accomplish, but in doing so you will change your entire mindset into one of a hugely successful person, no matter what you want to achieve in life.

“Don’t leave crumbs.”

If this sounds more like a housekeeping hint and less like a motivational affirmation, you’re 50% right. Our lives do need housekeeping, and not leaving crumbs – i.e. regrets – which will come back and rob your tomorrow of joy, is one of the chores you need to do on a daily basis.

Matthew McConaughey delivers a powerful speech in a gentle way at the University of Houston Commencement Address.

Discussing the five rules he lives by, he will show you how to avoid falling into a trap of entitlement, and why ‘Unbelievable’ is the stupidest word in the dictionary.

With some invaluable life lessons contained inside a highly watchable speech, Matthew McConaughey is an unlikely but very inspiring speaker who has stayed humble despite all his successes.

“There are a lot of sharks in the world; if you hope to complete the swim, you will have to deal with them. So if you want to change the world, don’t back down from the sharks.”

Spoken with eloquence and quiet assuredness, this six-minute speech draws on US Navy Admiral William McRaven’s experience of survival in the Navy Seals.

He explains how making your bed, while seemingly insignificant and even pointless, will set a series of tasks in motion which will ensure that at best, the first job of the day is done, and at worst, you have a neat, tidy bed to fall into at the end of a trying day.

The world is full of people who want to bring you down (the sharks) but if you stand your ground, they will eventually swim away, leaving you to go on to bigger and better things.

“Sometimes life’s gonna hit you in the face with a brick…don’t lose faith.”

Steve Jobs, chairman, CEO, and co-founder of Apple Inc. was hit in the face with more than one brick during his 56 years on earth. From being given up for adoption as a baby, to being fired from the very company which he founded, he never let anything get in his way.

In this commencement speech at Stamford University in 2005, Steve explained how his love for what he did spurred him on to rebuild his life in spectacular fashion.

Life dealt a further blow when, in 2003, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.

This speech focuses on three stories which, when combined, show how life offers opportunities for change and growth, no matter how dire the circumstances.

Steve Jobs never graduated college, but when he died in 2011, aged just 56, he had a net worth of US$7 billion. He achieved this by doing what he loved, and in this speech he will inspire you to do the same.

“It is impossible to live without failing at something, unless you live so cautiously than you might as well not have lived at all. In which case, you fail by default.”

Let J. K. Rowling inspire you with this 2008 commencement speech at Harvard University. Extolling the virtues of failure and imagination, she tells the graduates how being at rock bottom set her free to pursue her dreams of being an author.

As poor as it is possible to be without being homeless, she created the world of Harry Potter and went on to amass a fortune of £795 million, but that without her failures in life, she would never have had the opportunity to do so.

Let her words become your own mantra, and view every failure in your life as a future success.

“We shine, because baby you just can’t dim the sun.”

A beautiful antidote for anyone who has ever felt or been told that they are ‘too much’, Gina Hatzis’ winning Speaker Slam speech of 2018 will give you permission to be unashamedly you.

Although written by a woman for women, this powerful and sometimes humorous speech about being your own authentic self will inspire anyone – man or woman – to shine and never dim their own light to suit other people.

“The first step you need to take is just that…step.”

If you are in need of a short, sharp burst of motivation, listen to this speech by ex Navy Seal, Jocko Willink.

Running for less than three minutes, this recording will inspire you to take a step into whatever you want to achieve. Awarded both the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for service, Jocko Willink is no stranger to taking those brave steps, having come face to face with Iraqu insurgents in Ramadi. He will spur you on to put one metaphorical foot in front of the other, and will leave you in no doubt as to what you need to do to achieve your goals.

“On the other side of your maximum fear are all of the best things in life.”

If you like your motivation with a side order of laughter, watch Will Smith as he talks about fear. Agreeing to skydive on a night out with friends, Will realizes that he actually has to go through with it.

Discussing how fear ruins things (he couldn’t sleep or eat before the jump), Will also discloses that beyond fear was the most blissful experience of his life, and how that principle can be applied to anything in life.

“Only those that can see the invisible, can do the impossible.”

Tyrese Gibson knows success, and in this speech he talks about how it can be achieved, by anyone who wants it.

Actor, singer, author, model…Tyrese seems to have the Midas touch, but he didn’t get it by luck. Follow his words as he gently but passionately guides you along the path you need to take if you have goals and dreams in life.

“I refuse to be another man who lived and died, and wasn’t significant’”

“If it is written, so shall it be.”

When Steve Harvey’s teacher crushed his dreams of being on TV, the one person who believed in him was his father. He told him to put a piece of paper with his dreams on in his drawer, and to read it every morning and every night.

His dreams came true.

It didn’t always come easy for Steve Harvey though – he spent years living in his car when he had nowhere else to go, but the one thing he never lost was his ambition and determination to see his dreams through to fruition.

A firm believer in the Law of Attraction, Steve still has vision boards and still commits his dreams to writing, and encourages you to do the same in this speech that made Obama cry.

These motivational speeches, and many more like them, show how having guts, determination, and a vision will get you anywhere you want to go, no matter your beginnings in life. These inspirational speakers have suffered loss, sickness, and unbelievable hardships, but the one thing that got them through was their desire to win and their belief that they could.

Immerse yourself in their words of wisdom, and take that next step into your best life.

More on Motivation

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• Motivational Quotes

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Inspirational Speech

Life, as you know and experience has always been hard. You may have tried various things to make yourself motivated no matter how big the waves of challenges and problems are crashing upon you. You may have encountered or listened to an inspirational speech before which may have helped and inspired you to continue winning in life. Now, you may want to create one for yourself but you do not know where exactly you should be starting. This article will help you in making one with the help of these six speech examples .

What Is an Inspirational Speech?

Let’s define inspirational speech by separating the two terms.

What is an inspiration? According to the Oxford Dictionary, inspiration means the process of being mentally stimulated to do or feel something, especially to do something creative.

What is a speech ? Merriam-Webster defines speech as the power of expressing or communicating thoughts by speaking.

Now, if we combine the two together: inspirational speech is a kind of speech that persuades or convinces people that they can succeed and win in life. Inspirational speeches would often include success and uplifting stories and real-life situations and experiences that the speaker thinks the people listening to it will be moved and inspired to do greater and better things in their life.

Sample Inspirational Speech

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Transcripts of Famous Inspirational Speeches

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Alumna Inspirational Speech

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What Makes an Inspirational Speech Successful?

An inspirational speech drives people to change for the better. If you want to make your inspirational speech successful, you have to make sure that you drive them to change. Here are three simple tips that will make your inspirational speech successful:

Share Your Personal Story

Always include your personal story in your speech. Although we are living in different lives, chances are, there are a lot of people who can relate with your struggles and some would also want to prepare when they are expecting to experience the same struggle as yours. When you share your personal story, you do not only touch the topics they can relate with but you can also touch their hearts and feelings and nothing can be as moving as when your feelings are touched.

Tailored to the Audience

An inspirational speech is only effective if the audience you are delivering the speech to can relate to it. You cannot expect to inspire people with the age bracket of 12-15 years old and your inspirational speech is all about college fresh graduate dilemmas. Before you are going to write for your speech make sure that you ask the organizers what the theme of the event is as well as the age bracket of the audience.

Make Every Point Connected and Relevant

You cannot also expect inspiring people when the points of your speech are all over the place. In your introduction, give at least three points and give a brief talk about it but on the body, elaborate more and in the conclusion, make sure you repeat the three points again, summarize everything and do not add more ideas. An inspirational speech that is well-crafted can not only inspire people but it will also make them understand more.

How to Give an Inspiring and Memorable Speech

Now, you may have a little knowledge of how to make your inspirational speech successful but your question now is, how do you exactly make your inspirational speech actually inspiring and memorable for your audience? Here are five simple tips that will make your inspirational speech inspiring and memorable:

1. Grab your audience’s attention

This is an old trick in the book but this trick always works wonders. Why? Because your inspirational speech is for your audience. You can grab their attention by starting your inspirational speech with a mind-blowing quote o question, your personal story, a joke, or play a moving video. You can do everything as long as you do not bore your audience at the start of your inspirational speech.

2. Always be upbeat.

Another possible thing that could make you lose your audience’s attention is when you would be delivering your inspirational speech lousy and uninteresting. Be upbeat especially in the introduction part of your inspirational speech. Sure, you have a sad story to tell but share that in the middle of your inspirational speech when you have already caught their attention in the introduction part of your inspirational speech. You are to deliver an inspirational speech and you are not there to sing a lullaby and make people sleep.

3. Do not literally read your inspirational speech in front of your audience.

Reading your inspirational speech on a paper in front of your audience inspires them to do one thing: when it’s their turn to deliver a speech one day in their lives, they will think it’s all right to deliver a speech on a paper. Reading your inspirational speech on a paper can make you less credible. Some people might question your credibility, and would ask whether you really are fit to deliver a speech or not. There might be times when reading it on a paper is all right like when you would deliver a graduation speech. But it is really best if you memorize your inspirational speech. You can always make use of a power point presentation if you have a hard time memorizing. And additionally, practice makes perfect so before presenting your inspirational speech, you must always practice practice, and practice.

4. Share your personal story.

This is a repetitive tip but this, like grabbing your audience’s attention, is an old trick in the book but always works wonders. Everyone loves to listen to stories especially from people who are known for the struggles or field. Even if people do not exactly relate to it, people would still love to listen to stories. Make sure you include only the ones sensible and relatable with your main points, or else people would think your speech is all over the place, and they would not be able to understand it anymore.

5. Make the audience want more.

This tip does not necessarily mean you leave your audience hanging with your inspirational speech. It means that you would drive your audience to want more ideas, information, and lessons about your inspirational speech. A sign that you left them wanting for more of your wisdom is right after your inspirational speech or the entire event, they would come up to you, ask you a lot of questions, and ask for any way to contact you. End your speech with a round of applause or a bang and never ever leave them with nothing to bring and that is the learning they can generate from your inspirational speech.

Motivational Speech Sample

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Simple Inspiration Speech Example

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Success and Failure Inspirational Speech

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Elements of an Inspirational Speech

Make sure you always include the following elements in your inspirational speech so that you will be able to write a successful, effective, and of course, inspirational speech:

1. Optimism

An optimistic inspirational speech would give and ignite hope to its readers. Make sure that your motivational speech truly delivers this element. One proof that your speech has successfully included this element in your inspirational speech is when right after your speech, your audience is filled with so much hope in their eyes that they are very much willing to change for the better or to continue becoming better because they have been inspired by your speech.

2. Call to Action

Your inspirational speech must always provide objectives that would call your audience to action. It is pointless to feel inspired but you do not actually act out what you have learned about. Also, make sure that what you are trying to call to action is something anyone can act out and are achievable. You may also see special occasion speech .

3. Passionate and Personal

A passionate inspirational speech often comes sincerely from the heart and mostly, the things that come from the heart are often based on experience. Making an inspirational speech out of personal experience makes our heart pour out These are the kinds of inspirational speeches move, appeal, and inspire people.

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30 Motivational Speeches To Get You Moving Forward Now

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Published Date : October 29, 2021

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A sense of purpose in your professional and personal life is critical to success. It is useful advice for an impending deadline, an important presentation, or when clients rely on your performance.

Words can revitalize you on both a physical and emotional level. Motivational speeches may help you focus on your objectives and motivate your team. Having the right words to say the right thing at the right moment can transform and challenge your thinking.

You can use these motivational speeches to stay inspired and fulfilled no matter what life throws at you. These speeches will remind you why you do what you do and how much you enjoy doing it.

How Motivational Speeches Move People

People are propelled ahead by motivation. It rouses individuals from their complacency and opens their eyes to the thrilling possibilities . It is where motivational speeches help people to rise beyond the shackles of their ordinary existence.

Although motivation has a profound and even mystical effect on individuals, it is not as elusive as it first seems. The best motivational speeches are those that provoke thinking and meaning.

What Makes The Best Motivational Speeches

Best motivational speeches all have one thing in common: they’re filled with emotion . Emotions influence our decisions, behaviors, and viewpoints in every area of our lives. Motivational speeches are often filled with: 

• Anecdotes about overcoming adversity
• Perseverance
• Achieving success

Speakers who use emotive topics and talking points that the audience can connect to are more likely to motivate the audience.

Plus, make them believe that they can overcome whatever obstacles stand in their way. The feeling of hope often sparks inspiration.

Qualities of Good Motivational Speakers

A few of the most effective motivational speakers share the characteristics listed below.

For more knowledge in delivering a motivational speech , here are some tips:

• Initiate mobility . Speakers begin with a speech , but concentrating the audience on various elements leads to a specific outcome. 
• Straight to the point . Speakers convince the audience of their credibility while giving their speeches.
• Make it interesting . An effective motivational speaker knows that standing before an audience and blathering is never appreciated.

Practice your speech with Orai. Get feedback on your tone, tempo, confidence , and conciseness .

Motivational Speeches From Universities

Motivational speeches from well-known people are given during graduation each year to encourage students. Here are the best motivational speeches during the commencement exercises of different universities:

1. Denzel Washington – University of Pennsylvania

Denzel Washington’s motivational speech discusses the importance of taking chances in life and how. It is among the finest motivational speeches that are valid for business owners. He stated that when you fail, you should fall forward to his graduation address. Also, he encourages people to embrace failure and grow from it. 

2. Steve Jobs – Stanford University

Definitely among the finest motivational speeches ever! His motivational speech discussed life’s setbacks, such as death, and how understanding death may help people make better life decisions. His comments to the graduating class on the value of learning and pursuing goals were the most valuable advice he could give them.

3. Jim Carrey – Maharishi University

At Maharishi University in Iowa, actor and comedian Jim Carrey delivered one of the most original graduation addresses ever. His takeaway from his motivational speech is: Never give up on your goals and never give up on yourself. Indeed, it is one of the best motivational speeches.

4. J.K. Rowling – Harvard University

Several publishers rejected J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series before it was finally accepted, as is well known. However, before she became successful, she was in a desperate position and was about to become bankrupt. In her Harvard address, she stressed the importance of not being afraid of failure and persisting in adversity.

5. Matthew McConaughey – University of Houston

Next on our list is Matthew McConaughey’s motivational speech . His speech has various excellent ideas. But, the one that stood out was when he said we should approach happiness constantly.

Ultimately, he discovered that everything came into place when he approached things step by step. After everything was said and done, Matthew McConaughey gave one of the best motivational speeches in recent years.

6. Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University

Michelle Obama delivered a commencement speech to the Eastern Kentucky University class in 2013. She urged them to keep challenging their assumptions and find a way to make their flaws work for them. Her speech focused on giving the students motivation about life. 

When it comes to defining moments in your life, it won’t be when you receive a promotion or have a breakthrough in your career.

7. Peter Dinklage – Bennington College

Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage is well-known for portraying Tyrion Lannister in the show. He delivered the Bennington College graduating speech in 2012. His message to the graduating class focused on perseverance and doing everything it takes to succeed. 

8. John Roberts – Cardigan Mountain School

US Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts addressed his son’s graduating high school class in 2017. It’s not good luck; he wishes the grads in his address. He expresses his want for kids to experience loneliness, failure, and defeat from time to time. 

9. Natalie Portman – Harvard University

Actress Natalie Portman addressed Harvard University’s 2015 graduating class during their graduation ceremony. She uses wide brushstrokes from all periods of her life to build a picture in her compelling speech . Also, she claims to have discovered that taking measured risks may result in life-altering benefits, as she has done it herself.

10. Meryl Streep – Barnard College

Meryl Streep is most recognized as a 16-time nominee and 2-time winner at the Academy Awards. While at Barnard College, she made a memorable graduating address in 2010 that inspired the audience. However, in her address, she emphasized the importance of her relationships with family and friends. 

Become an excellent speaker with the perfect Motivational speech .

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Motivational Speeches From Ted Talk

Reaffirming your confidence in humanity is one of the most powerful benefits of listening to motivational speeches. Next time you need a little additional energy, have this list handy.

1. Elizabeth Gilbert

Famous author and TED speaker Elizabeth Gilbert spoke about how we all have a “genius” that we may unleash. She is the author of the best-selling book Eat, Pray, Love. Gilbert’s motivational speech emphasized the importance of not being intimidated or scared of success. 

2. Tony Robbins

One of the most well-known motivational speakers today is Tony Robbins. This TED lecture, in particular, profoundly affects the listener. It addresses two major issues in its title, “Why We Do What We Do.”

We learn about ourselves and others by asking these kinds of inquiries. What should you remember? You are the only person who can decide whether or not you succeed.

3. Richard St. John

Next on our list of motivational speeches is Richard St. John’s TED Talk from 2005, given by the author, marketer, and analyst. St. John’s address, which was based on his book “8 To Be Great,” gets to the point in a manner that most speeches don’t

The remainder of St. John’s discourse quickly transitions from one intriguing topic to the next without wasting time or words. There are also a few well-placed jokes in there. As a result, even though he covers a lot of subjects, his audience retains what he says.

4. Dan Pink

As a writer, Dan Pink’s reputation is supported by many “legs,” such as his writings and accolades. Also, in the late 1990s, he was the primary speechwriter for former US Vice President Al Gore.

Pink’s TED Talk is a role model for everyone who wants to convert a dull subject into motivating. He started his speech by examining how most economists see performance, stating, “If you want people to perform better, you reward them. Right? That’s how business works.”

5. Mel Robbins

Regarding speakers, Mel Robbins has a solid reputation for taking a direct and honest stance on even the most emotional subjects. Due to this, she’s not scared to speak her mind regarding difficult issues. She only chooses a person from her audience to underscore her speech ’s enormous chances of being born.

6. Simon Sinek

First seen in his 2009 TED Talk “How Great Leaders Inspire Action,” Simon Sinek is a best-selling author. Sinek proves he’s not just switching from one stereotyped issue to another. In addition, he encourages audiences to let go of their preconceived notions about the subject to approach it with a fresh perspective.

7. Tali Sharot

Dr. Tali Sharot is dedicated to helping people realize their personal and professional dreams. She works to increase awareness of the impact of emotions on our decisions and behavior. In this TED talk, she talks about how to motivate yourself to change your behavior.

8. Brene Brown

Brene Brown, a Texan with a penchant for ranting and raving, is an authority on shame and vulnerability. A key focus of Brown’s research is human connection. Over 16 million people have seen her motivational TED presentation in which she offers a profound discovery from her studies. It launched her on a personal mission to understand both herself and humankind.

9. Malcolm Gladwell

It wouldn’t be a list of motivational speeches without Malcolm Gladwell’s inclusion. Gladwell tells the tale of a guy who refused to believe in the existence of a ‘perfect’ spaghetti sauce. It contains important insights for executives who want to create work environments where their employees are pleased.

10. Sam Berns

It is one of the best motivational speeches you’ll ever see. A 17-year-old Sam became a public face for Progeria, a hereditary disorder with the evocative moniker aging sickness. While some claimed Sam would never transcend the constraints others had placed on him, he refused to let his illness define him.

He led the life he wanted, ignoring his disease and the things that set him apart in favor of his goals. It’s a remarkable heirloom left by a unique young man.

Best Motivational Speeches From Movies

While narrative and actors are important in movies, speeches leave an impression on audiences. So, here are the best motivational speeches from movies to help you out:

Given Sunday

To prepare for a rough day, hear this inspiring lecture from a well-known motivational speaker. It focuses on the importance of inches in American Football, even though we prefer to disregard them. He speaks about how his team may gain an inch on their competition by focusing on the little details of winning.

Irrespective of whether or not you saw the film, it provided cinemagoers with one of the most motivational speeches ever. You don’t have to yell or curse a lot. Depending on your personality, it may cause you to enter what we refer to as “the zone.” Speeches in earlier films have included theatrical components; this one does not.

3. Hoosiers

Even though we’re still in college, we’ve already gained enough life experience to realize that working hard doesn’t guarantee a W. Even if we give it our all, dozing off in the library at 3 a.m. on top of our books, that doesn’t guarantee an A. Isn’t it enough if you’re giving it your all?

4. Friday Night Lights

Is it possible for you to speak the truth to your friends while looking them in the eye? That you put out all of your efforts? In this film, Coach Gaines says that if you can accomplish it with love in your heart, you’ve achieved perfection. His message inspires honesty, camaraderie, and love among his team members in this scenario.

5. Rocky Balboa

Rocky Balboa reminds his kid that life isn’t fair in this scene since he is a father figure in the Rocky franchise. It is like boxing in that how hard you punch back is immaterial. According to him, what matters is how much you can absorb and how quickly you can advance.

6. The Pursuit of Happiness

It’s worth mentioning that the whole picture is moving since it depicts father-son relationships. In this speech , a father instructs his kid never to give up on his dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem to others. If someone tells you you can’t attain your objectives, don’t believe them.

7. Wolf of Wall Street

The main hero’s speech in Wolf of Wall Street is encouraging because it takes achievement into account. Seeing examples of people who rose from poverty to riches might encourage others to take risks when an opportunity arises. Since his speech , having a decent standard of life has become more important.

8. Braveheart

In this scene, William Wallace gives a speech on the importance of freedom to a human being. For him, independence trumps the monotony of everyday existence. The speech can motivate listeners to take action instead of just producing food.

9. The Shawshank Redemption

Motivational speeches like this one demonstrate confidence in an optimistic future. You can still use it, even if you have to put in a lot of work to get there while another guy gives up. It would help if you always had an optimistic outlook on life’s prospects.

10. Independence Day

In this film, the president discusses the importance of humanism and goodwill among all countries. His message is motivational because he discusses uniting against common adversaries and preserving lives. If you’re considering international relations, this speech is a gold mine.

What event did Greta Thunberg speak at in 2019, and what was the focus of her speech?

In 2019, Greta Thunberg delivered a speech at the United Nations Climate Action Summit. The focus of her powerful address was to criticize world leaders for their inadequate actions toward addressing and combating climate change. Thunberg traveled by sailboat to the summit and accused these leaders of failing to take tangible steps to combat the global climate crisis.

Who is Greta Thunberg, and what is she known for?

Greta Thunberg is a prominent figure in the realm of environmental activism, hailing from Sweden. At the tender age of 20, she has gained international recognition for fearlessly challenging global leaders to address the urgent need for measures to counter the impacts of climate change. Thunberg’s passionate advocacy work centers around raising awareness about the climate crisis and urging policymakers to take concrete actions to combat it. Her inspiring efforts have made her synonymous with the fight against climate change on a global scale.

What insights were found through the analysis of Oprah Winfrey’s motivational speech?

Oprah Winfrey delivered a motivational speech without using any filler words, speaking at a conversational pace and maintaining positive body language . Her speech delivery was effective and can be an example for aspiring speakers. Yoodli is a tool that can help individuals improve their speech patterns and English proficiency.

What is the title and significance of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s famous speech 1963?

Dr. King’s “I Have a Dream” speech , delivered in 1963 at the height of the civil rights movement, remains iconic. Standing at the Lincoln Memorial, he addressed a massive crowd with a message of hope, equality, and justice. The speech ’s enduring power lies in its call to judge individuals by character, not skin color, inspiring generations to dream of a more just future.

Who gave the Nobel Peace Prize Lecture in 2014, and what was the content of the speech?

Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani champion for female education, delivered a powerful Nobel Peace Prize speech in 2014. Despite facing threats and violence, she expressed unwavering commitment to her cause, highlighting education’s role in achieving peace and leaving a lasting impact on the world.

What did Janelle Monáe discuss in her 2018 Trailblazer Award acceptance speech?

Janelle Monáe, a trailblazer, urged pushing boundaries and exploring oneself to create inclusive spaces. She highlighted self-discovery’s challenges and rewards, emphasizing authenticity’s power in empowering others.

Who is Janelle Monáe, and what awards has she received?

Janelle Monáe is a multi-talented pop artist who proudly identifies as queer and Black. Known for her powerful voice and dynamic performances, she has garnered recognition for her artistic contributions across various award ceremonies. Some of the awards and nominations she has received come from distinguished organizations such as BET, Billboard Music, ASCAP, and AICE. These accolades celebrate her exceptional talent and artistic achievements in the music industry.

Parting Words

That concludes our selection of the best motivational speeches to get you through the tough times ahead! Let’s take a look at some of the common themes that appear in all of these talks.

• It’s critical that you like your work.
• Even if you fail, that’s not the end of the world.
• It would be better if you aspired to it.

Now, consider the topics that will motivate your listeners to pay attention to your words. You may also use the Orai App to help you enhance your public speaking skills and capture your audience’s attention. Furthermore, take advantage of the free trial offer and start immediately.

Practice makes a man perfect. Start practicing and become a professional speaker.

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16 Inspirational Speeches for Career and Life Lessons (+ Speaker Traits)

Erika Giles | July 9, 2020 | Inspiration | 11 min read

The Most Inspirational Speeches of All Time

• 1.  J.K. Rowling – Harvard University
• 2.  Jim Carrey – Maharishi University
• 3.  Steve Jobs – Stanford University
• 4.  Al Pacino – Any Given Sunday
• 5.  Tony Robbins – TED Talk
• 6.  Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happiness
• 7.  Matthew McConaughey – University of Houston
• 8.  Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa
• 9.  Denzel Washington – University of Pennsylvania
• 10.  Yoda – The Empire Strikes Back
• 11.   Elizabeth Gilbert – TED Talk, 2009
• 12.   Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University
• 13.   David Goggins – Driven
• 14.   Peter Dinklage – Bennington College
• 15.   John Roberts – Cardigan Mountain School
• 16.  Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - LA Lakers

Being motivated at work and in life is crucial for your performance. This is true when you have an approaching deadline, an important meeting, or customers depending on you.

The power of words can physically and emotionally rejuvenate you. Inspirational speeches can guide you to keep performing at your best and drive your team to achieve their goals . The right words at the right time can change you and challenge you.

No matter what is thrown at you in life, you can use these speeches to stay motivated. 

How Inspiration Impacts People

Inspiration helps propel people forward. It pushes apathy away and awakens people to new and exciting possibilities. They're able to transcend their limitations and mundane lives. 

It can help all people to become more creative and help them to progress toward their goals if they are open to it. 

Although inspiration impacts people in several meaningful and often magical ways, it is not something as elusive as it seems. Inspiration is everywhere, and it can be captured, activated, and manipulated. 

Most often, inspiration is found in others who say something or do something thought provoking and meaningful. 

What Makes a Speech Inspirational?

Great inspirational speeches all include one key thing – emotions . Emotions motivate actions and beliefs in any given aspect of life. Inspirational speeches are often loaded with tales of struggle, resilience, trials, endurance, and breakthroughs. All things that most people can relate to.

The philosopher, Aristotle, once said that people tend to believe in people who can be perceived as trustworthy or in those who have proper values and morals. This means that speakers who understand the concerns their audience has and empathizes with them are more likely to connect with their audience and gain their trust. 

Speakers who select emotional themes and talking points that people can relate to are more likely to inspire those in the audience with their stories. 

The key to this is making others feel as though they aren’t alone, and that they too can overcome the roadblocks in their way because someone else has. Hope is one of the most powerful emotions that sparks inspiration. 

Next, comes an excellent oral delivery. Facial expressions, tone of voice, and appropriate pausing all help to make a speech that much more effective and inspirational. 

7 Qualities of the Best Motivational Speakers

Here are seven traits, qualities, and characteristics that some of the best motivational speakers have.

1. They Tell Great Stories.

The ability to tell a great story is one of the core qualities that a motivational speaker needs to help add value to the lives of listeners. Motivational speakers tell original stories to provide the audience with fresh and relevant information. 

More importantly, the best motivational speakers paint a picture that lets the audience put themselves into the story so they can feel the emotions to understand the lesson better. 

2. They Are Passionate About What They Do.

Great speakers are often passionate about wanting to change others for the better, and the amount of passion a speaker has translates into their presentation. The audience can tell when a speaker is passionate about their subject matter because it will reflect in the speaker’s enthusiasm and excitement when they perform. 

Passion is infectious, and when a great speaker is passionate, it inspires the audience to cultivate passion as well. 

3. They Are Confident.

It is essential that motivational speakers have confidence in themselves and in their message.

Audience members can tell when speakers are nervous or unsure about what they are doing or saying. This automatically causes the audience to doubt the speaker, and it may invalidate the message. 

Great speakers have confidence that reflects in their speech and gestures while they are on stage, which in turn inspires confidence in the audience. It helps to engage them and makes them believe in what the speaker is saying. 

4. They Are Self-Aware.

A great motivational speaker understands who they are and knows exactly what they stand for. They are also aware of their strengths and weaknesses.

They use their strengths to make a speech more effective, and they work on improving their weaknesses.

5. They Show Empathy.

A defining mark of a great motivational speaker is their ability to put themselves in the shoes of those in their audience. They do their best to understand their audience’s motivation, fears, hopes, challenges, and worries. 

This helps them tailor their speech to appeal to and inspire their audience. Empathetic speakers are also individuals who have gone through what they talk about. 

They have been where the audience is, and they understand what that is like, which helps make a pure connection with them.

6. They Possess Knowledge.

Any motivational speaker must remain up to date and knowledgeable in their area of expertise. Motivational speakers aren’t born; they are made.

This means that they must grow and learn to become an expert with great knowledge and insight to share with others. 

7. They Have a Sense of Humor.

Motivational speeches tend to discuss serious topics, and great speakers know how to add fun anecdotes or jokes when it is appropriate to do so. 

Humor often makes a speech more memorable. Plus, it enthralls listeners, and everyone likes someone with a good sense of humor. 

16 of the Best Inspirational Speeches of All Time

We all need some inspiration from time to time. If you are in need of inspiration, look no further than these 16 best inspirational speeches of all time. 

1. J.K. Rowling – Harvard University

It's well known that J.K. Rowling's famous Harry Potter series was turned down by several publishers before it was finally accepted. But before her success, she was in a dire situation and was on the brink of bankruptcy.

Despite constant rejection, she kept trying and finally her efforts paid off. Her Harvard speech delivered some valuable life lessons about not fearing failure and persevering no matter how bad things get.

2. Jim Carrey – Maharishi University 

Actor/comedian Jim Carrey gave one of the most unique and emotional commencement speeches ever at Maharishi University in Iowa.

In his speech , he offered the students powerful and inspiring words about life, the future, and urged them never to settle for anything less than what they want. His message: Never give up and follow your dreams!

3. Steve Jobs – Stanford University 

This is one of the greatest inspirational speeches! In his commencement speech , Jobs discussed how he dropped out of college after six months, then took another 18 months to figure out what his life's work would be.

He quit college because his parents were struggling financially, and he couldn't see the value in an education that was draining his parents life savings.

His speech talked of the setbacks in life, including death, and how being aware of death can help you make better choices in life. At the time, Jobs was dying of pancreatic cancer, and his inspirational words on the importance of acquiring knowledge and following your dreams was the best life lesson he could bestow upon the graduates.

4. Al Pacino – Any Given Sunday

This movie features an inspirational speech about how even the simplest things can inch you closer to your dream.

Pacino's speech motivated the players on his football team to do whatever it takes to win. The takeaway? The little things you do every day will lead you to success.

5. Tony Robbins – TED Talk

Tony Robbins is one of the most famous motivational speakers around. This TED talk is particularly inspirational. It's topic, “Why We Do What We Do,” asks two key questions: What drives you? What motivates you to do your daily tasks?

By asking these questions, we're able to explore ourselves and appreciate others. The takeaway? We are our own path to success!

6. Will Smith – The Pursuit of Happiness

Considered one of the best motivational speeches in film, this scene starts with Smith and his son playing basketball. When his son shouts “I'm going pro,” Smith decides to try and temper his son's expectations, telling him he never excelled at basketball, so he shouldn't expect to.

His son is visibly disappointed, and Smith launches into his speech proclaiming, “Don't ever let somebody tell you that you can't do something, not even me.” He tells his son, “You got a dream, you gotta protect it. You want something, go get it. Period.”

The takeaway? Only you can decide to chase a dream. No one can stop you besides yourself. 

7. Matthew McConaughey – University of Houston

McConaughey delivered some pertinent points in his speech to the graduating class, but the one that really stuck out was "joy being a constant approach." He said, ”Joy is always in process; it's always under construction."

He spoke of how he takes everything one step at a time when he's making a film, and how when he truly enjoys his craft, things just fall into place. The takeaway? “Define success for yourself.” Figure out what you want to achieve and enjoy the entire journey.

8. Sylvester Stallone – Rocky Balboa

In the sixth film in the Rocky franchise, Stallone gives one of the most inspirational speeches of all time. He starts with, “The world ain't all sunshine and rainbows,” and goes on to talk about the value of hard work and commitment.

“It ain't about how hard you hit; it's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” The takeaway? Even when your back is up against the wall, winners never give up!

9. Denzel Washington – University of Pennsylvania

In this commencement speech, Denzel Washington speaks about how nothing in life is worthwhile unless you take risks, adding that when you fall in life, fall forward . He speaks of embracing failure and using it as a chance to learn.

This is especially true when it comes to being an entrepreneur. The most important thing isn't winning or losing, it's getting out there and giving it everything you've got!

10. Yoda – The Empire Strikes Back

Ok, you can't have a list of inspirational speeches without at least one offering from Yoda!

In this speech from Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back , Yoda is teaching Luke about the ways of the force. The key teaching? Whether or not something can or can't be done is all in your head and your heart. If you believe in yourself, anything is possible!

The takeaway? In the words of Yoda, “Do or do not. There is no try.”

11. Elizabeth Gilbert – Ted Talk

Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of the bestselling book Eat, Pray, Love , gave an inspiring Ted Talk about the "genius" in all of us.

In her speech, she mentions that everyone can be a creative genius in their work and that the best years of our work and creativity are never behind us if we think of creative genius as something we borrow. 

The key takeaways from Gilbert's speech are to not be daunted or afraid of success. Just keep showing up and doing the work that you love without the anguish of what it will turn into. 

12. Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University

In 2013, Michelle Obama addressed the graduating class of Eastern Kentucky University. She encouraged them to continue learning to challenge their perspectives, and she told them to find a way to turn their weaknesses into strengths. 

The key takeaway from her speech is that the defining moments in your life will not be the moment you get the promotion or breakthrough to a classroom. They will be the days that you have to claw through to keep going.

As long as you keep working and pick yourself up when you fall down, then you will develop skills to apply to anything you do in life. And your resilience can be used in service to others. 

13. David Goggins – Driven

David Goggins is a former Navy Seal and Army Ranger who participates in ultra-marathons. In his talk, he discusses suffering and how you can turn hurt into strength. He talks about how you can still be successful and happy without guidance if you just stay true to who you are because you define greatness. 

The takeaway from Goggins' talk is that we all have greatness no matter what. You just have to find the courage through hard work and discipline. 

14. Peter Dinklage – Bennington College

Peter Dinklage is an actor who is known for his role as Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones . He gave the 2012 commencement address at Bennington College.

In his address to the graduates, he discusses persistence and doing whatever it takes to get to where you want to be. He also mentions that you shouldn't wait until you are ready to do what you love. 

The key lesson from his speech was to give yourself permission to fail early instead of waiting for permission. Show the world you're ready by doing it. 

15. John Roberts – Cardigan Mountain School

John Roberts, Chief Justice of the United States, gave the commencement address at his son's high school in 2017. In his speech, he wishes the graduates bad luck instead of good luck.

He tells them that he hopes they will be lonely, fail, and lose from time to time. He says all of this to say that these things are the greatest teachers of compassion, true friendship, and sportsmanship. 

The key takeaway from Roberts' speech is that there is always a message in your misfortunes, and you should not be afraid to fail. If you fail, you should get up and try again. 

16. Dwyane "The Rock" Johnson - LA Lakers

Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, tenured WWE superstar & mega Hollywood performer, gave an incredible speech to the Los Angeles Lakers in 2019.

He speaks from the heart, about remembering where you came from, and letting that fuel the hard work you will put in to become successful. 

Per usual, pure gold from Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson.

These 16 inspirational speeches touch on three main themes. It's important to love what you're doing. Failure is only bad if you don't learn and continue to move forward. And finally, you need to want it!

Life is hard. If you want something bad enough, whether it's a job, a relationship, or a successful business, you need to prove it!

General FAQ

An inspirational speech will create a positive emotional experience for the audience that will resonate with them. Similarly, a motivational speech can inspire an audience by motivating them to take action on something.

What Are the Qualities of an Inspirational Speaker?

To be a great inspirational speaker, you should have:

• A strong speaking voice
• A good story to tell

How Do You Write an Inspirational Speech?

It's important to know who your audience is and what your message is going to be when writing an inspirational speech. Use should also employ storytelling techniques to evoke emotion into your speech.

Who Is the Most Motivational Speaker in the World?

It is often said that Tony Robbins is the most motivational speaker. Tony Robbins is known best for his TED talks and self-help books.

Erika Giles

Erika is a Marketing Copywriter at Bluleadz. She is a huge fan of houseplants and podcasts about conspiracy theories. She spends most of her free time reading, writing, and enjoying the outdoors.

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Home > Blog > Speaking 101 > 10 Motivational Speech Examples To Inspire You Today

10 Motivational Speech Examples To Inspire You Today

Whether you’re a speaker or not, there come times in all of our lives where we need a little motivation. Maybe you’re struggling to find your purpose or are unsure about your path in life. Maybe you just had a bad day and need a reminder that tomorrow’s a fresh start. In either case, looking to famous speakers – and their corresponding motivational speech examples – is one sure way to boost your mood and help you find the energy to keep on keepin’ on. 

Here, we’ll look at ten different speeches from some of the most famous motivational speakers of the 21st century. Some are serious and take a candid look at difficult issues in the speakers’ lives. Others are humorous, designed to balance tough topics with laughter. 

Whatever tone you need to hear at this moment, at least one of the following speakers is guaranteed to brighten your day. They’re also all incredible examples for you to follow, simply from a speaking standpoint, when you next step on stage or record a virtual event . 

Hopefully, you get as much out of these examples as our own team did and are able to put the corresponding takeaways to good use. 💓

Steve Jobs: Commencement Speech At Stanford (2005)

First of our motivational speech examples is Stanford’s 2005 commencement speech, delivered by the late Apple founder Steve Jobs. Since his passing , much has been said about Jobs, some positive, some negative, with some people going so far as to publish their criticism or praise. However, regardless of whether or not they personally admired him, few will argue against Job’s brilliance. Even for those that scrutinized his business practices or personal life while he was alive, there’s little doubt that he was a major force in shaping the world we live in today through the technology he created. 

In this speech, Jobs’ mindfulness for these differing views is readily apparent, and overall, the entire speech is surprisingly humble. Jobs structures his speech as three simple stories, and of course they’re anything but simple, once you dig beneath the surface. 

One is a rags-to-riches story, which is expected, considering Jobs’ success. Second is a story of adversity in which Jobs explains the issues he faced after being “fired” from Apple. 

But it’s the third story – one about death – that’s truly surprising. It’s not a subject you’ll hear in many commencement speeches, let alone motivational ones. Yet, in telling this story, Jobs manages to present it in a way that it’s not depressing or scary but instead inspires his audience to live life to the fullest. 

In the same way, as you shape your own motivational speeches or as you approach challenging situations, remember that simplicity and logic are all well and good, like the stories Jobs includes at the beginning of his speech. But, if you want to truly stand out and conquer your challenges, be courageous! Approach tough topics head-on, don’t be afraid to be unconventional, and you’re sure to leave a mark, just like Jobs did.

Richard St. John: 8 Secrets of Success TED Talk (2005) 

Second of our motivational speech examples is that of author, marketer, and analyst Richard St. John , namely his 2005 TED Talk. TED Talks have become a staple in the world of motivational speeches, and it’s easy to see why this one made the cut. Based on his book , 8 To Be Great , St. John’s speech cuts to the chase in a way that most speeches don’t. In fact, it’s only three minutes long! 

Plus, although many of his points are simple, the speech itself is structurally brilliant, condensing 7 years of research and 500 of St. John’s interviews into a presentation that, despite its brevity, keeps audience members on their toes. Altogether, it’s a brilliant example of the use of momentum in storytelling. When it starts, for instance, St. John begins with “It all started one day on a plane,” which for many listeners – myself included – would seem like a signal to tune out a bit. It’s like hearing a speech that starts with “Webster’s Dictionary defines…” It works, but it’s used a lot . 

That said, the rest of St. John’s speech is the polar opposite, and quickly jumps from one interesting point to another without any wasted words or time. It also incorporates carefully-placed jokes. That way, even though he covers a lot of ground, his audience remembers all of it. It also allows him to connect with his audience and, unlike many speakers, share his information without appearing to be on a pedestal. 

With your own experiences or motivational speeches, St. John’s speech offers two important lessons. First, keep it simple. You don’t have to be flashy to be memorable. Second, don’t be afraid to laugh. In presentations, humor makes you more relatable and memorable, and in life, it makes hard times easier to handle. 

Dan Pink: The Puzzle of Motivation TED Talk (2009)

Third in our list of motivational speech examples is another TED Talk, this time from career analyst and bestselling author Daniel Pink. As an author, Pink’s built his reputation on many “legs,” including his publications, awards – even a stint as chief speechwriter for former U.S. Vice President Al Gore in the late 1990s.

Like these accomplishments, Pink’s TED Talk is a model for any speaker that needs to take a boring topic – like business or politics – and turn it into something inspiring and engaging. In this case, the former of these topics is presented as a puzzle. To start with, Pink explains the common economic approach to performance, saying “If you want people to perform better, you reward them. Right?… That’s how business works.” 

However, what he says next is what really puzzles you, as a listener: There is a mismatch between what science knows and what business does….the solution is not to do more of the wrong things, to entice people with a sweeter carrot, or threaten them with a sharper stick. We need a whole new approach.”

Ultimately, the topic of performance in the workplace is a relatively common one and the question “How do I motivate myself at work?” is a common puzzle. But Pink tackles out-of-the-box thinking in an out-of-the-box way and, in the end, concludes his story with a clear takeaway from the evidence and unconventional analytics he’s shared.

Likewise, with your own speeches or decisions, start by considering all the evidence you can find. That’s just a good rule of thumb, no matter what field you’re in. But, after that, try to consider it from another angle. Like Pink’s speech, it’ll make your topic vastly more interesting, and you’re almost guaranteed to grow, personally, because of your learning process.

Mel Robbins: How to Stop Screwing Yourself Over (2011)

Number four of our motivational speech examples belongs to Mel Robbins . As speakers go, Robbins is widely respected for her unique and candid approach to difficult situations, or, as I call it, the “gut-punch” approach. In other words, she’s not afraid to talk frankly about tough stuff. 

Dig beneath the one-liners and snarky comments, though, and Robbins’ approach is really about being direct to the point of bluntness. Some of the things she advocates are platitudes – focus on getting what you want, tell yourself the truth, force yourself out of your comfort zone, etc. – but she always backs it up with data that makes the gut punches land that much harder. 

Beyond her speaking style, however, Robbins is also known for engaging with her audiences. In this speech, for instance, she not only picks an individual from her audience to highlight the overwhelming odds of simply being born (this is the data we just talked about). She then goes on to meld that statistic with a model of the human brain, saying “I describe one side of your brain as autopilot and the other side as an emergency brake” and explaining her method for getting out of your own “autopilot” mode to meet your goals.

In this way, by presenting evidence but then relating it to a real person in the room, Robbins takes a subject that could be complicated or boring and makes it relatable. Likewise, if your speaking material – or your mood – has a tendency to flatline, change things up! Be blunt with yourself and candid with your audience. Then, do whatever you need to connect your message to other’s lives. Just like Pink’s speech, taking this Mel Robbins, “gut-punch” approach will make you relatable and likable, making you memorable.

Michelle Obama: Commencement Speech at Eastern Kentucky University (2013)

Next in our list of motivational speech examples is another commencement speech, this time from former lawyer, bestselling author , and First Lady to the 44th President of the U.S. Michelle Obama. 

Since stepping into the spotlight at the White House, Obama’s been regarded by many as a woman of power, and her personal and professional accomplishments are without question. In some ways, they’ve even helped her become a celebrity. This level of fame, however, is precisely where Obama’s similarity to celebrities ends. 

For many celebrity motivational speakers, speaking is just a gig, and the amount of time they want to spend on it corresponds directly with the money they receive to be there. In cases like these, it’s clear to the audience that the speaker may not even believe what they’re saying on stage or want their audience to succeed. They just want the paycheck. 

Yet, despite Obama’s popularity and prominence, her approach to speaking is anything but flippant or snobby. It’s all about connecting with the audience in a way that shows true generosity of spirit. In fact, every point Obama touches on is quickly translated and related to her audience in a way that’s both personal and powerful, making it clear that this speech isn’t haphazardly thrown together or something she’s said to hundreds of other audiences. It was carefully crafted to tie her core values – resilience, conscientiousness and service – into the setting and the needs of her audience, so they could leave with personalized affirmation and action steps. 

By doing this, Obama never fails to deliver a message that is both moving and quietly powerful. To do the same with your own speeches, follow her lead and remember who you’re there for: not the check, not the glory, but your audience .

Brené Brown: “The Power of Vulnerability” (2013)

Number six of our motivational speech examples is the shortest on this list, a less than three-minute short film from University of Houston research professor Dr. Brené Brown . 

Although Brown originally gained traction with her 20-minute TED Talk in 2010, this speech (or “mini-speech,” rather) takes the topic of that talk – vulnerability – and concentrates on a single facet of it. Specifically, she focuses on empathy and the age-old question of how to express empathy rather than sympathy and, in doing so, authentically connect with the person you’re trying to support in the moment. 

It’s a hard question, but, like Richard St. John’s speech, Brown shares a lot in a short message. In many ways, it’s her brevity that forces you to sit up and listen. In a little more than two minutes, her message is simple: When someone you know feels down and alone, don’t try to make things better. Just be there with them, and stick around, even if it takes them a while to bounce back. 

To illustrate her point, Brown presents her speech alongside an animated cartoon in which a fox is the depressed party and a bear comes to her aid. This helps her take a challenging and sometimes uncomfortable situation and not just make it engaging but also light-hearted. 

Similarly, if your speech tackles a tough message, consider presenting with a visual aid to lighten the mood, and keep the message as brief as possible. Don’t be the motivational speaker equivalent of “that guy,” i.e., the speaker who drones on and on but keeps repeating the same basic points. Use your speaking ability and visual aids to make a connection in the way that suits your audience best.

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

Seventh of our motivational speech examples is a 2014 commencement speech, this time from comedian, actor, and artist Jim Carrey. As you’d expect, part of Carey’s charm is his sense of humor, and it’s largely through his comedy that he keeps the audience engaged through serious topics. He’s also mindful of his tendency to walk the comedic line and uses this unpredictability to keep his audience paying attention, as they can pretty safely assume he has another joke up his sleeve.

Additionally, besides humor, Carey also engages his audience with something we’ve yet to touch on: authenticity! Unlike the other speakers in this list, Carey is widely known for his eccentricity more than anything. Most recently, as he’s shared more and more of his artwork, he’s also gained considerable attention for his creativity. Throughout his speech, although many speakers might choose to “dumb down” these attributes, Carey instead thrives on them, staying true to his authentic self, just as he encourages the members of his audience to be. 

To conclude his speech, Carey states: “You’ll come up with your own style, and that’s part of the fun… You are ready and able to do beautiful things in this world, and after you walk through those doors today, you will only ever have two choices: love or fear. Choose love and don’t ever let fear turn you against your playful heart.”

With your own speeches – and your own personal choices – keep this mindset close and remember to be yourself. Like Carey says, “you are ready and able to do beautiful things”. Plus, I can almost guarantee there are people out there who could benefit from the stories you have to share. Just stay true to yourself, stay humble, and your audience won’t want to look away.

Simon Sinek: Live2Lead (2016)

Next in our list of motivational speech examples is a speech from writer and TED speaker Simon Sinek . As author of the bestselling leadership book Start With Why , Sinek first appeared in his 2009 TED Talk , “How Great Leaders Inspire Action.” 

Since then, he’s gone on to publish a number of additional books centered around leadership as well as how to “wake up inspired, feel safe wherever [we] are and end the day fulfilled by the work [we] do.” These three ideas can be seen consistently throughout his ongoing work, speaking included. 

In this speech, specifically, Sinek deals with leadership in the business world, but his approach is based on the idea of destroying stereotypes everywhere. In short, he’s there to “blow up” paradigms and share new ones, based on his own research and experience. Here, Sinek focuses on “trust” and “communication,” for the former. Then, he proposes replacing them with “empathy” and “perspective,” for the latter. 

Although this may sound ordinary, Sinek demonstrates that he’s not just replacing one stereotypical topic with another. He’s also urging audience members to ditch their preconceptions about that topic, so they can approach it with an open mind. After having done that, he’s then careful to only provide extremely relevant and powerful arguments for his “new take” on the topic. That way, he provides details without overwhelming the audience.

Overall, these switches between “blowing up” and building provide a sense of balance in Sinek’s speech. In your own speeches, aim for a similar balance for your audience. Keep in mind that you’re there to educate but not berate with a ton of new ideas. It sounds simplistic, but staying consistent and on-point is key if you want your audience to leave inspired to act. 

Simon T. Bailey: To Break Through, Find Your True Calling (2017)

Number nine of our motivational speech examples is a 2017 speech from Simon T. Bailey. If you’re a regular SpeakerFlow blog reader, you already know there are many reasons Bailey is legendary among professional speakers. For one thing, his personal branding and digital presence are two of the best in the speaking industry. For another, his humility is seemingly endless despite his success, a trait that’s perhaps best summarized in his book, Success Is An Inside Job : “Success is not significance. Money is not meaning. Power isn’t purpose.”

In this speech, we see this idea reinforced through the third thing that sets Bailey apart, namely his speaking skills. Because he’s talking to a business-oriented crowd, in many ways, this skill isn’t immediately apparent. Truthfully, the first part of his speech is traditional. While it’s undeniably engaging, it’s sometimes a little hard to see why he’s such a renowned orator. 

Then he digs deeper. After his initial “traditional” approach, Bailey pivots to a creative angle, explaining how to “invent your future” and be unconventional in simple ways to slowly change your mindset. He then goes on to incorporate topics like emotional equity and commitment, love and respect as universally important values, and his trip to South Africa to “get free.” Combine this surprising switch from “conventional” to “creative” with Bailey’s optimistic tone, and you can almost feel the audience connecting with him. 

To create the same atmosphere on your own stage, aim for a similar element of surprise. Remember that you’re there to speak for more than a few minutes. Consequently, building up to a powerful ending is crucial, even if that means starting slow. 

Matthew McConaughey: Commencement Speech at University of Houston (2018)

Last but not least in our motivational speech examples list is a 2018 commencement, delivered by Matthew McConaughey. 

As an actor, McConaughey has arguably delivered motivational speeches in almost all of his movie appearances. In fact, whether it’s The Lincoln Lawyer , Mud , We Are Marshall, or Dallas Buyers Club , one of his best tricks as an actor is to take each of his characters by the horns and deliver a rousing speech at a critical point in the film.

Outside of the big screen, however, McConaughey’s commencement address for the University of Houston reflects similar confidence and power, in his words, his clothing, and his body language. As a well-known celebrity, this isn’t entirely surprising, especially considering his famously “swoon-worthy” movie persona. 

That said, when he gets to the heart of the matter, McConaughey dives well beneath the surface. His pointed words about motivation, success, and life being both tough and unfair are striking in a way you don’t always hear from celebrity speakers. He may begin with platitudes and stereotypes. But, the more he explains, the more intimate the speech gets. This makes it more memorable than even his best movie speeches.

So, what can you take away from McConaughey’s speech? Simply put, whenever you’re trying to put your best foot forward, whether you’re on stage or just walking down the street, remember that being memorable doesn’t require heels or a suit. For McConaughey, who here rocks a beard and open-collared dress shirt, it’s his words that make people pay attention, not a flashy outfit or dramatic entrance. 

Likewise, in your own life, the same can be true. Just speak with confidence and conviction, and no matter how you look or what you’re wearing, people will listen. 💖

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Jim Carrey is a very cool person! Every time he’s smiling with charming look, His speech is also very motivating! Thanks for sharing with us,

Agreed! It’s hard to look away when Carrey’s on stage or on camera, for sure. (And thanks for reading! 😊)

Usually, I am not doing comments anyone but it’s interesting, I really feel better to hear this.keep it up.

Glad you found these speeches inspiring, and thanks for the kind words! 🙌

You really don’t need to change the world, you just need to master your own self, align your values, your personality, and your purpose to your vision. That’s the core of making for a better world.

Well said! 🙌

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Public Speaking Tips & Speech Topics

34 Topics For a Great Motivational Speech

Jim Peterson has over 20 years experience on speech writing. He wrote over 300 free speech topic ideas and how-to guides for any kind of public speaking and speech writing assignments at My Speech Class.

Good public speaking speech topics and topics for an actuating speaker.

And a set of brand new ideas to prompt and propel your listeners to discover new views, contemporary worlds and unfamiliar opinions.

Let’s start with the behavior-altering speech topics.

In this article:

Motivational Speech Topics

The monroe’s motivated sequence pattern, comparative advantages pattern, call to action speech topics.

If you succeed to get them to act like you propose, then you happen to be expert as a motivational speaker!

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• How to motivate the audience members to change their nutrition and diet food behavior and consume enough of fruit and vegetables daily.
• Does the iPod speech technology foreced PC users to migrate to Apple? Or work out other issues related to computers and stuff like that for alternative good public speaking speech topics.
• Five strategies to promote savings for a comfortable life when you are retired. (You know, for example, the earlier students start with a solid personal pension plan, the better their retirement situation later … )
• Five humanitarian things you can do to help other people after a hurricane, tropical cyclone or other natural disaster.

E.g. tell about a non-governmental organization (NGO) like the International Red Cross or Red Crescent Movement.

• How to motivate scouts to get a complicated job done as a team?
• Free coffee service at work helps to increase the productivity and loyalty of employees.
• How to convince an African tribe that there has been a man on the moon. That is a real big challenge for motivational public speaking 🙂 – a good idea for some interaction with your listeners.
• Methods for coaching and training a cheerleader team, and show how you motivate them to win competitions.
• Scientific discoveries that make living with color blindness easier.
• What the heck, just go after your dreams and your own pursuit of happiness!

Good public speaking speech topics for the cause of changing opinions on hot topics, or amazing undiscovered ideas that could give insight in not very well-known themes and subjects:

• Measuring national well-being is measuring national happiness.
• Conscious living results in personal growth.
• Managing people means leading, motivating, inspiring, and encouraging workers by applying motivational and other persuasive speech topics in chats in between the official functioning interviews that are held often each half a year.
• Why and how to re-program your own memory structures with wise vizualisation techniques and avoid expectation failure.
• Be pro-active in all you want to achieve, it pays off in the end.
• Having to do things that we do not enjoy doing is called discipline.
• Why people are never satisfied with what they have.
• Happiness can be measured.
• Making fun in life is more important than working.
• Personal experience is more valuable than knowledge gained at school.
• Time is much more worth than money.
• Waiting is the hardest part of life.
• Why nasty radio, television and internet programs should be banned.
• Congress shall not abridge the freedom of speech, under no circumstances. (Retrieved from the constitutional fundamental political principles)
• Convince your public that playing golf after someone’s retirement is not a complete waste of time.
• How to motivate students to see the relevance of researching education resources for good public speaking speech topics.
• Teens who play violent games do worse in school than teens who do not.
• Botox injections make women look unnatural with an artificial facial expression.
• Do not take illegal steroids in sports activities, they are dangerous!
• The One Minute praising method is the ultimate answer on the How to Motivate Your Employees question.
• Video games encourage teamwork and cooperation when played with others.
• Football stadiums are modern equivalents of Ancient Roman amphitheatres.

Not found what you like? Try my other list:

• Local veterinarians should make health care control visits for the animals in pet shops. Because sometimes you have no idea what you notice in such animal so-called welfare stores – not to mention the smell 🙂
• Why an implanted microchip is the most reliable identification purpose system for the recovery of your companion animals. Put between one of the shoulder blades that are just beneath the surface.
• Architects and urban planners should be more aware of the values of a rich wildlife population in urban areas – e.g. squirrels, skunks, raccoons.
• Global environmental issues can only be solved by discussing an interdisciplinary and multicultural approach.
• The planet’s ecosystem is the base of the human race.
• The effects of wind turbines, or so-called wind farms, on the weather, bird population and local communities. And do not forget to explicate the effects on human health of the loud noise the sometime make. And the impact on the landscape views.
• How to earn and implement an ISO 14001 certification on Environmental Management, and why it is important.
• How climate change affects society; federal, state and cities.
• What are the costs of an earthquake, a tsunami, a volcanic eruption or a hurricane hurricanes or a wild fire? Evacuation, rescueworkers, rebuilding, et cetera.
• If the sea level rises by over 1 feet, what are the consequences? What about 2 feet? 3 perhaps? Those are variation public speaking persuasive speech topics. And: what if our temperature rises with 1 degree, 2, or even 3?
• The quality of our water supplies is threatened by many pollutants, causing water-related diseases.
• Why you, as a speechwriting student, need to learn about earth sciences in class, including biology, chemistry and physics.
• Ocean acidification on marine organisms intensifies and there is a relation with the CO2 increase in our atmosphere.

Motivated Sequence Patterns

These patterns are often applied by famous speakers. If you follow the order precisely nothing can go wrong.

A very useful to elaborate on motivational speech topics. When professor Alan Monroe designed this sequence in the thirties of the previous century he uses elements of the psychology of persuasion.

Step #1 – Attention Get the attention of your public. State the importance of your specific angle of approach. List the main benefits to arouse interest.

Step #2 – Need State the need for change. Show why it should concern them. Relate the issue or problem to the values, attitudes, interests and needs of the listeners.

Step #3 – Satisfaction Satisfy their needs. Provide the details and interesting facts. Show how your solution works.

Step #4 – Visualization Visualize the benefits. That is the heart of the message. Illustrate them with examples, anecdotes, comparisons, statistics, definitions and visual aids. Show successful implementation in other organizations. Tell your public what’s in it for them.

Step #5 – Call to Action Call to action. Show them what to do to implement your plan.

This looks like the one above and is often used for business presentations. The big difference occurs in the  satisfy  and  visualization  steps. In those steps you have to compare and contrast two or more plans, solutions or alternatives.

Show your listeners which one is the best. E.g.: Compare and contrast two cellphones and tell which one is the first-class one for your job or personal life and why.

You have just one goal: to instigate your audience to act or to agree. Write down what you want them to do, and how you are going to persuade them that you are right. Phrase your goal in a declarative statement, in a way that will motivate.

There are two ways:

1. The first way is the use of the imperative mood in relation to activities, issues or problems at college, in your work environment, or in your community. Examples:

Become involved in …, Buy …, Change …, Choose …, Do …, Donate …, Establish …, Join …, Make …, Pay …, Quit …, Sell …, Sign …, Study …, Support …, Take …, Volunteer …, Vote …

2. Another way to create good verbal addresses is to relate these general themes below to personal, educational or professional activities, issues or problems:

Breakthroughs – Career Development – Challenge – Change – Coaching – Commitment – Communication – Competence – Competitiveness – Confidence – Decision Making – Discipline – Effective Meetings – Ensure Safety – Ergonomics – Focused Thinking – Future – Involvement – Inspiration – Integrity – Interpersonal Skills – Leadership – Negotiation Tactics – Personal Effectiveness – Personal Growth – Personal Improvement – Personal Productivity – Personal Wellness – Responsibility – Self Respect – Set Realistic Goals – Stress – Teambuilding – Teamwork – Trends – Values – Work Ethics

Call to action speech topics are equal to (specimen):

• Sharing emotions,
• Initiating a debate on a hot topic,
• Promoting your book or other craftsman project,
• Forcing a change in daily habits,
• Motivating them to achieve something in life,
• Persuading your listeners to vote for you in some kind of an election campaign.

For example:

• Protest Against Nuclear Testing.
• Sign up For My Newsletter.
• Make Every Workday Feel Like a Lazy Sunday.
• Remember The Oath You Took For Your Country.
• Sponsor Our Center for Community Innovation.
• Improve Your Concentration Skills With Mind and Mental Exercises.
• Provide Good Conditions For Teambuilding and Cooperating.
• Just Think Positive!
• Always Affirm Your Business Deals in Writing.
• Set at Least One Career Goal a Year.
• Relax, and Your Presentation Will Be Better.
• Enjoy Walking the Great Wall of China.
• Release Your Life With Energy Psychology and Meridian Energy Therapies.
• Do Not Hesitate, Make a Decision About Your Future.
• Prioritize Your Daily Goals.
• Volunteer in Thailand For Tsunami Reconstruction Jobs.

These are random Toastmasters International examples. Watch the so-called  action words and verbs , I have written them in italic style. As you perhaps have noticed, the list of phrases and terms is open to your sole discretion …

Other action terms could be:

change, profit, produce, nominate, sale, master, save, vote, help, reward, reveal, map out, manage, organize, invent, modernize, et cetera.

You see, almost every active verb can be the base of an appealing motivational call to action speech topics. Be creative and find yourself a way in discovering other words

120 History Speech Topics [and Cultural Artifact Speech]

200+ Good Impromptu Speech Topics

5 thoughts on “34 Topics For a Great Motivational Speech”

My topic is “your ability”. In this topic we can tell listeners about their ability by giving some examples and thoughts and can motivate them to do a work / task in which they are able and interested . This speech motivate them to identify their ability and to become a successful person.

All people in society need motivation. It plays a very good role in the success of the people.I am agree with this article.

Surviving h.I.v. I’ve been positive for 28 years

The Face Behind The Mask

Your article is great but I would like to point out that I don’t understand where you would get an African tribe that would be hard to convince that there has been a man on the moon. Why would that be a challenge??? I quote you below: “How to convince an African tribe that there has been a man on the moon. That is a real big challenge for motivational public speaking – a good idea for some interaction with your listeners.”

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30 Famous and Short Inspirational Speeches (5 minutes or less)

• December 13, 2023

This post is all about the best short inspirational speeches.

If you are in need of a quick boost of inspiration and motivation, you will find that in this post. I am one of those people who loves to get motivated. That sounds weird, right?

Well, a lot of people these days tend to give motivation a hard time because they don’t believe that it has lasting effects. In other words, they believe that what’s most important is your own self-discipline, because that’s what you have to rely on when motivation isn’t there.

And while I do agree with that sentiment in general, I will never pass up a great motivational podcast or YouTube video! 😀 There’s just something about them that even if they might not have lasting effects, they do truly help pump me up in the moment to get work done. And that’s usually what matters to me the most when I am looking for them in the first place.

So, here are the very best short motivational speeches so you can get that quick fix of motivation that you’re looking for, and ultimately move closer to your goals and dreams.

Short Inspirational Speeches

Believe in yourself speeches.

If you lack confidence or you are doubting yourself, these short motivational speeches will help you to believe in yourself again.

1. Rocky’s Inspirational Speech to His Son | ROCKY BALBOA

In less than 5 minutes, you’ll watch Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone) explain to his son that if he wants to have the life he desires, he needs to believe in himself. He needs to stop listening to the people that tell him who he is, and instead go be his own person, and stop looking for someone to blame when things aren’t working out for him because ultimately it’s on HIM. This is one of the greatest inspirational speeches of all time.

2. Find Your Purpose | David Goggins – Motivational Speech

David Goggins is truly incredible. A former Navy SEAL, he has broken records and ran more races than you’d imagine. But the one thing that really stands out about him is his mindset.

Listen to this video if you want to be great. He tells you exactly what you need to do to get there.

Also, if you’ve never read David Goggins’ book “Can’t Hurt Me” , I highly recommend it. He talks about his rough upbringing, and how he was able to essentially become an entirely new person to become a Navy SEAL.

3. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF – Motivational Video (ft. Jaret Grossman & Eric Thomas)

This video is all about how important it is to have the proper belief system. If you truly believe that you are one of the best, you will start acting that you are one of the best, and eventually you may just be one of the best.

4. DON’T LET YOUR DREAMS DIE – Motivational Speech

This YouTube short by Mel Robbins is so good, I had to share it. A light bulb went on in my head when I first watched this. If there is something that is always on your mind, don’t let it haunt you forever because you never put yourself out there to try it. Go and DO!

Motivational Speeches About Not Giving Up

The following short motivational speeches are all about not giving up on your dreams. If you are losing hope, these short motivational speeches will inspire you to keep going.

5. Brené Brown It’s Not The Critic Who Counts

This speech will give you chills, and it is packed with great lessons about life. Brené Brown is a researcher who went viral for a Ted Talk, and here she talks about how to overcome critics and to keep believing in yourself no matter what. If you are worried about what people think of you, you NEED to watch this.

6. Amazing Motivational Speech by Denzel Washington 

This is another video that gave me chills. The main theme of this famous speech is “ease is a greater threat to progress than hardship”. Stay consistent even when it’s hard. Easy task after easy task won’t get you to where you want to be.

7. Steve Harvey – Inspirational Speech | Motivational Short Video | Incredible You

This short motivational speech by Steve Harvey is short but impactful. If you are someone who stepped out of your comfort zone to pursue something really difficult, and you’re thinking about giving up, this speech may just prevent you from doing so.

8. Ed Mylett on The Power of One More

Ed Mylett shares the story of how his father stayed sober until his dying day, and how Ed himself uses that same philosophy to never give up. Personal stories like these are always the most inspiring.

By the way, if you REALLY want to push yourself and become the best, read Ed Mylett’s most recent book on this same topic, “The Power Of One More” .

Motivational Speeches If You’re Feeling Behind

Are you feeling behind in life? If so, let’s change that. Watch these videos to be reminded that you are on your own unique path. You have no competition other than your past self. These short motivational videos will help you believe that.

9. Before You Feel Pressure – WATCH THIS | by Jay Shetty

Jay Shetty talks to a school class about how there’s no one “perfect” life timeline to follow, and that we are all on our own clock. 

10. Kevin Hart Motivational Speech

If you’ve made mistakes in your life (haven’t we all) this is a great story from Kevin Hart (famous comedian and actor) that will remind you of the power of making mistakes and pushing through hard times.

11. Oprah Winfrey | 5 Minutes For The NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

In this video, Oprah talks about the importance of really knowing who you are and what you want in your life. She talks about surrounding yourself with great people, and how to have enormous success. “Let excellence be your brand.”

Listen To These If You Need Perspective

Sometimes in life, we get so caught up in the day to day that we forget what truly matters – the people we love. If you are having trouble with something in life, give these videos a listen, because they just might help you realize what is really important.

12. Arnold Schwarzenegger – Organize Your Day | 1 MINUTE MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO

Are you the kind of person who always complains that you don’t have enough time to do something? If so, you’re not alone. We are all busy humans, running around doing a million things. But if you aren’t prioritizing what you know you should be doing, listen to this video.

13. How to Judge Your Life Using 3 Simple Questions | Brendon Burchard Speech| Goalcast

Have you ever heard of Mortality Motivation? It’s essentially what it sounds like… being motivated by the impending reality of your death. It sounds a little morbid, but it’s actually quite beautiful and it can be really beneficial if you harness it for good.

In this video by motivational speaker Brendon Burchard, he shares how a car accident when he was 19 gave him mortality motivation and changed everything for him.

14. FALL, SUFFER AND LEARN | MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH BY OPRAH WINFREY

This speech by Oprah was given to Harvard graduates, and it’s a unique speech because she talks about failing, even after the major success of her television show for over 20 years.

It’s refreshing to hear that even the most successful people fail. What really matters, though, is what you do with your failure. Do you learn from it and move on? Or do you give up?

15. YOU VS YOU – Best Motivational Video

This is a pretty intense video about competition. If your #1 competition is someone else, you need to change your perspective. Your only competition is YOU. The only thing preventing you from moving forward is you.

16. The Speech That Brought This Entire School To Tears

This is a speech about a man who never really paid much attention to his mother, until she passed away. It’s an emotional reminder to cherish the time you have with your loved ones, because you never know if the next time you see them will be the last time.

In my opinion, this speaker embodies many qualities of the best motivational speakers because he really knows how to capture the audience’s attention and pull on their heart strings.

17. 5 Minutes to Start Your Day Right! – MORNING MOTIVATION

This motivational speech is by a Navy SEAL who will remind you to start each day with a task completed, respect everyone, take risks, step up during tough times, and never give up. If you do these things, the next generation, and the generations that follow, will live better lives than we live today.

18. The Real You – Jim Carrey

This video is one of the best motivational speech examples because it reminds you of something so important: sometimes we can be so focused on earning more money, gaining fame, and becoming admired that we lose ourselves or we lose sight of what’s really important to us in the process.

Jim Carrey talks about how he is a great example of that. He got all of the money, fame, and admiration, and admits that that wasn’t really who he was. Sometimes it’s nice to be reminded that money and fame, or even getting to the top of the corporate ladder, while nice, aren’t going to be the thing that brings you fulfillment when it’s all said and done.

19. Ed Mylett Motivational Speech

I posted another motivational video by Ed Mylett above, but if you don’t know much about him, prepare to have your world rocked. He’s probably my absolute favorite motivational speaker because he is successful and he works hard, but he’s also (seemingly) a kind, family guy who’s been through a few things.

In this video, he talks about being “the one” that changed his family tree. Take a listen because I’m sure it’ll get you thinking on whether or not you can be “the one” in YOUR family.

P.S. If you love personal growth content, you should check out Ed Mylett’s podcast . I listen to it every week and it is one of my favorites.

20. If You Feel LOST, LAZY & UNMOTIVATED In Life, WATCH THIS! | Tony Robbins Motivation

If you are someone who is constantly blaming others or your circumstances for your unhappiness, you need to listen to this video by Tony Robbins . Bad things happen to us all, it’s up to you to focus on what you can control.

Great Inspirational Speeches About Hard Work

How hard do you think you work? Could you be doing more? If there’s a little voice inside of your heart that knows you could be doing more and better, these motivational videos about the value of hard work will help you push yourself.

And a side note: your chances of having good luck increase the harder and longer you work.

21. You’re Not Tired, You’re Just Weak – David Goggins Motivation

If you’re feeling lazy or like you don’t want to do something, watch this video til 2:25 . It will give you the push you need to put your head down and do the work. It’ll remind you to keep pursuing your goals and to keep challenging yourself. Key takeaway: push yourself beyond your perceived limits.

22. Hard Work & Patience – A Gary Vaynerchuk Original Film

If you want to be motivated to work hard, listen to Gary Vaynerchuk. Gary Vaynerchuk is a creative genius known for his marketing tactics. This famous motivational speech is all about playing “the long game”, as in, working for a long time and having patience instead of working hard for a short period of time and expecting to win quickly.

23. OBSESSION – Best Motivational Speech

This is one of my favorite short motivational speeches because it makes me feel a little more normal for being “weird”. I’m the kind of person who chooses to work on the weekends instead of hanging out with people. Crazy, right? But it’s because I’m working toward a dream of mine and it’s something that’s really important to me. The most important thing to remember: it’s okay to devote yourself to something. It’s the only way to get what you want in life.

24. WORK LIKE HELL – Best Motivational Video

This is a series of motivational speeches about doing a little bit more and outworking your competition. I’m not going to lie – I’m up late writing this post and listening to this very video is what’s motivating me to keep going.

25. The video EVERY woman should watch!

Whether or not you’re a Rachel Hollis fan may be up for debate (and that’s okay!) but I happen to think she’s a great motivational speaker. This entire speech will inspire you to work hard and take massive action – today.

26. NEVER SURRENDER – Powerful Motivational Speech (by Kobe Bryant)

This one minute video by the late Kobe Bryant is one of the most famous short speeches. I read a book recently by his former personal trainer and I learned that Kobe really outworked everyone. He talks about a quote in this video that really stuck with him, and I think it’s great advice if you’re the kind of person who needs motivation to keep working hard.

Motivational Speeches About Working Smart

Have you ever heard the saying “work smarter, not harder”? That saying is all about ensuring that the work you are doing is actually efficient. Are you getting to where you want to go with all of the work that you are putting in? Are you getting closer to your goals and your dreams? Or are you sprinting like a hamster on a wheel and just running in circles?

Here are great videos on the importance of working hard but also working intentionally.

27. SET SYSTEMS RATHER THAN GOALS – Motivational Speech – James Clear

A goal gives you a sense of direction, but if you don’t spell out precisely how you are going to get to a goal, it is useless. You must develop systems. Listen to this James Clear video to gain valuable life lessons.

By the way, James Clear is an author who wrote perhaps my favorite book of all time: “Atomic Habits” . It’s life-changing if you haven’t read it yet.

28. Matthew McConaughey | 5 Minutes for the NEXT 50 Years of Your LIFE

This is one of the best motivational speeches of all time about how to live a great life for YOU. It’s filled with little pieces of wisdom that’ll really get you thinking about how you live your life and in what direction you want to go.

29. Visualization is the key – Bob Proctor

Do you believe in the Law of Attraction? If not, I have to say I’m surprised! I’ve experienced it in my own life more than once, and it is incredibly powerful. Here’s a great video that sums up the power of visualization, and if you want to learn more about the Law of Attraction or manifestation in general, read this post .

This video shows the true power of words, thoughts, and feelings that you have.

30. How to Stay Motivated – Carla Harris

Here is a YouTube short with very practical advice from Carla Harris on HOW to stay motivated. It’s all about having a vision!

This post was all about short inspirational speeches. Which one was your favorite?

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Motivational Speech Examples

Many motivational speech examples from movies and famous people continue to inspire others at graduations, school assemblies, sporting events, business meetings, fitness centers, and weight loss groups. 

Speakers are often asked to deliver an inspirational, motivational speech to a group of people. If you haven’t noticed how often speeches mark events or occasions you attend, watch a few movies. Motivational speech examples abound!

The speeches in the media offer inspiration – and great ideas – for how to five speeches in real-life events.

Table of Contents

Motivational Speech Examples In The Media

Some of the best motivational speeches are watched repeatedly, essentially going viral. Some of the best include:

• Charlie Chapin, The Great Dictator
• Bill Pullman, Independence Day
• Russell Crowe, Gladiator
• Al Pacino, Any Given Sunday
• Billy Bob Thornton, Friday Night Lights
• Kenneth Branagh, Henry V
• Charlies S, Dutton, Rudy
• John Belushi, Animal House
• Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman, Shawshank Redemption
• Bill Murray, Scrooged

You can enjoy these clips and read the whole list of popular media motivational speeches here . The question is, how do you write a memorable address that is sure to inspire in your own life?

What 3 Things Make A Good Motivational Speech?

A commonly asked question is what should be included in a motivational speech to make it effective. Many speech writing templates can prove helpful. These three aspects should be present when focusing on a motivational or inspirational speech.

• A Clear Purpose:  Anytime you give a speech, starting with a clear purpose is essential. That will help you to hone in on the main critical points you want to address. Knowing the occasion, audience, and venue will all help make topic decisions.
• Personal Stories:  Telling moving personal stories and anecdotes are excellent ways to get the audience to engage with you right from the start. Sharing your own experience from your personal life makes you relatable to those listening.
• Audience Appropriate and Relevant:  Knowing your audience is also essential to success in public speaking. Whether you are a keynote speaker at a conference or the valedictorian speaking at commencement, consider everyone assembled who will be listening. This will guide the main ideas you choose to share.

When Are Motivational Speeches Often Given?

There are many occasions when one might want to have a motivational speaker.

• Award Ceremonies:  There are many situations where one might hire someone to give a motivating speech in conjunction with an awards ceremony. Whether you are speaking of a “hard work pays off” address for sports awards or a call to action at a ceremony by your employer honoring accomplishments, this type of speech will be appropriate. Imagine you are part of a weight loss organization and, as a beginner, had the opportunity to listen to someone who had lost over 100 pounds. Might that leave you feeling hopeful and inspired?
• Commencement:  Although there is usually more than one speaker at a graduation ceremony, only one person has the opportunity to give the main commencement address.
• Retirement Parties:  As people gather to celebrate someone’s retirement, it is appropriate for a coworker to speak inspirational or motivating words. Whether the individual has survived adversity, fulfilled dreams, or reached goals, their story can motivate others to hear.
• Special Events:  Often, speeches mark other types of special events. As significant events are kicked off, such as pre-marathon parties or the beginning of a sports season, having someone come and give a “never give up” speech would be a great introduction to the season. Schools often have assemblies to inspire the student body to strive for greatness.

What Are Some Motivational Speech Examples For Different Occasions?

Many speeches with inspiring takeaways motivate anyone with ears to listen and serve as excellent examples of motivational speaking. Whether you are a Harvard graduate sitting at the commencement or a high school football player listening to your coach give a pregame pep talk, hearing the right words at just the right moment can be life-changing.

Business Success

J.K. Rowling   – Benefits of Failure and The Importance of Imagination Motivational Speech –  “So why do I talk about the benefits of failure? Simply because failure meant a stripping away of the inessential. I stopped pretending to myself that I was anything other than what I was and began directing all my energy into finishing the only work that mattered. The knowledge that you  have emerged wiser and stronger from setbacks  means that you are, ever after, secure in your ability to survive. You will never truly know yourself or the strength of your.”

Steve Jobs –  Founder of Apple, speaks at Stanford University Commencement, How to Live Before You Die. –  “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. Because believing that the dots will connect down the road will give you the confidence to follow your heart even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference.”

Commencement Speeches

Denzel Washington  – University of Pennsylvania Commencement Speech –  “Fail big. That’s right. Fail big. This is the beginning of the rest of your life, and it can be very frightening. It’s a new world out there, and it’s a mean world out there, and you only live once. So do what you feel passionate about.Take chances professionally. Don’t be afraid to fail. There’s an old IQ test with nine dots, and you had to draw five lines with a pencil within these nine dots without lifting the pencil, and the only way to do it was to go outside the box. So don’t be afraid to go outside the box. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box. Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big.”

Jim Carrey :  Commencement Speech at Maharishi University of Management –  “Life doesn’t happen to you; it happens for you.”

Crushing Goals

David Goggins:  Outwork Everyone Else –  “I am a World Champion because I was willing to  outwork , out hustle and outperform everyone. That’s what it takes: hard work!”

Coach Tony D’Amato’s –  (Al Pacino) Motivational Speech In Any Given Sunday (Also called the Inch by Inch Speech) –  “Either we heal as a team, or we’re going to crumble,  inch by inch,  play by play, til we’re finished. We’re in hell right now, gentlemen, believe me. And we can stay here, get the shit 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.”

Sylvester Stallone’s  Motivational Speech to His Son In Rocky Balboa –  “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 ya 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!”

Rosalinde Terres   Ted Talk: What It Takes to be a Great Leader –  “There’s an expression: Go along to get along. But if you follow this advice, chances are, as a leader, you’re going to keep doing what’s familiar and comfortable.  Great leaders dare to be different.  They don’t just talk about risk-taking; they actually do it. And one of the leaders shared with me the fact that the most impactful development comes when you are able to build the emotional stamina to withstand people telling you that your new idea is naïve or reckless, or just plain stupid. Now interestingly, the people who will join you are not your usual suspects in your network. They’re often people that think differently and therefore are willing to join you in taking a courageous leap. And it’s a leap, not a step.”

Simon Sinek:   Be the Leader You Wish You Had –  “The  great leaders are not the strongest; they are the ones who are honest about their weaknesses.  The great leaders are not the smartest; they are the ones who admit how much they don’t know. The great leaders can’t do everything; they are the ones who look to others to help them.”

More Speeches Worth a Look

• Brené Brown  – “The Power of Vulnerability”
• HESMotivation  – Believe in Yourself Motivational Speech
• John Wooden  – The Difference Between Winning and Succeeding
•  Martin Luther King – I Have a Dream Speech
•   Will Smith –  Speech from The Pursuit of Happyness

A former English teacher and currently an elementary principal in a rural school, Pam has honed her speaking skills in the classroom and before professional groups. Pam enjoys sharing her insights about public speaking almost as much as she enjoys running, which she does daily.

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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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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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10 motivational speech examples

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Motivation is the key to workplace success . In fact, staff who are engaged with their jobs have a four times higher success rate, according to the   Q12 Meta-Analysis  report by Gallup. 

This success comes from greater levels of efficiency, productivity, satisfaction, stress management, development of personal relationships, and capacity to problem-solve which, in turn, entail having greater motivation. As the writer Charles R. Swindoll notes,  "Life is 10% what happens to you and 90% how you react to it."

The power of the word: 10 motivational speech examples

We all know that maintaining motivation is not always easy. However, at times when you think you've lost your  enthusiasm for your work  and don't have any goals to work towards,  you can  turn to the movies .

There are plenty of examples from the silver screen of speeches that will inspire you on various levels to pick up your professional projects once more with the maximum energy possible. Below, you will discover  10 great examples of motivational speeches from the world of film which are sure to lift your mood.

 "The Great Dictator": the freedom to have a purpose

In this film from 1940, Charlie Chaplin speaks about  the freedom to decide what you want to do with your future,  overcoming societal conventions and  searching for a true purpose in life .  His advice  is not to give up, not to let people who tell you how to think, act or feel bring you down. 

“You, the people, have the power to make this life free and beautiful, to make this life a wonderful adventure."

"The Pursuit of Happyness": the power of perseverance

Do you have a dream? Chase it, even if you find obstacles in the way or people try to convince you to give up. That's the advice given by Chris Gardner (Will Smith) to his son in the film  The Pursuit of Happyness , a veritable  ode to perseverance  that was a must-include on this list of inspirational speeches. 

"Don't ever let someone tell you, you can't do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you got to protect it. People can’t do something themselves, they want to tell you you can’t do it. You want something, go get it. Period."

"Rocky Balboa”: resilience to withstand the blows

As with the previous example, this is also a case of words that a father, Rocky Balboa (Sylvester Stallone), dedicates to his son. In  one scene  from the film, the main character is talking about the inevitable blows in life and  how true achievers are  those who push on  while they're being beaten down , without complaining, without looking for a scapegoat. 

"If you know what you're worth, then go out and get what you're worth. But you gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody."

"Pay It Forward": the power to change the world

This film, directed by Mimi Leder, is another example of motivational speech that forces the viewer to reflect on their role in society. What does the world mean to you? What does the world expect from you? With  these two questions,  Kevin Spacey floats the idea to a group of seventh graders that  the power to build your own future lies inside of you, despite the disappointments of adult life.

"The realm of possibility exists in each of you; you can surprise us, it's up to you."

“Any Given Sunday”: small steps towards major goals

Achieving your dreams is a mammoth task; the path is littered with obstacles that may lead you to feel demotivated. How can you avoid this?  As Al Pacino points out  in this movie about American football: play by play, inch by inch. When the results are long-term, it's common to lose hope because you can't see any tangible progress. Hence the importance of  setting short-term objectives , small milestones that encourage you to forge ahead with your personal and professional projects. 

"We claw with our fingernails for that inch. Because we know when we add up all those inches that’s gonna make the difference between winning and losing".

“V for Vendetta”: getting out of your comfort zone

Any career involves myriad difficulties and barriers, but what should you do to tackle these? Do you resign yourself to new circumstances or try to overcome the obstacles? It's easy to fall into a rut, the safety of the known, the tranquillity of monotony, as the well-known  speech in V for Vendetta  tells us, advocating for us to  get out of our comfort zones , pursue our goals and not keep doing things we don't like.

"The truth is, there is something terribly wrong with this country, isn't there? If you're looking for the guilty, you need only look into a mirror".

"Invictus”: how to be an inspirational leader

Are you looking for  leadership  motivation? In this film, there's a  scene  that really clears up  how to be an inspirational leader that gets the best out of a team  and goes that extra mile to achieve its objectives. How can you make others better than they think they are? The key lies in serving as a model and encouraging a sense of belonging, just as Matt Damon and Morgan Freeman discuss.

"We need inspiration, because in order to build our nation, we must all exceed our own expectations".

"Steve Jobs": A gift for innovation

In the  final speech  from the biopic  Jobs , the founder of Apple, played by Ashton Kutcher, makes  a plea for all those people who seek new ways to make the world better.  He talks about the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the ones who don't fit in and the ones who see things differently, defying the rules and disrupting the status quo. Considering everything this visionary achieved in life, his words will undoubtedly help you to recoup your motivation. 

"The people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do."

"Dead Poets Society": finding new perspectives

" O Captain! My Captain! " You're sure to have heard this legendary phrase from the Dead Poets Society at least once, but this film directed by Peter Weir and starring Robin Williams is packed with profound teachings.  One of them  is  the importance of seeking new perspectives, of developing a global vision  that lets you understand the environment and, harnessing this knowledge, dare to change and explore new fields. 

"I stand upon my desk to remind myself that we must constantly look at things a different way. Just when you think you know something, you have to look at it in another way. Even though it may seem silly or wrong."

Good Will Hunting: nobody knows it all

These motivational speech examples, taken from the big screen, feature the same actor, but this time in his role in  Good Will Hunting . In a few short minutes,  this scene  highlights that nobody knows it all, and that  to keep growing personally and professionally, we need to  embrace continuous improvement .  Without this ongoing learning, there can be no evolution, even if you're a genius as is the case of the main character played by Matt Damon. 

“I look at you and I don't see an intelligent, confident man. I see a cocky, scared shitless kid. But you're a genius Will. No one denies that. No one could possibly understand the depths of you. But you presume to know everything about me because you saw a painting of mine and you ripped my life apart."

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To accomplish this aim, Banco Santander is committed to lifelong learning, professional retraining or reskilling, and further training or upskilling, three key concepts to boost employability through the acquisition of new knowledge, and training in the transversal skills most sought-after by employers. Something that is sure to prove  a great incentive so that you never lose your motivation .

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Inspirational Graduation Speeches

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Do you have a graduating son or daughter? A high school or college graduation is a major milestone in life that should not be ignored. The graduation ceremony celebrates hard work and encourages students to move into the world to achieve great things. This hopeful message is further cemented through an inspirational graduation speech.

As you celebrate graduation day and wish your student good luck, consider the following commencement advice you can share as well as inspirational quotes for a happy graduation.

Here are the best graduation speeches and inspirational message graduation quotes to inspire you and change your life.

Page Contents

1. Barack Obama – Howard University, 2016

You have to go through life with more than just passion for change; you need a strategy. I’ll repeat that. I want you to have passion, but you have to have a strategy. Not just awareness but action. Not just hashtags, but votes. Barack Obama

During his graduation message, Barack Obama spoke with hope. He urged the graduating students to be hardworking yet pragmatic as they sought justice, equality, and freedom. Howard University is one of the nation’s most distinguished and historically Black universities.

In 2020, Barack Obama also shared a graduation message to the Class of 2020 as part of Graduate Together: America Honors the High School Class of 2020 . These students had to learn to overcome obstacles and challenges that classes before them had not had to deal with due to the pandemic.

The disappointments of missing a live graduation, those will pass pretty quick…What remains true is that your graduation marks your passage into adulthood—the time when you begin to take charge of your own life. It’s when you get to decide what’s important to you: the kind of career you want to pursue. Who you want to build a family with. The values you want to live by. And given the current state of the world, that may be kind of scary. Barack Obama

Obama goes on to offer hope and support as graduating students set out to navigate a very new landscape and shape a new world.

2. David Foster Wallace – Kenyon Graduation Speech, 2005

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? David Foster Wallace

In this commencement address, Wallace reminds us that we often forget, or take for granted, the most obvious things around us. He acknowledges it’s difficult to stay aware of what’s happening in the world, especially when you’re too busy dealing with the monologue inside your head.

That’s what a college education is about, according to him. It’s learning how to think and exercising some degree of control over your thoughts so you can choose what to pay attention to.

Our thoughts affect our realities, and the ability to choose how you “construct meaning from experience” will determine the lenses from which you see the world and how you react in return.

3. Natalie Portman – Harvard Graduation Speech 2015

Sometimes your insecurities and your inexperience may lead you, too, to embrace other people’s expectations, standards, or values. But you can harness that inexperience to carve out your own path, one that is free of the burden of knowing how things are supposed to be, a path that is defined by its own particular set of reasons . Natalie Portman

Natalie Portman majored in psychology at Harvard University because she believed it would help her acting. She graduated in 2003. In her commencement speech at the 2015 graduation ceremony, she spoke of her own self-doubt and gave an inspiring, funny , and wisdom-filled speech for the graduating class.

Portman said even though she was a successful student and went on to find success as an actress, she still struggled with her own worth but eventually learned to set her own goals.

4. Ellen DeGeneres – Tulane University, 2009

Never follow anyone else’s path, unless you’re in the woods and you’re lost and you see a path and by all means you should follow that. Don’t give advice, it will come back and bite you in the ass. Don’t take anyone’s advice. So my advice to you is to be true to yourself and everything will be fine. Ellen Degeneres

This is one of the funniest graduation speeches ever! All humor aside, this speech shows why  it’s better to be true to yourself instead of trying desperately to be a second-rate version of someone else.

For years, Ellen thought being bisexual might prevent her from being a successful stand-up comedian, but it’s just not the case. Ellen proved that you could be successful, whoever you are, if you worked hard and learned from your past experiences— even one as sad as the death of a loved one.

5. Charlie Munger – University of California Law School, 2007

*Skip to 4:08 for the actual speech

You’re not going to get very far in life based on what you already know. You’re going to advance in life by what you’re going to learn after you leave here. Charlie Munger

Education doesn’t stop after you graduate from college. It doesn’t stop after you finish your MBA or PhD either. Munger says, “Wisdom acquisition is a moral duty. It’s not just something you do to advance in life.”

It’s a moral duty because it’s only through continuous learning that we can add to the vast knowledge of man kind. If we stopped learning, progress in all industries—computers, finance, engineering, biology, stops as well.

6. Michelle Obama – Eastern Kentucky University, 2013

If you’re a Democrat, spend some time talking to a Republican. And if you’re a Republican, have a chat with a Democrat. Maybe you’ll find some common ground, maybe you won’t. But if you honestly engage with an open mind and an open heart, I guarantee you’ll learn something. And goodness knows we need more of that, because we know what happens when we only talk to people who think like we do — we just get more stuck in our ways, more divided, and it gets harder to come together for a common purpose. Michelle Obama

As far as inspirational speeches go, Michelle Obama’s speech is very actionable. Her advice is simple (not easy), talk to each other with an open mind.

Different religion, race, political stand, it doesn’t matter. We can all learn from one another.

7. Jim Carrey – Maharashi University of Management, 2014

This is one of my favorite motivational speeches because Jim Carrey is such a good example of his message.

So many of us choose our path out of fear disguised as practicality. My father could have been a great comedian, but he didn’t believe that that was possible for him, and so he made a conservative choice. Instead, he got a safe job as an account. Jim Carrey

Carrey’s father lost his accounting job when he was 12, and it was then he realized that failure is inevitable , whether you’re doing what you want or not. If that’s the case, you might as well take a stab at doing something you love.

8. J.K Rowling – Harvard Commencement Address, 2008

I was set free, because my greatest fear had been realized, and I was still alive, and I still had a daughter whom I adored, and I had an old typewriter and a big idea. J.K. Rowling

This is probably one of the most inspirational videos for writers and creatives everywhere.

Rowling was suffering from depression when he wrote the Harry Potter books. But through grit and patience with herself, she was able to complete the first Harry Potter Manuscript and, stay motivated to continue even when feeling down. Thanks to her drive and imagination, the world has Harry Potter !

9. Bono – University of Pennsylvania, 2004

In case you don’t know him, Bono is the lead singer of the famous band U2. Of course, being the rock star he is, he leads his speech by saying, “My name is Bono, and I am a rock star.”

In his speech, he urges graduates to carefully consider their big idea, in saying:

What are you willing to spend your moral capital, your intellectual capital, your cash, (and) your sweat equity in pursuing outside of the walls of the University of Pennsylvania? The world is more malleable than you think, and it’s waiting for you to hammer it into shape. Bono

Being a rock star, I thought Bono would talk about the perils of fame, the road to stardom or something to that effect. But instead, he talked about big ideas and changing the world.

10. Amy Poehler – Harvard University, 2011

Life is like a heist that requires good drivers, an explosives expert, a hot girl who doubles as a master of disguise, and this is a hard and fast rule. If the Rock shows up, they’re on to you . Amy Poehler

During her commencement speech at Harvard University in 2011, Amy Poehler expressed her surprise at the invitation to do so. She delivered a speech with jokes, advice, and insight as she looked out at the graduates.

She told them to head out into the world with love, light, joy, and laughter. Finishing off her speech in true Amy Poehler fashion, she also says, “please don’t forget to tip your waitresses.”

11. Meryl Streep – Barnard College, 2010

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 . Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep is an actress most famous for Sophie’s Choice , The Devil Wears Prada , and Mamma Mia . She was asked to deliver the commencement speech to Barnard College in 2010. Her speech was dripping with extreme personality, honesty, and bluntness.

Streep shared her own personal stories and emphasized the importance of empathy. The audience was all women, so the speech was directed at them, but she shared many graduation messages that applied to everyone.

12. Kerry Washington – George Washington University, 2013

You and you alone are the only person who can live the life that writes the story you were meant to tell . Kerry Washington

Kerry Washington is an actress, producer, and director. In 2018, she was named the eighth highest-paid television actress and has won several awards, including the President’s Award.

In her commencement speech at George Washington University in 2013, she urged graduates to go beyond their comfort zones and live their own stories.

How to Create Your Own Inspirational Graduation Speech

Do you need to write your own inspirational speech or curate the perfect graduation message? Here are a few tips on how to do just that, so you can inspire others like the commencement speeches above.

Start With a Quote

Start with a relevant quote. This sets the overall tone of your speech and grabs your audience’s attention. A good example of this is a quote by David Brinkley, “A successful man is one who can lay a firm foundation with the bricks others have thrown at him.”

Provide Scenarios

Now that you have drawn in the audience, present a what-if scenario to encourage the audience to continue following your thought process.

You can also provide a scenario encouraging the audience to put themselves directly into it. Suggest that they imagine doing something and ask what they would do if it doesn’t go as planned.

If you are giving a graduation message, ask where they see themselves years down the road or what they picture success as. You can then offer advice and insight based on your own experience.

Ask Questions

You should also ask questions, whether they are literal or rhetorical. When you present a question to someone, the person intuitively answers it, keeping them engaged with what you have to say.

Pause for Silence

When giving an inspirational speech, it also helps to pause for a few seconds after important points. This pause allows the audience to react to what you have to say and settle down before you continue with your next statement. The pause is also a good way to draw attention to what you want to say.

What Makes an Inspirational Graduation Speech?

The best graduation speech should have a very uplifting message that leads with education and wisdom. The graduation speech should focus on the graduates’ achievements and accomplishments. It should highlight the sacrifices that may have been made.

When writing a graduation or inspirational speech, ensure a strong theme or message is conveyed to keep your audience’s focus and attention.

Do you remember the speaker on your graduation day? What pearls of wisdom did he or she share?

Related Reading : Don’t forget what you worked so hard on in school! Check out our 150 Education Quotes for Teachers and Students , too. These gems are good for any graduation card when offering congratulations.

Natalie Seale

3 thoughts on “Inspirational Graduation Speeches”

Am really inspired by these brief messages,indeed education has no boundary; therefore, I say to you,” education is immeasurable, regardless of what disciplines or background we find ourselves.

These are very inspiring. My favorite is from J.K. Rowling. Thanks for sharing

Actually Very Inspiring ……thanks for sharing

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BEST SHORT MOTIVATIONAL SPEECH OF ALL-TIME

Are you looking for a short motivational speech with the power to immediately inspire you? If so, then you’ll love this intense motivational speech. It is one of our favorites, and regardless of it’s age, we believe it still packs a punch.

So, if you’re ready for an epic motivational speech that can give you goosebumps and incite action — read below, and be sure to watch the video after! Enjoy!

Best Short Motivational Speech of All-Time

“WHETHER OR NOT YOU WIN THIS THING, YOU’VE GOT TO DECIDE how you are going to walk out of here when it is all said and done….Because the game is going to go on.

And there is only one rule you need to know about, there are no second chances.

There is only this moment, and the next moment. Every one of those moments is a test…that you get to take one time, and ONLY ONE TIME!

So, if you see an opening, tear into it!

If you get a shot at victory, make damn sure you take it!

SEIZE THAT MOMENT!

That moment is a crossroads where everything you want will collide with everything standing in your way!

You’ve got momentum at your back. Fear and doubt are thundering like a freight train straight at you!

And all you got, the only difference between making history and being history, the only thing, THE ONLY THING you can count on at any given moment is YOU!

It’s you vs. THEM!

It’s you vs. NO!

It’s you vs. CAN’T!

It’s you vs. NEXT YEAR, LAST YEAR, STATISTICS, EXCUSES !!!

It’s you vs. HISTORY!

It’s you vs. THE ODDS!

It’s you vs. SECOND PLACE!

The clock is ticking….. LET’S SEE WHAT YOU GOT !!!”

Video Version of The Speech

Below is the video and source for the motivational speech you just read. Be sure to watch is, as it is every bit as inspiring as the text.

Video Credit: The Proud Patriot

Final Thoughts

There you have it, the most intense short motivational speech of all-time! We hope you leverage the text from this ‘You vs. Them’ motivational speech and the video to get you off your couch, and into the arena of life!

Lastly, if you enjoyed this short but powerful pep-talk of a speech, then you’ll love these other powerful motivational resources:

• Top 10 Most Motivational Videos Ever!
• 25 Motivational Mantras That Work
• 365 Motivational Quotes to Inspire Success
• Top 10 Motivational Speeches of All-Time

To your success, and until next time,

PS – This ‘You Vs. Them Speech’ is one of our favorites, but Sylvester Stallone created a pretty epic speech as well. If you haven’t seen it yet, you can give it a watch here for some instant motivation: Rocky’s Motivational Speech to His Son .

7 WAYS TO FIND MOTIVATION FOR WORK ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DON’T FEEL LIKE IT

HOW TO BECOME A MODERN DAY TITAN

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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James Altucher  is a successful entrepreneur, savvy investor, and best-selling author who consistently inspires others to dream big, choose themselves, and aim for financial freedom. Considering the fact that he’s launched over 20 different companies and has become a multimillionaire in the process, he has much wisdom to share. As such, we’ve decided to publish the best James Altucher quotes we’ve come across that will inspire you dream big..

So, if you’re ready to see what kind of gems can be discovered from a few quotes by James Altucher, then let’s dive right in.

JAMES ALTUCHER QUOTES

1. “Anything worth getting good at is very hard and very unpleasant.” – James Altucher

2. “Insanity is trying to please the wrong people. Sanity is trying to please yourself.” – James Altucher

3. “If you try to get 1% better each day at your health, at your relationships and the way you treat people, at your creativity, and at turning despair into gratitude , then that 1% compounds into an amazing person.” – James Altucher

4. “The more mistakes you make the better you get.” – James Altucher

5. “You can’t succeed if you aren’t grateful for being given at least the chance to be something better than what you are now.” – James Altucher

6. “When the lights come on inside of you, everyone in the world can see a little better.” – James Altucher

7. “Almost every failure I know (and I know a lot) didn’t fail because they couldn’t make money. They are broke now because they couldn’t keep it.” – James Altucher

8. “Do what you do with love, and success is a natural symptom.” – James Altucher

9. “The only truly safe thing you can do is to try over and over again. To go for it, to get rejected, to repeat, to strive, to wish. Without rejection there is no frontier, there is no passion, and there is no magic.”

10. “Every day you reinvent yourself. You’re always in motion. But you decide everyday: forward or backward.” – James Altucher

11. “Luck is created by the prepared.” – James Altucher

12. “The best entrepreneurs try to take risk off the table as quickly as possible.” – James Altucher

13. “Honesty is the fastest way to prevent a mistake from turning into a failure.” – James Altucher

14. “Everything that has moved history happened because of listening instead of talking. Talking inspires. But listening creates the inspiration.” – James Altucher

15. “If we truly want to learn, we never learn when we are talking. We only learn when we are listening.” – James Altucher

16. “Being an entrepreneur, or having multiple sources of income is ultimately safer than having a job. But only if you use the job to get rid of, one by one, all the risks.” – James Altucher

17. “View a job as just one source of income among many.” – James Altucher

18. “Forget purpose. It’s okay to be happy without one. The quest for a single purpose has ruined many lives.” – James Altucher

19. “Do as many ideas as possible. The right idea will pick you.” – James Altucher

20. “Quantity and persistence will get you the outcomes you need.” – James Altucher

21. “No matter who you are, no matter what you do, no matter who your audience is: 30 percent will love it, 30 percent will hate it, and 30 percent won’t care. Stick with the people who love you and don’t spend a single second on the rest. Life will be better that way.” – James Altucher

22. “ Money you lose you can always make back. But even five minutes of time lost is gone forever.” – James Altucher

23. “Everyone is an entrepreneur. The only skills you need to be an entrepreneur: an ability to fail, an ability to have ideas, to sell those ideas, to execute on those ideas, and to be persistent so even as you fail you learn and move onto the next adventure.” – James Altucher

24. “The choices you make today will be your biography tomorrow.” – James Altucher

25. “The only predictor of a successful tomorrow is a successful today.” – James Altucher

Related: James Altucher Net Worth

Bonus James Altucher Quote

Bonus: Alright, here is one of our favorite James Altucher quotes. We believe that if you follow the wisdom in this quote, your life, business, can’t do anything but get better.

“You Only Get Better If You Lean In To The Uncomfortable.” – jameS ALTUCHER –

We hope you enjoyed these James Altucher quotes. Certainly, he has a ton more wisdom to share. So if you haven’t read any of his books or peered through his blog, do so, and you’ll be pleasantly surprise with the wealth of wisdom you find.

That said, if you liked these James Altucher quotes then you’ll probably enjoy these quotes from related influencers and success icons:

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Till you reach your aims,

Jen Sincero is an American writer, speaker, and motivational coach. She’s authored a number of New York Times bestselling books like You Are a Badass , and You Are A Badass at Making Money , as well as a few other inspiring books. No doubt, she is hellbent on helping people transform their lives, and getting motivated and rich in the process. As such, we’ve rounded up some of the best Jen Sincero quotes we could find to help you get motivated to upgrade your life and your finances.

So, if you’re ready to dive into some of Jen Sincero’s best quotes on personal transformation, living an awesome life, and becoming a money magnet, then let’s get to these quotes

BEST JEN SINCERO QUOTES TO HELP YOU UPGRADE YOUR LIFE AND YOUR MONEY

1. “You will experience whatever you believe. And you will believe whatever you repeatedly tell yourself is true.” – Jen Sincero

2. “If you’re serious about changing your life, you’ll find a way. If you’re not, you’ll find an excuse.” – Jen Sincero

3. “When we don’t master our minds, we risk building our lives on a foundation of fakakta.” – Jen Sincero

4. “Your life is your party. You get to choose how you invite people and experiences and things into it.” – Jen Sincero

5. “Love yourself.” – Jen Sincero

6. “We all have the ability, through our thoughts, to harness the power of the Universe.” – Jen Sincero

7. “You need to go from wanting to change your life to deciding to change your life.” – Jen Sincero

8. “What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.” – Jen Sincero

9. “Hang out with people who are kicking ass and who will make you feel like a giant loser if you’re not kicking ass, too.” – Jen Sincero

10. “Badassery comes to those who take risks.” – Jen Sincero

11. “Changing your habits and your boundaries takes courage, audacity, and a whole lot of self-love.” – Jen Sincero

12. “You will have good days, and you will have bad days; the key is to stay focused on the good and to forgive the bad.” – Jen Sincero

13. “Never apologize for who you are. It lets the whole world down.” – Jen Sincero

14. “We are all perfect in our own, magnificent, f***ed-up ways. Laugh at yourself. Love yourself and others. Rejoice in the cosmic ridiculousness.” – Jen Sincero

15. “Take care of yourself as if you’re the most awesome person you’ve ever met.” – Jen Sincero

16. “Surrendering is the free-falling backwards into the unknown and trusting that The Universe will catch you.” – Jen Sincero

17. “Trying to protect yourself from your fears protects you from experiencing a fully evolved and juicy life.” – Jen Sincero

18. “You cut yourself off from the supply of awesomeness when you are not in a state of gratitude.” – Jen Sincero

19. “Our thoughts become our words, our words become our beliefs, our beliefs become our actions, our actions become our habits, and our habits become our realities.” – Jen Sincero

20. “Deciding is freedom. Indecision is torture.” – Jen Sincero

21. “What you do in each tiny moment matters greatly. Shut up, slow down, breathe, connect to your higher self, and act with intention.” – Jen Sincero

22. “Say nice things about your body, dress it up, and take it out. Give it hot sex, luxurious baths, and massages. Move it, stretch it, nourish it, hydrate it, pay attention to it—The better our bodies feel, the happier and more productive we are.” – Jen Sincero

23. “Your reality is created by what you focus on and how you choose to interpret it.” – Jen Sincero

24. “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

25. “When you love yourself enough to stand in your truth no matter what the cost, everyone benefits.” – Jen Sincero

26. “If you want to live a life you’ve never lived , you have to do things you’ve never done.” – Jen Sincero

27. “Most answers reveal themselves through doing, not thinking.” – Jen Sincero

28. “Wallowing in the pain and suffering isn’t going to help anyone, yourself included, any more than starving yourself will help the hungry.  If you want to help the world and yourself, keep your frequency high and do your work from a place of power and joy.” – Jen Sincero

29. “Your beliefs hold the key to your financial success.” – Jen Sincero

30. “Who you surround yourself with greatly affects how you see your world and how high you set the bar for yourself.” – Jen Sincero

31. “When you hang out with whiners, pessimists, tweakers, bleakers, freakers-outers and life-is-so-unfairers, it’s an uphill climb to keep yourself in a positive headspace.  Stay away from people with tiny minds and tiny thoughts and start hanging out with people who see limitless possibility as the reality.” – Jen Sincero

32. “What if you decided to do the most outrageous, most exciting thing you ever dared fantasize about, regardless of what anyone, including your terrified self, thought?  THAT would be living.” – Jen Sincero

33. “We only get to be in our bodies for a limited time, why not celebrate the journey instead of merely riding it out until it’s over?” – Jen Sincero

34. “You are a badass. You were one when you came screaming onto this planet and you are one now. The Universe wouldn’t have bothered with you otherwise. You can’t screw up so majorly that your badassery disappears. It is who you are. It’s who you always will be. It’s not up for negotiation.” – Jen Sincero

35. “You need to have a ten-ton gorilla of desire behind your decision or else you’ll wimp out the second things get hard.” – Jen Sincero

36. “You are perfect. To think anything less is as pointless as a river thinking that it’s got too many curves or that it moves too slowly or that its rapids are too rapid.” – Jen Sincero

37. “ The only failure is quitting . Everything else is just gathering information.” – Jen Sincero

38. “You faith in The Universe must be stronger than your fear of not getting what you want.” – Jen Sincero

39. “Decide to embody the identity that represents the desires in your heart.” – Jen Sincero

40. “You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.” – Jen Sincero

41 . “It never ceases to amaze me the precious time we spend chasing the squirrels around our brains, playing out our dramas, worrying about unwanted facial hair, seeking adoration, justifying our actions, complaining about slow Internet connections, dissecting the lives of idiots, when we are sitting in the middle of a full-blown miracle that is happening right here, right now.” – Jen Sincero

42. “Nobody who ever accomplished anything big of new or worth raising a celebratory first in the air did it from their comfort zone.” – Jen Sincero

43. “All life is either moving forward and evolving or shrinking back and dying.  If you want to evolve in your own life, you have to push through the obstacles instead of running from them.  Obstacles and challenges are the agents of growth.” – Jen Sincero

44. “In order to kick ass you must first lift up your foot.” – Jen Sincero

45. “There’s nothing as unstoppable as a freight train full of fu**-yeah.” – Jen Sincero

46. “No one is you, that’s your superpower.” – Jen Sincero

47. “When you level-up your idea of what’s possible, and decide to really go for it, you open yourself up to the means to accomplish it as well.” – Jen Sincero

48. “One of the best things you can do to improve the world is to improve yourself.” – Jen Sincero

49. “The Universe responds to details. The Universe responds to energy. The Universe responds to badasses.” – Jen Sincero

50. “If you want to be happy, make others happy.” – Jen Sincero

51. “It’s all make-believe. Or rather, it’s all what we make ourselves believe.” – Jen Sincero

52. “Wake up in the morning and declare what it is that you’ll celebrate today.” – Jen Sincero

53. “You are loved. Massively. Ferociously. Unconditionally. The Universe is totally freaking out about how awesome you are. It’s got you wrapped in a warm gorilla hug of adoration. It wants to give you everything you desire. It wants you to be happy. It wants you to see what it sees in you.” – Jen Sincero

54. “So often, we pretend we’ve made a decision, when what we’ve really done is signed up to try until it gets too uncomfortable.” – Jen Sincero

55. “Habits define who you’re being at a certain moment in time; they’re not who you are.” – Jen Sincero

56. “ Trust your own gut , your own feelings, your own joy above all else.” – Jen Sincero

57. “What other people think about you has nothing to do with you and everything to do with them.” – Jen Sincero

58. “The Universe will match whatever vibration you put out. And you can’t fool the Universe.” – Jen Sincero

59. “If you’re not excited, no one else is going to be.” – Jen Sincero

60. “When you change who you’re being, you begin seeing everything through new eyes.” – Jen Sincero

61. “And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” – Jen Sincero

62. “Surround yourself with people who think the way you want to think.” – Jen Sincero

63. “You are responsible for what you say and do. You are not responsible for whether or not people freak out about it.” – Jen Sincero

64. “Give yourself permission and the means (yes, this includes the money ), to be who you are regardless of what anybody else thinks or believes is possible.” – Jen Sincero

65. “You’ll have to believe in things you can’t see as well as some things that you have full-on proof are impossible.” – Jen Sincero

66. “Perfectionism is just procrastination in a fancy outfit.” – Jen Sincero

67. “If you don’t invest, you’re not invested in yourself.” – Jen Sincero

68. “Taking risks is uncomfortable, but it’s the kind of discomfort that’s equal parts eeek! and hell yeah!” – Jen Sincero

69. “Relish the feeling of gratitude and the joy of being in the flow with money.” – Jen Sincero

70. “Decide to love yourself through all the trials and errors and false starts.” – Jen Sincero

71. “We’d rather do what’s expected of us that give ourselves permission to be, do, and have what feels good and right and awesome.” – Jen Sincero

72. “Boundaries are not rigid walls. They breathe and move with the complexities of life and the nuances of each situation.” – Jen Sincero

73. “Habitually setting good boundaries lays the groundwork for all other habits.” – Jen Sincero

74. “Your desires are your Universal Marching Orders, and there is no wrong outcome.” – Jen Sincero

75. “In order to truly raise your vibration, you’ve got to believe that everything you want is available to you.” – Jen Sincero

76. “If you want to get over your issues and rock your life, be grateful, look for the good and learn.” – Jen Sincero

77. “Faith is contagious.” – Jen Sincero

78. “You have to keep the faith, always, even when your ass is on the line.” – Jen Sincero

79. “All of Mother Nature’s creatures are designed to full flourish before they drop dead.” – Jen Sincero

80. “A healthy desire for wealth is not greed, it’s a desire for life.” – Jen Sincero

81. “Allow yourself to experience whatever your heart desires as if this is your one and only chance to take the ride of your life.” – Jen Sincero

82. “Your life, your choice.” – Jen Sincero

83. “Good boundaries are all about self-love.” – Jen Sincero

84. “All that matters is what’s true for you, and if you can stay connected to that without straying, you will be a mighty superhero.” – Jen Sincero

85. “One great way to make even the most ho-hum of habits something to look forward to is by attaching some sore of reward to it.” – Jen Sincero

86. “We’re so damn busy all the time we rarely take the time out to acknowledge our awesomeness.” – Jen Sincero

87. “Decisions are not up for negotiation.” – Jen Sincero

88. “It doesn’t matter how many times you’ve messed up, because your failures and face-plants are all part of your journey .” – Jen Sincero

89. “Don’t waste your precious time giving one single crap about what anybody else thinks of you.” – Jen Sincero

90. “You have the power and choice to become anybody you choose to become.” – Jen Sincero

91. “Sometimes the road to freedom lies in deciding you’d rather be happy than right.” – Jen Sincero

92. “When you succumb to fear, you are under the illusion that you can predict the future.” – Jen Sincero

93. “Our ‘realities’ are determined by how we habitually perceive ourselves and our worlds.” – Jen Sincero

94. “Habits. The easier you make it for them to show up, the more regularly they will.” – Jen Sincero

95. “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

96. “Own your nos.” – Jen Sincero

97. “Learn the language of no.” – Jen Sincero

98. “Being around inspired, visionary, enthusiastic people who are living their truths is one of the fastest ways to massively transform your life.” – Jen Sincero

99. “Oy the energy we waste lugging around the wet sandbag of guilt and resentment!” – Jen Sincero

100. “Trust that the Universe always delivers right on time.” – Jen Sincero

Bonus Jen Sincero Quote

Bonus: Here’s one last bonus Jen Sincero quote. We believe there is loads of truth behind this quote. So, ignore it at your own risk. Enjoy!

“On The Other Side Of Your Fear Is Freedom” – Jen Sincero – jen sincero –

Related: Jen Sincero Success Story

There you have it, the best of the best Jen Sincero quotes on success, money, habits, and having the right mindset. We hope they’ll inspire you to start living out that awesome and prosperous life that you deserve.

If you’ve yet to read any of her books, be sure to check at least one of them out. We don’t doubt that her wise words could be a game changer for you.

Note:  We’re reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission

With that said, please feel free to book mark this page, share one of her inspiring quotes, or comeback soon whenever you need a little bit of that unique inspiration and motivation that only Jen Sincero can provide.

75+ MOTIVATIONAL MICHAEL JORDAN QUOTES FOR SUCCESS

Michael Jordan is considered by most, as the NBA’s greatest player of all-time, as a six-time NBA champion. and NBA Finals MVP. He’s also a savvy businessman who is the principal owner of the Charlotte Hornets, Nascar’s 23XI Racing, and has been a principal spokesman for iconic brands like Nike, Gatorade, Coca Cola, Wheaties, Hanes, and many others. In addition to this, he’s a billionaire. Needless to say, Jordan knows a thing or two about success and achievement; which is why we’ve pulled together this powerful collection of Michael Jordan quotes for success.

“Everybody Has Talent, But Ability Takes Hard Work.”

Our hope is that these quotes will give you more insight into the thinking process and mindset that has helped Michel Jordan become one of the most successful and popular people in history. We also hope they inspire you to dream bigger, work harder, and strive to achieve the impossible. So, if you’re ready to be inspired, let’s dive into these inspiring Michael Jordan quotes:

BEST MICHAEL JORDAN QUOTES FOR SUCCESS

1. “If you quit once it becomes a habit. Never quit !” – Michael Jordan

2. “Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.” – Michael Jordan

3. “No matter how good you are, always keep working on your game.” – Michael Jordan

4. “Never say never, because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.” – Michael Jordan

5. “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

6. “I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.” – Michael Jordan

7. “ Failure makes me work even harder.” – Michael Jordan

8. “If you do the work, you get rewarded. There are no shortcuts in life.” – Michael Jordan

9. “To be successful, you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate.” – Michael Jordan 

10. “The key to success is failure.” – Michael Jordan

11. “They don’t need a ticket to watch you sitting on a bench. They can go to your house for that.” – Michael Jordan

12. “You can practice shoot eight hours a day, but if your technique is wrong, then all you become is very good at shooting the wrong way. Get the fundamentals down and the level of everything you do will rise.” – Michael Jordan

13. “My body could stand the crutches but my mind couldn’t stand the sideline.” – Michael Jordan

14. “I’ve never been afraid to fail.” – Michael Jordan

15. “It’s better to shoot and miss than to let time run out and wonder what if.” – Michael Jordan

16. “Once I made a decision, I never thought about it again.” – Michael Jordan

17. “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, and others make it happen.” – Michael Jordan

18. “The minute you get away from fundamentals–whether its proper technique, work ethic , or mental preparation–the bottom can fall out of your game, your schoolwork, your job, whatever you’re doing.” – Michael Jordan

19. “If you accept the expectations of others, especially negative ones, then you will never change the outcome.” – Michael Jordan

20. “I’ve never lost a game. I just ran out of time.” – Michael Jordan

21. “My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.” – Michael Jordan

22. “I set another goal … a reasonable, manageable goal that I could realistically achieve if I worked hard enough. I approached everything step by step.” – Michael Jordan

23. “I hope the millions of people I’ve touched have the optimism and desire to share their goals and hard work and persevere with a positive attitude.” – Michael Jordan

24. “Work ethics eliminates fear.” – Michael Jordan

25. “If you put your mind to doing whatever it is you want to do, good things can happen.” – Michael Jordan

26. “People ask me if I could fly, I said, ‘yeah… for a little while.'” – Michael Jordan

27. “My advice is, find fuel in failure. Sometimes failure gets you closer to where you want to be.” – Michael Jordan

28. “Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.” – Michael Jordan

29. “I play to win, whether during practices or a real game. And I will not let anything get in the way of me and my competitive enthusiasm to win.” – Michael Jordan

30. “ Heart is what separates the good from the great.” – Michael Jordan

31. “Winning isn’t always championships.” – Michael Jordan

32. “I built my talents on the shoulders of someone else’s talent.” – Michael Jordan

33. “My competitive drive is far greater than anyone else that I’ve met, and I thrive on that.” – Michael Jordan

34. “To learn to succeed, you must first learn to fail.” – Michael Jordan

35. “Learning is a gift, even when pain is your teacher!” – Michael Jordan

36. “There is no “I” in team but there is in win.” – Michael Jordan

37 . “I realized that if I was going to achieve anything in life I had to be aggressive. I had to get out there and go for it.” – Michael Jordan

38. “I want to be the bridge to the next generation.” – Michael Jordan

39. “Don’t let them drag you down by rumors, just go with what you believe in.” – Michael Jordan

40. “Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.” – Michael Jordan

41. “Be true to the game, because the game will be true to you. If you try to shortcut the game, then the game will shortcut you. if you put forth the effort, good things will be bestowed upon you. That’s truly about the game, and in some ways that’s about life too.” – Michael Jordan

42. “ Champions do not become champions when the win an event, but in the hours, weeks, and months, and years they spend preparing for it. The victorious performance itself is merely a demonstration of their championship character.” – Michael Jordan

43. “I’ve always believed that if you put in the work, the results will come.” – Michael Jordan

44. “Sometimes things may not go your way, but the effort should be there every single night.” – Michael Jordan

45. “It is easy to choose a path of anonymity and lead an empty life. But to strive hard and lead an impactful life, one needs a burning desire to realize dreams.” – Michael Jordan

46.  “You have to establish who you want to be in this life. Don’t be who they tell you you should be.” – Michael Jordan

47 . “My innate personality is to win at all costs. If I have to do it myself, I’m going to do it.” – Michael Jordan

48. “ Live the moment for the moment.” – Michael Jordan

49. “Enjoy every minute of life. Never second-guess life.” – Michael Jordan

50. “A loss is not a failure until you make an excuse.” – Michael Jordan

51. “My father used to say that it’s never too late to do anything you wanted to do. And he said you never know what you can accomplish until you try.” – Michael Jordan

52. “I’ve always been taught that to reach a goal in life that you want you have to work hard to get to it.” – Michael Jordan

53. “I had to start from the bottom and work my way up.” – Michael Jordan

54. “What motivates me is the unknown. Know one knows, they can all speculate but no one really knows and when you look at my career from high school all the way up through the pros. Know one knew what Michael was capable of you know? Myself, I didn’t know you know? But I didn’t let that stop me, and let that motivate me more so than anything. As long as it’s unknown, that means I have a chance, you know and that’s the way I pursued my whole career.” – Michael Jordan

55. “I’ve really set a standard for myself, which is normal, but then, you have to step it up another level to be above normal.” – Michael Jordan

56. “For a competitive junkie like me, Golf is a great solution because it smacks you in the face every time you think you’ve accomplished something.” – Michael Jordan

57. “When I play I play hard all the time, you know? There’s no turning on here and turning it off here, it’s just 110% at all times.” – Michael Jordan

58. “I never feel that I am at my best. I feel I still have room to improve, I still set goals for myself to strive for. I am never complacent with what I have achieved.” – Michael Jordan

59. “Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you’re in a fight.” – Michael Jordan

60. “If nobody will help you do it, do it alone.” – Michael Jordan

61. “I cannot accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.” – Michael Jordan

62. “I practice as if I am playing the game.” – Michael Jordan

63. “Don’t be afraid to try. The worst thing that can happen, is it doesn’t pan out the way you envision it, but at least you know that by giving it a shot.’ – Michael Jordan

64. “Everything I’ve done in my life I’ve taken a chance at either succeeding at it or failing at it, but I’ve taken that chance. And I will not let the opportunity of failure stop me from doing something that I truly truly enjoy doing.” – Michael Jordan

65. “Sports is a tool that teaches.” – Michael Jordan

66. “Let your game be your promotion and marketing tool.” – Michael Jordan

67. “ Success doesn’t stop when you get there.” – Michael Jordan

68. “My best skill as that I was coachable. I was a sponge and aggressive to learn.” – Michael Jordan

69. “I play for the love of the game, not for the love of money.” – Michael Jordan

70. “The best come from the worst.” – Michael Jordan

71. “If I had been playing for money I would have complained a long time ago that I was underpaid.” – Michael Jordan

72. “It’s about work before glory, and what’s inside of you.” – Michael Jordan

73. “I’m a firm believer in goal setting. Step by step. I can’t see any other way of accomplishing anything.” – Michael Jordan

74. “No brain, no gain. Stay in school.” – Michael Jordan

75. “I believe greatness is an evolutionary process that changes and evolves era to era.” – Michael Jordan

Bonus Michael Jordan Quote

Bonus: Alright, here is one of our favorite Michael Jordan quotes. We added it as bonus, because we 100% stand behind it, and because we believe more people could achieve the success they are after if they’d just full embrace it. Enjoy!

“You Must Expect Great Things Of Yourself Before You Can Do Them.” – michael jordan –

Related: Michael Jordan Success Story

FINAL THOUGHTS

There you have it, the best of the best Michael Jordan quotes to help you find more success in life. If you wan to be like Mike, you have try and think like Mike, and more importantly, strive like Mike.

That said, we hope these quotes fired you up to want to push harder to achieve your goals and dreams.

Till you reach those aims,

PS – If you enjoyed these motivational Michael Jordan quotes, then you’ll definitely enjoy these inspiring Kobe Bryant quotes .

INSPIRING CALVIN COOLIDGE QUOTE ON PERSISTENCE TO HELP YOU PRESS ON

In honor of President’s Day, we thought we’d publish something about one of our favorite presidetns, Calvin Coolidge . Coolidge was the 30th President of the United States, and has been referred to as the best president you didn’t know about.

He has come to be known by his effective and fair governing while serving as President. Yet, he’s gained even more popularity in these modern times from his uttering of some of the most inspiring words about what it takes to succeed in the world. In fact, one of his most enduring and best known phrases has come to be known as the Coolidge Quote on Persistence.

Truth be told, Calvin Coolidge’s quote is so well known, that for many people, his name has just about become synonymous with the word, persistence.

So, what’s this quote all about? Well, the quote is about winning, it’s about what it takes to stay on the one true path to success. It’s about embracing the idea, that with enough persistence, anybody can, in due time, reach an astonishing level of success.

The Calvin Coolidge Quote

With that being said, here’s the famous Calvin Coolidge quote:

“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

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.” – Calvin Coolidge

Printable Version: Calvin Coolidge Quote on Persistence

We believe this quote is extremely powerful and if embraced, can help just about anyone get their mind right about success . We know there are existing quote cards and canvas that can be purchased with this great quote on it, but we know not everyone has the budget to pay for them. So, we decided to create something that you that you can download as a screen saver or print off for free.

Once you’ve saved a version, you can simply print one off at home and put it next to your desk. Or you can take one to work. You can also save one and print it off at Walgreens or use Google photos to create a canvas. The options are endless.

The most important thing, is just getting a copy of one in front of you to give you a nudge when you need it. Once you’ve done that, feel free to set the image as your wallpaper for daily motivation .

With that being said, here is a great printable/downloadable Coolidge Quote on Persistence:

Hopefully this download will keep you motivated to stick to your dreams and lofty goals long enough to realize them.

Lastly, if you like this quote as much as we do, and you believe it speaks truth, and can help others, please consider sharing this page.

Alright, there you have it, the extremely popular Calvin Coolidge Quote on Persistence, and a free printable and downloadable version you can use to remind yourself of the importance of this ultimate key to success.

We hope you take this quote to heart, like we do. But more importantly we hope you come to appreciate the power of persistence and apply it daily until you reach your aims.

Until then,

PS – If you enjoyed this resource on the famous Calvin Coolidge Quote on Persistence, then you’ll love these powerful collection of Persistence Quotes .

35 FEARLESS MOTIVATION QUOTES TO INSPIRE YOU INTO TAKING BOLD ACTION

Motivation is that driving force that helps us achieve our goals, and when we insert a bit of boldness into that drive; watch out world! So, if you’re looking for some powerful words to fire you up to be fearless for what you want, words that will move you into taking bold action, then this page is for you.

We’ve rounded up the most empowering fearless motivation quotes to embolden to be brave, take more action, and pounce on those with the savagery they deserve. With that being said, if you’re ready for some fearless motivation let’s dive in:

Best Fearless Motivation Quotes

1. “Obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.” – Michael Jordan

2. “Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it ; Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” – Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

3. “Fortune favors the bold.” – Virgil

4. “The greatest fear in the world is of the opinions of others. And the moment you are unafraid of the crowd you are no longer a sheep. You become a lion. A great roar arises in your heart. The roar of freedom.” – Osho

5. “You don’t have to be fast. But you’d better be fearless.” – Christopher McDougall

6. “Throw me to the wolves and I will return leading the pack.” – Seneca

7. “Don’t focus on what you think you deserve. Take aim at what you are willing to earn.” – David Goggins

8. “Do one thing everyday that scares you.” – Eleanor Roosevelt

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

10. “A lion sleeps in the heart of every brave man.” – Turkish Proverb

11. “Your largest fear, carries you greatest growth.” – James Allen

12. “Don’t be pushed around by the fears in your mind. Be led by the dreams in your heart.” – Roy T. Bennett

13. “If something is important enough, even if the odds are against you, you should still do it.” – Elon Musk

14. “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

15. “Whatever you want to do, go do it.” – Ray Lewis

16. “Fate loves the fearless.” – James Russell Lowell

17. “He who is brave is free.” – Seneca

18. “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.” – Tacitus

19. “The devil whispers, “You can’t withstand the storm.” The Warrior replied, “I am the storm.” – Unknown

20. “Don’t limit your challenges; challenge your limits.” – Tony Robbins

21. “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage.” – Anais Nin

22. “The secret to happiness is freedom…  And the secret to freedom is courage .” – Thucydides

23. “Become fearless, and the world becomes your oyster.” – Atlas Rowe

24. “The desire for safety stands against every great and noble enterprise.” – Tacitus

25. “Don’t fear failure. — Not failure, but low aim is the crime. In great attempts, it is glorious even to fail.”  – Bruce Lee

26. “Follow your bliss, and the universe will open doors where there were only walls.” – Joseph Campbell

27. “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” –  Steve Jobs

28. “Risk little, Receive little.  Risk much, receive much!” – The STRIVE

29. “I am not what happened to me. I am what I choose to become.” – Fearless Motivation Quote

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

31. “Real lions like to hunt. They love the process just as much as they love the prize.” – Eric Thomas

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

33. “Mental toughness is spartanism with qualities of sacrifice, self-denial, dedication. It is fearlessness, and it is love.” – Vince Lombardi

34. “I’m not afraid of dying, I’m afraid of not trying.” – Jay Z

35. “Dreams are for the dreamers, goals are for achievers.” – Arnold Schwarzenegger

Bonus Fearless Motivation Quote

Bonus Quote: All right, out of all of these fearless motivation quotes, this one says it all. It conveys the one truth that we must all come to embrace if we want to reach our goals and make meaningful change….

“Words Can Inspire But Only Action Creates Change.” – simon sinek –

There you have it, the best of the best motivational quotes to inspire the fearlessness that resides within you. We hope these quotes move you to take some bold new steps towards achieving your true potential.

PS – If you enjoyed this collection of fearless motivation quotes, then you’ll likely also enjoy these empoweriing quotes to help you become fearless .

50+ MOTIVATIONAL ZIG ZIGLAR QUOTES TO HELP YOU REACH THE TOP

Zig Ziglar was one of America’s most renowned public figures in the science of human potential. He was especially sought after in the 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s as a highly influential author and motivational speaker. And his timeless success insights and wise anecdotes encouraging people to take responsibility for positively transforming their lives has made him extremely popular amongst high achievers the world over.

“If You Can Dream It, You Can Achieve It.”

Thus, to honor the relentless encouragement and belief that Zig Ziglar had in everyone’s potential, we’ve pulled together these powerful Zig Ziglar quotes. May they help you realize, and believe , as Zig Ziglar intended, that if you can dream it, you can achieve it.

50+ Best Zig Ziglar Quotes to Help You Get to The Top

1. “Regardless of your “lot” in life you can build something solid on it.” – Zig Ziglar

2. “Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success and endowed with the seeds of greatness .” – Zig Ziglar

3. “In your hands you hold the seeds of failure – or the potential for greatness.” – Zig Ziglar

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

5. “ Action is the manifestation of learning. Just as “faith” without works is dead, learning without action isn’t learning.” – Zig Ziglar

6. “The person who won’t read is no better off than the person who can’t read.” – Zig Ziglar

7. “If you go looking for a friend, you’re going to find they’re scarce. If you go out to  be  a friend, you’ll find them everywhere.” – Zig Ziglar

8. “ Success is not a destination, it’s a journey, it’s the direction in which you are traveling.” – Zig Ziglar

9. “Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four hour days.” – Zig Ziglar

10. “Your attitude, not your aptitude, will determine your altitude.” – Zig Ziglar

11. “You can get everything in life you want, if you help enough other people get what they want.” – Zig Ziglar

12. “It’s true, you can get what you want instead of having to want what you have. Success is easy if you believe .” – Zig Ziglar

13. “People often say motivation doesn’t last. Neither does bathing—that’s why we recommend it daily.” – Zig Ziglar

14. “It’s all right to get money – lots of it – as long as you get it the right way and you don’t let the money get you.” – Zig Ziglar

15. “If you can dream it, you can achieve it.” – Zig Ziglar

16. “No one on the face of this earth can make you feel inferior without your permission.” – Zig Ziglar

17. “People don’t buy for logical reasons. They buy for emotional reasons.” – Zig Ziglar

18. “The major difference between the big shot and the little shot is – the big shot is just a little shot who kept on shooting.” – Zig Ziglar

19. “Your rewards in life are due more to your behavior than to your birth.” – Zig Ziglar

20. “Success is easy – once you believe.” – Zig Ziglar

21. “There has never been a statue erected to honor a critic.” – Zig Ziglar

22. “When you are tough on yourself , life is going to be infinitely easier on you.” – Zig Ziglar

23. “The most practical, beautiful, workable philosophy in the world won’t work – if you won’t.” – Zig Ziglar

24. “The more you are grateful for what you have the more you will have to be grateful for.” – Zig Ziglar

25. “ No one is useless in this world who lightens the burden of it to anyone else.” – Zig Ziglar

26. “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.” – Zig Ziglar

27. “You were born to win, but to be a winner you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” – Zig Ziglar

28. “ Confidence is the hand-maiden of success.” – Zig Ziglar

29. “A goal casually set and lightly taken is freely abandoned at the first obstacle.” – Zig Ziglar

30. “A goal properly set is halfway reached.” – Zig Ziglar

31. “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.” – Zig Ziglar

32. “The chief cause of failure and unhappiness is trading what you want most for what you want right now.” – Zig Ziglar

33. “Rich people have small TVs and big libraries, and poor people have small libraries and big TVs.” – Zig Ziglar

34. “What you get by reaching your goals is not nearly as important as what you become by reaching them.” – Zig Ziglar

35. “What we can and must do is learn the rules well and then play them to the best of our ability.” – Zig Ziglar

36. “Time can be an ally or an enemy. What it becomes depends entirely upon you, your goals, and your determination to use every available minute.” – Zig Ziglar

37. “Your business is never really good or bad ‘out there’. Your business is either good or bad right between your own two ears.” – Zig Ziglar

38. “The greatest source of happiness is the ability to be grateful at all times.” – Zig Ziglar

39. “If you don’t plan your time, someone else will help you waste it.” – Zig Ziglar

40. “Success occurs when opportunity meets preparation.” – Zig Ziglar

41. “Be helpful when you see a person without a smile, give them yours.” – Zig Ziglar

42. “There will always be people in your life who treat you wrong. Be sure to thank them for making you strong.” – Zig Ziglar

43. “Money isn’t the most important thing in life, but it’s reasonably close to oxygen on the ‘gotta have it’ scale.” – Zig Ziglar

44. “F-E-A-R has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” – Zig Ziglar

45. “ Failure is a detour, not a dead-end street.” – Zig Ziglar

46. “If you are not willing to learn, no on can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.” – Zig Ziglar

47. “When obstacles arise, you change your direction to reach your goal; you do not change your decision to get there.” – Zig Ziglar

48. “Difficult roads often lead to beautiful destinations.” – Zig Ziglar

49. “Stop selling. Start helping.” – Zig Ziglar

50. “If you want to earn more, learn more.” – Zig Ziglar

51. It makes no difference where you go, there you are. And it makes no difference what you have, there’s always more to want. Until you are happy with who you are, you will never be happy because of what you have.” – Zig Ziglar

52. Look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude.” – Zig Ziglar

53. “The greatest of all mistakes is to do nothing because you think you can only do a little.” – Zig Ziglar

54. “When your image improves, your performance improves.” – Zig Ziglar

55. Put all excuses aside and remember this: You are capable.” – Zig Ziglar

Bonus Zig Ziglar Quote

Bonus: Here is our last and final bonus quote. We saved it for last, as it is our favorite among all of these Zig Ziglar quotes. Why? Because if more people believed this one little thing, more people would push through the temporary failures everyone faces on the the road to success.

“Remember That Failure Is An Event, Not A Person.” – zig ziglar –

There you have it, the best of the best Zig Ziglar motivational quotes to help you live a little better and find a lot more success in life. We hope at they very least, they help you believe once and for all that you can be, do, and have more in this life.

So, embrace these words, and use them to create your own philosophy of success. And when you do, we’re sure, we’ll see you… at the top.

Till next time,

PS – Zig Ziglar influenced an estimated quarter of a billion individuals through his 33 published books, including his best selling book  See You at the Top , which sold millions of copies. If you’ve yet to read his book See You at the Top , we highly recommend it .

Note: We are reader supported, as such, we may earn a commission at no additional cost to you if you decided to buy any products through the link above.

100+ GREATEST MUHAMMAD ALI QUOTES TO HELP YOU UNLEASH YOUR GREATNESS

Without question Muhammad Ali is and always will be, one of the greatest boxers of all time. But he wasn’t just a great boxer, he was also a great human. Ali was able to dazzle his audience and opponents outside of the ring with his words just as effectively as he was able to shock and stun both his audience and his opponents when he was inside the ring.

He was as they say, the total package. And that is exactly what has inspired us to publish this powerful collection of Muhammad Ali quotes.

Our hope is that these inspirational Ali quotes can help you tap your inner champion so you can become the greatest version of yourself. But not only that, so you can leverage his wise words to not only become your best self, but to also live your greatest life.

So, if you’re ready for some of the hardest hitting Muhammad Ali quotes of all time, let’s dive right in:

100+ BEST MUHAMMAND ALI QUOTES OF ALL TIME

1. “We can’t be brave without fear.” – Muhammad Ali

2. “It’s lack of faith that makes people afraid of meeting challenges, and I believe in myself.” – Muhammad Ali

3. “To be a great champion you must believe you are the best. If you’re not, pretend you are.” – Muhammad Ali

4. “He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.” – Muhammad Ali

5. “Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” – Muhammad Ali

6. “I hated ever minute of training, but I said, “Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

7. “If my mind can conceive it, it my heart can believe it — then I can achieve it.” – Muhammad Ali

8. “It’s the repetition of affirmations that leads to belief. And once that belief becomes a deep conviction, things begin to happen.” – Muhammad Ali

9. “I’m not the greatest; I’m the double greatest. Not only do I knock ’em out, I pick the round.” – Muhammad Ali

10. “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was.” – Muhammad Ali

11. “Only a man who knows what it is like to be defeated can reach down to the bottom of his soul and come up with the extra ounce of power it takes to win when the match is even.” – Muhammad Ali

12. “I should be a postage stamp. That’s the only way I’ll ever get licked.” – Muhammad Ali

13. “It’s not bragging if you can back it up.” – Muhammad Ali

14. “The fight is wont or lost far way from witnesses — behind the lines, in the gym, and out there on the road, long before I dance under those lights.” – Muhammad Ali

15. “I done wrestled with an alligator, I done tussled with a whale; handcuffed lightning, thrown thunder in jail; only last week, I murdered a rock, injured a stone, hospitalized a brick; I’m so mean I make medicine sick.” – Muhammad Ali

16. “Most people seek comfort in the moment, even if it leads to pain later…. Very few people are willing to go through PAIN in the moment for the possibility of a brighter future.” – Muhammad Ali

17. “A man who views the world the same at fifty as he did at twenty has wasted thirty years of his life.” – Muhammad Ali

18. “Age is whatever you think it is. You are as old as you think you are.” – Muhammad Ali

19. “There are no pleasures in a fight but some of my fights have been a pleasure to win.” – Muhammad Ali

20. “A man who has no imagination has no wings.” – Muhammad Ali

21. “I wanted to use my fame and this face that everyone knows so well to help uplift and inspire people around the world.” – Muhammad Ali

22. “ I am an ordinary man who worked hard to develop the talent I was given. I believe in myself, and I believe in the goodness of others.” – Muhammad Ali

23. “It isn’t the mountains ahead to climb that wear you out; it’s the pebble in your shoe.” – Muhammad Ali

24. “You don’t have to be in a boxing ring to be a great fighter. As long as you are true to yourself, you will succeed in your fight for that in which you believe.” – Muhammad Ali

25. “I’ve made my share of mistakes along the way, but if I have changed even one life for the better, I haven’t lived in vain.” – Muhammad Ali

26. “My principles are more important than the money or my title.” – Muhammad Ali

27. “I know where I’m going, and I know the truth, and I don’t have to be what you want me to be. I’m free to be what I want.” – Muhammad Ali

28. “I’m so fast that last night I turned off the light switch in my bedroom and was in bed before the room was dark.” – Muhammad Ali

29. “My only fault is that I don’t realize how great I really am.” – Muhammad Ali

30. “If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough.” – Muhammad Ali

31. “What keeps me going is goals .” – Muhammad Ali

32. “I never thought of losing, but now that it’ s happened, the only thing is to do it right. That’s my obligation to all the people who believe in me. We all have to take defeats in life.” – Muhammad Ali

33. “Champions aren’t made in gyms. Champions are made from something they have deep inside them — a desire, a dream, a vision. They have to have the skill, and the will. But the will must be stronger than the skill.” – Muhammad Ali

34. “I am grateful for all my victories, but I am especially grateful for my losses, because they only made me work harder.” – Muhammad Ali

35. “Hating people because of their color is wrong. And it doesn’t matter which color does the hating. It’s just plain wrong.” – Muhammad Ali

36. “People run in packs because they don’t feel safe alone. I run alone because I don’t feel safe in packs.” – Muhammad Ali

37. “I’m the greatest thing that ever lived! I’m the king of the world! I’m a bad man. I’m the prettiest thing that ever lived.” – Muhammad Ali

38. “I shook up the world. Me! Whee!!” – Muhammad Ali

39. “Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee.” – Muhammad Ali

40. “The only limitations one has are the ones they place on themselves.” – Muhammad Ali

41. “It’s just a job. Grass grows, birds fly, waves pound the sand. I beat people up.” – Muhammad Ali

42. “I don’t count the sit ups. I only start counting when it starts hurting because they’re the only ones that count. That’s what makes you a champion.” – Muhammad Ali

43. “What you are thinking about, you are becoming.” – Muhammad Ali

44. “Silence is golden when you can’t think of a good answer.” – Muhammad Ali

45. “Do not live in regret.” – Muhammad Ali

46. “We all have the same God , we just serve him differently. Rivers, lakes, ponds, streams, oceans all have different names, but they all contain water. So do religions have different names, and they all contain truth, expressed in different ways, forms, and times.” – Muhammad Ali

47. “You should be constantly evolving and growing who you are from life experience and from the work you do on you.” – Muhammad Ali

48. “The real question is this, is the reward worth the risk? Whatever you really want in life is worth the risk.” – Muhammad Ali

49. “ You must believe you deserve it, work toward it until you see it, and affirm it until you become it” – Muhammad Ali

50. “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” – Muhammad Ali

Halfway There

Congrats, you’ve made it through the first half of these quotes, but don’t stop now! You’re six rounds in and you’ve got six more to go.

Massive inspiration awaits in this next bundle of Muhammad Ali quotes. So keep to it!

Related: Motivational Rocky Quotes

51. “You don’t lose if you get knocked down; you lose if you stay down.” – Muhammad Ali

52. “To make America the greatest is my goal, so I beat the Russian and I beat the Pole. And for the USA won the medal of gold. The Greeks said you’re better than the Cassius of old.” – Muhammad Ali

53. “I am gonna show you how great I am.” – Muhammad Ali

54. “I’m young; I’m handsome’ I’m fast. I can’t possibly be beat.” – Muhammad Ali

55. “It will be a killer, and a chiller, and a thriller, when I get the gorilla in Manila.” – Muhammad Ali

56. “Inside of a ring or out, ain’t nothing wrong with going down. It’s staying down that’s wrong.” – Muhammad Ali

57. “It’s hard to be humble when you’re as great as I am.” – Muhammad Ali

58. “If they can make penicillin out of moldy bread, then they can sure make something out of you.” – Muhammad Ali

59. “Impossible is just a big word thrown around by small men who find it easier to live in the world they’ve been given than to explore the power they have to change it. Impossible is not a fact. It’s an opinion. Impossible is not a declaration. It’s a dare. Impossible is potential. Impossible is temporary. Impossible is nothing.” – Muhammad Ali

60. “The man to beat me hasn’t been born yet.” – Muhammad Ali

61. “Wisdom is knowing when you can’t be wise.” – Muhammad Ali

62. “Each time I thought I had achieved my ‘ life’s purpose ‘, I discovered it was only another step in my journey.” – Muhammad Ali

63. “The greatest victory in life is to rise above the material things that we once valued most.” – Muhammad Ali

64. “The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up.” – Muhammad Ali

65. “ Live everyday like it was your last because some day you are going to be right.” – Muhammad Ali

66. “My way of joking is to tell the truth. That’s the funniest joke in the world.” – Muhammad Ali

67. “Life is a gamble. You can get hurt, but people die in plane crashes, lose their arms and legs in car accidents; people die every day. Same with fighters: some die, some get hurt, some go on. You just don’t let yourself believe it will happen to you.” – Muhammad Ali

68. “Women are the field that produces our nation. And if you can’t protect your women, you can’t protect your nation.” – Muhammad Ali

69. “Frazier’s got two chances. Slim, and none. And Slim just left town.” – Muhammad Ali

70. “No one starts out on top. You have to work your way up.” – Muhammad Ali

71. “I don’t trust anyone who is nice to me but rude to the waiter. Because they would treat me the same way if I were in that position.” – Muhammad Ali

72. “I would like to be remembered as a man who won the heavyweight title three times. Who was humorous and who treated everyone right. As a man who never looked down on those who looked up to him, and who helped as many people as he could. As a man who stood up for his beliefs no matter what. As a man who tried to unite all humankind through faith and love. And if all that’s too much, then I guess I’d settle for being remembered only as a great boxer who became a leader and a champion of his people. And I wouldn’t even mind if folks forgot how pretty I was.” – Muhammad Ali

73. “Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth.” – Muhammad Ali

74. “Too many easy victories can ruin a fighter just as much as a long line of defeats.” – Muhammad Ali

75. “Put yourself out on a limb, like me!” – Muhammad Ali

76. “It’s funny, but those who hate me the most sometimes inspire me the most.” – Muhammad Ali

77. “I calculate that I took 20,000 punches, but I earned millions and kept a lot of it. I may talk slow, but my mind is OK.” – Muhammad Ali

78. “A rooster crows only when it sees the light. Put him in the dark and he’ll never crow. I have seen the light and I’m crowing.” – Muhammad Ali

79. “No one knows what to say in the loser’s locker room.” – Muhammad Ali

80. “Superman don’t need no seat belt.” – Muhammad Ali

81. “Truly great people in history never wanted to be great for themselves. All they wanted was the chance to do good for others and be close to God.” – Muhammad Ali

82. “You lose nothing when fighting for a cause … In my mind, the losers are those who don’t have a cause they care about.” – Muhammad Ali

83. “I said I was ‘The Greatest,’ I never said I was ‘the smartest!” – Muhammad Ali

84. “I’ve never let anyone talk me into not believing in myself.” – Muhammad Ali

85. “To be able to give away riches is mandatory if you wish to possess them. This is the only way that you will be truly rich .” – Muhammad Ali

87. “When I get out of boxing, I am going to do all I can to help people.” – Muhammad Ali

87. “His hands can’t hit what his eyes can’t see.” – Muhammad Ali

88. “I’m a fighter. I believe in the eye-for-an-eye business. I’m no cheek turner. I got no respect for a man who won’t hit back. You kill my dog, you better hide your cat.” – Muhammad Ali

89. “I don’t think that there is no heavy weight alive who couldn’t beat me, I KNOW there are none alive.” – Muhammad Ali

90. “I told you all that I was the greatest of all time.” – Muhammad Ali

91. “If you think the world was surprised when Nixon resigned, wait till I whip Foreman’s behind.” – Muhammad Ali

92. “I stayed on the ropes. When I stay on the ropes, you think I am doing bad. But I want all boxers to put this on the page of boxing, staying on the ropes is a beautiful thing with a heavy weight when you make him shoot his best shots and you know he is not hitting you.” – Muhammad Ali

93. “I don’t pay no attention to what they say about me.” – Muhammad Ali

94. “People don’t realize what they had till it’s gone. Like President Kennedy, there was no one like him, the Beatles, and my man Elvis Presley. I was the Elvis of boxing.” – Muhammad Ali

95. “Boxing is stepping stone just to introduce me to the audience.” – Muhammad Ali

96. “If you even dream of beating me, you’d better wake up and apologize.” – Muhammad Ali

97. “I am a dance and be pretty and I am just gonna win on points. If I hurt my man I am going to let him go, I am not going to kill him just because someone is watching.” – Muhammad Ali

98. “Bragging is when a person says something and can’t do it. I do what I say.” – Muhammad Ali

99. “At home I am a nice guy: but I don’t want the world to know. Humble people, I’ve found, don’t get very far.” – Muhammad Ali

100. “True success is reaching our potential without compromising our values.” – Muhammad Ali

Alright, there you have it, the best of the best Muhammad Ali quotes. We hope you enjoyed these powerful Muhammad Ali inspirational quotes, but more importantly, we hope they inspired you in some way shape or form.

If you know of someone who could use a good dose of Muhammad Ali inspired motivation, please share this page with them.

With that being said, if and when life knocks you down get back up, and whatever you do, don’t stop swinging!

PS – If you enjoyed these highly motivating Muhammad Ali quotes, then you’ll likely also enjoy these inspiring quotes from fellow champions like Tyson Fury or Khabib Nurmagomedov .

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• Delivery Techniques →

Inspiring Valedictorian Speech Examples to Help You Write Your Own

Most of us remember delivering a speech in front of our classmates during graduation, whether as salutatorian or valedictorian.

While inputting the right facts and research can be challenging, it’s important to make sure that your graduation speech is inspiring and motivating. Afterall, this is the last time you see many of your class mates, so you want your message to have an impact.

That’s why we’ve compiled some of the most memorable and inspiring valedictorian speeches. Review these examples to get ideas and help you craft your own unique speech. With thoughtful words and effective storytelling , you’ll be sure to make a lasting, positive influence to your classmates!

Reflecting on Our Journey

Throughout high school our journey of self-discovery and growth has been a constant.

As we look back on our journey, it’s important to recognize the significant role that memories have in helping us shape our lives and define who we are. What we reflect on can be both uplifting and humbling while inspiring us to strive for further success.

The more we reflect on our past experiences, the better able we are to learn from failures and successes alike. This not only helps us acknowledge our accomplishments, but it also gives us perspective and insight into how far we’ve come as individuals.

Reflecting on our journey is an opportunity to celebrate the best moments of our years in high school, from sports victories to unforgettable conversations with friends. It also allows us to appreciate all that we learned during those formative years that has helped shape the person we have become today.

It’s natural to feel hesitant about taking time out of a busy day to look back on our individual paths.

But it is a beneficial exercise, even if viewing the past causes painful emotions or overwhelming feelings of nostalgia. Reflection helps us fully appreciate what was achieved and reminds us to take time out of our daily routine for introspection.

Now that we have taken the time to reflect on our individual journey up to this point in life, let’s take a look at some of the notable accomplishments made by members of our class. In the next section, we will examine how remembering some of these triumphs can help provide insight into future goals and ambitions.

Remembering Our Achievements

The valedictorian’s job is to honor the successes and hard work of the graduating class. This can be done by looking back at our collective achievements over the past few years.

From faculty members to peers, remembering everyone who contributed to our success encourages a sense of gratitude and pride in our accomplishment.

One option for doing this is by recognizing special accomplishments or awards that were earned during our time together.

Names can be called out and stories can be shared , only if appropriate and welcomed by those mentioned. It is important to check with anyone beforehand if they are comfortable being publicly remembered in such a way.

It could also be done through sharing meaningful interactions and experiences with classmates. Narratives about how we have learned from one another and grown together remind us of all that we have accomplished, both as individuals and as part of a collective body.

Finally, it may be beneficial to recall moments of progress and growth throughout all of our years in school. Celebrating, even our smaller triumphs along the way further highlights the successes that brought us here today.

Remembering our achievements serves as a reminder of all the hard work our graduating class has put into their education and provides an opportunity to give credit where it is due.

Let us take this moment to pause and recognize everyone who was involved in ushering us here to this milestone moment in time. Now let us transition into celebrating our success as we look ahead at what is possible for us next on our journeys beyond this pivotal rite of passage.

Celebrating Our Success

When it comes to delivering the valedictorian speech, an important element is celebrating our success. The idea of celebration can take on different forms, from lightheartedness to a more serious acknowledgement of a job well done.

It’s up to individual taste as to how you as the valedictorian choose to celebrate and recognize your peers’ many accomplishments that brought you all together.

For those who prefer something more humorous and attractive to the crowd, celebrating with jokes or funny stories that have become part of the shared history of the graduating class can have a greater impact than simply citing general successes.

It shows familiarity and genuine appreciation for the special moments you’ve had with your peers that has led to your combined achievement.

Others may choose a more solemn tone, thanking their entire class for their hard work and dedication over the years which enabled them all to come so far in their respective fields.

This kind of approach also has its merits, as it adds a level of gravity to the speeches, conveying real admiration and gratitude amongst graduating students.

No matter which route one takes, celebrating success has long been an integral component in setting graduation ceremonies apart from everyday life.

As such, valedictorians do not only recognize the accomplishment of graduating classes but also the memories and stories held within their hearts that made it meaningful. Following this section about celebrating our successes, we’ll now discuss how we can look ahead to the future.

Looking Ahead to the Future

It’s perfectly natural to spend some time looking back and reflecting on our successes during the past few years, but when it comes to speeches, valedictorians should also look ahead.

Looking ahead creates a sense of direction and hope that can be shared with the other graduates, reminding them of all of the future possibilities that lie ahead. It also helps to encourage graduates to set goals for themselves and strive for a brighter future.

When talking about the future, many people have conflicting views on whether tackling hard challenges or taking risks should be considered a positive outlook.

On one hand, some would argue that taking risks can lead to incredible rewards and great opportunities. On the other hand, others may point out that the cost of taking too big of a risk can be very costly in terms of time and money spent.

However, instead of debating which side is right or wrong in this scenario, it is more important to focus on how graduates can prepare themselves for whatever life may bring their way.

Valadictorians can use their speech as an opportunity to challenge their peers by inspiring them to make proactive steps towards achieving their dreams – no matter what obstacles they may face along the way.

This may include setting goals apart from just focusing on academic performance; such as staying active, forming meaningful relationships and continuing to learn new skills.

Furthermore, valedictorians can talk about any struggles or set-backs they faced during their journey and about how perseverance eventually played a role in helping them reach their desired outcome – which could serve as an inspiration for those listening .

Overall, by looking ahead and encouraging their peers not just to take risks but find ways to proactively approach their future endeavors, valedictorians can get across an important message – even if it’s through leaving a graduation ceremony with mostly unanswered questions – that they are ready for the next step and up for the challenge.

With these thought processes in mind, let’s now look towards how we as individuals can set goals and understand the power of embracing each challenge head-on.

Setting Goals and Embracing the Challenge

It is no secret that words have the power to both motivate and to inspire. As graduating seniors, now is the time to reflect on our successes, our failures, and the many challenges we have faced in high school.

It can be easy to move onto the next step in life while leaving the past behind us; however, it is important that we acknowledge our individual growth and progress.

Having goals helps us to stay focused on what we set out to achieve. Presenting a detailed outline of your life’s purpose can help to keep you motivated and inspired throughout future milestones.

Remind your classmates that setting goals is essential for any success and should include listed plans; such as attainable academic objectives, personal fitness goals, financial milestones and career aspirations. Making achievable short-term objectives also allows you reflect on your progress as you reach them one by one.

Embracing challenge gives us an opportunity to enhance skills , learn from our mistakes, gain mental strength and resilience, improve problem solving capabilities and explore new ideas that just may lead to something great.

Even though a challenge may be uncomfortable or difficult, sometimes taking risks are necessary for growth. Highlight those times when everyone tried something unexpected out of their comfort zones and how they overcame their fears into becoming confident individuals who tackled anything that came their way because they weren’t afraid of failing.

Demonstrating this important message will help your classmates recognize that push through hard things in life; there are so many more opportunities waiting for them once they continue down this path in life until eventually reaching their end goal!

Through setting achievable goals paired with embracing the challenge of not knowing the outcome, we can take control of our own paths rather than allowing our futures to follow whatever route happens along the way.

Let your classmates know that every step taken in order to achieve something great adds up over time which is why it’s important not to give up no matter how long or hard it may seem! Now onto saying goodbye…

Saying Goodbye to Our Classmates

Saying goodbye to our classmates can be a hard task for any valedictorian speaker. On one hand, we want to express our gratitude for all the time shared together and the memories created. We have supported one another through difficult times and celebrated our successes together.

All of these experiences have brought us closer and given us the strength to overcome anything that comes our way.

On the other hand, some may argue that it is important to move on from this chapter in life and looking forward to what lies ahead in the future.

After all, every good ending paves the way for new beginnings and this could very well be a start of something great. It’s essential to take all these emotions while saying goodbye – sadness, happiness, excitement – and expressing them through an emotional yet motivating valedictorian speech tailored specifically to your graduating class.

These arguments aside, a valedictorian speech is not complete without expressing both appreciation and hopefulness of what lies ahead. To craft a memorable farewell speech that resonates with your classmates, you must include everything mentioned above and show your utmost sincerity in thanking your peers.

Armed with these sentiments, you can now put pen to paper for an example valedictorian speech that is sure to capture and move your entire audience.

An Example Valedictorian Speech

An example of a valedictorian speech can illustrate the harmonious combination of humor and humility, storytelling and self-reflection that creates an inspiring speech.

One such valedictorian speech was delivered by Valedictorian Avery June of Elmore County High School, who told moving stories about growing up in rural Alabama and the profound impact her teachers had on her success.

She poignantly noted that while she had pride in her own accomplishments, they were only part of her journey. Her understanding of the influence of her teachers and peers was instrumental in creating a sense of community and school spirit.

At the same time, not all good valedictorian speeches will be purely reflective or serious. There is a place for levity and humor, as demonstrated by another example valedictorian speech – given by Australian Valedictorian Tom Alchin from St Ives High School – which bravely mocked both himself and his school’s teachers to much applause.

He reminded the entire assembly of their shared accomplishments despite any internal disagreements – ultimately leading to contagious positivity and celebration. By using a humorous approach , he embodied the spirit of togetherness amidst any differences between individuals at the school.

These examples show how effective an inspiring valedictorian speech can be when rendered correctly – walking a fine line between self-reflection and levity without sacrificing either ambition or collaboration.

From these examples we can see how a valedictorian speech can set the tone for celebration while showing admiration for our schools’ greatest resource – its people.

In the next section, we’ll explore further examples which showcase proud alumni stories as well as advice on representing our schools with pride during a valedictorians speech. With this in mind, let us turn to exploring how we can be proud ambassadors for our schools during our own special day.

Being Proud of Our School

When it comes to delivering a powerful valedictorian speech, there is nothing more powerful than a heartfelt thanks and recognition of the school that you attended.

Every academic institution has unique features that set it apart from other schools, and as such, being proud of your school should play a prominent role in any valedictorian speech.

While everyone takes pride in their individual successes, acknowledging one’s school can be just as important—possibly even more important. Students should take time out of their speech to thank their school, students, teachers, administrators, and staff.

Doing so will provide an opportunity to show gratitude, recognize all those who have helped along the way, and provide an optimistic outlook of what the future holds for each student’s home school.

In addition to thanking components of the school community, valedictorians should also use their speech as an opportunity to speak about specific qualities about their home institution that makes it special.

Depending on the size or focus of the school (i.e., public vs. private), there may be some unique aspects worth mentioning from curriculum to diversity. Being able to recognize these qualities during a person’s valedictorian speech will serve as a direct compliment to the entire school community and provide validation for all its efforts.

It is important for a valedictorian to keep in mind though that not every criticism leveled against one’s school needs to be addressed during this time—instead, focus solely on what makes it great and why you chose to spend your time there.

Bring up positive stories or anecdotes if pertinent and while providing constructive criticism can be useful in other contexts and situations like alumni mentorship panels or boards of trustees meetings, remember that using your valedictorian speech is not really the place or time for it.

At the end of the day, no matter how much one does or does not agree with certain aspects of their school’s policies or traditions taking pride in where one went to high school should be sincere and heartfelt before anything else. With this in mind, being proud of our school should be at the center of any inspiring valedictorian speech!

In conclusion, crafting a memorable valedictorian speech can be an intimidating task. However, taking the time to plan out your speech and focus on elements such as tone , storytelling, and timing can help to make your valedictorian speech stand out.

Additionally, you should consider practicing in front of an audience or recording yourself ahead of time so that you can get comfortable with delivering your speech in front of a larger group.

Ultimately, a great valedictorian speech will take time and effort. But by utilizing inspiring valedictorian speeches as examples and paying close attention to the style and delivery of your own speech, you’ll be able to craft a meaningful and memorable valedictorian address for all to enjoy.

Frequently Asked Questions and Responses

What is the expected format of a valedictorian speech.

The typical format for a valedictorian speech is to first thank everyone involved in making the event possible and congratulate fellow classmates on their accomplishments. This can be followed by a brief reflection on the past four years, including any challenges that have been faced, before transitioning into an inspirational message about the future. The conclusion should include a memorable quote or saying to sum up the main themes of the speech.

In terms of structure, it is important to begin with an attention-grabbing statement , introduce topics in an organized manner, use vivid language and thought-provoking examples, and end with a strong conclusion . Additionally, it is important to vary sentence length and speak at a moderate pace so that your audience will remain engaged and follow your message.

How can I make sure my valedictorian speech is effective and impactful?

Making sure your valedictorian speech is effective and impactful requires you to be organized and creative. Before writing a word, brainstorm themes that represent your personal experience in the best light. Once you’ve identified your core message, you can begin structuring the speech in three parts: an opening statement, the body of the speech, and a closing.

When crafting your opening statement, use humor and heartwarming anecdotes to grab the audience’s attention. Opening statements should have a strong emotional connection with everyone in attendance.

The body of the speech should emphasize your core message by examples from your own life or experiences in high school. Try using visual aids such as pictures or videos to drive home key points in your presentation. Additionally, include quotes from educators, authors, politicians, or other influential figures to add depth to your delivery.

Finally, wrap up with a call-to-action for attendees to take away from the ceremony. End by expressing gratefulness for being selected valedictorian, for having been granted the opportunity to attend school with peers and teachers who have shaped their journey thus far.

By building an emotional base at the beginning of the speech and staying organized throughout, you can ensure that your valedictorian speech is both effective and impactful – regardless of how many people are present!

What are some tips for writing a valedictorian speech?

1. Think carefully about your topic. Consider what would be meaningful and inspiring to your classmates as they prepare to transition into the future. Take time to brainstorm ideas and narrow down your focus until you come up with something that stands out.

2. Get organized. Once you have chosen a topic , create an outline that divides your speech into sections, beginning with an introduction, body, and conclusion. Develop your main points and make sure that each one is addressed within each section of the outline .

3. Start writing as soon as possible. Begin drafting the body of your speech , utilizing concrete examples when possible to make it relatable and memorable for your peers. You can always edit your work later, but getting started is key in order to finish on time.

4. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Reach out to teachers or other members of the school community who may have advice or feedback on how you can improve your speech before delivering it. Even if they are not familiar with valedictorian speeches specifically, they may be able to provide insights on writing or public speaking in general that will benefit you as you create your address.

5. Practice, practice, practice ! Rehearse your speech in front of friends and family until you are comfortable speaking it aloud from memory; this will help build confidence and give you the chance to iron out any issues before taking the stage at graduation day .

Judge tosses Elon Musk’s case against hate speech watchdog in excoriating rebuke

A federal judge on Monday threw out a lawsuit by Elon Musk’s X that had targeted a watchdog group for its critical reports about hate speech on the social media platform.

In a blistering 52-page  order , the judge blasted X’s case as plainly punitive rather than about protecting the platform’s security and legal rights.

“Sometimes it is unclear what is driving a litigation,” wrote District Judge Charles Breyer, of the US District Court for the Northern District of California, in the order’s opening lines. “Other times, a complaint is so unabashedly and vociferously about one thing that there can be no mistaking that purpose.”

“This case represents the latter circumstance,” Breyer continued. “This case is about punishing the Defendants for their speech.”

X’s lawsuit had accused the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) of violating the company’s terms of service when it studied, and then wrote about, hate speech on the platform following Musk’s takeover of Twitter in October 2022. X has blamed CCDH’s reports, which showcase the prevalence of hate speech on the platform, for amplifying brand safety concerns and driving advertisers away from the site.

In the suit, X claimed that it had suffered tens of millions of dollars in damages from CCDH’s publications. CCDH is an international non-profit with offices in the UK and US.

Because of its potential to destroy the watchdog group, the case has been widely viewed as a bellwether for research and accountability on X as Musk has welcomed back prominent white supremacists and others to the platform who had previously been suspended when the platform was still a publicly-traded company called Twitter.

In December, for example, Musk restored the X account of conspiracy theorist Alex Jones , who lost a $1.5 billion judgement for spreading false theories about a school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut, that killed 20 children and six educators.

The judge’s ruling Monday also illustrated the limits of Musk’s claim to be a “free-speech absolutist.”

On Monday, Breyer wrote that CCDH’s writing about X “unquestionably constitutes” an exercise of the group’s free speech rights and that the group “makes a compelling case” that its data scraping from X “was newsgathering in furtherance of CCDH’s protected rights.”

He also said he was concerned about X litigating in bad faith and denied the company an opportunity to amend and refile its breach of contract claim.

“The Court is concerned that X Corp’s desire to amend its breach of contract claim has a dilatory motive — forcing CCDH to spend more time and money defending itself before it can hope to get out from under this potentially ruinous litigation,” he wrote. He added it would be “wrong” to let X amend its suit “when the damages it now alleges, and the damages it would like to allege, are so problematic, and when X Corp.’s motivation is so clear.”

To fight the allegations, CCDH partly relied on a California law whose purpose is to safeguard defendants from frivolous suits intended to chill their speech. California’s law against so-called strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP) is among the toughest in the nation. On Monday, Breyer wrote that California’s anti-SLAPP law forbids plaintiffs such as X from getting around the statute through “artifices of pleading” such as breach of contract claims.

In a February hearing to consider CCDH’s motion to dismiss the case, Breyer mocked X’s arguments as “vapid” and said that X notably did not file a defamation claim against the nonprofit.

He repeated that criticism on Monday.

“If CCDH’s publications were defamatory, that would be one thing, but X Corp. has carefully avoided saying that they are,” Breyer wrote.

He added that X “wishes to have it both ways,” trying to impose “punishing damages” on CCDH but without having to clear the high bar of a defamation suit.

The judge’s dismissal of the suit “sends a strong message,” said Imran Ahmed, CCDH’s CEO, in a  message on X .

“@CCDHate has won dismissal on all counts against @ElonMusk’s @X Corp’s outrageous and hypocritical SLAPP suit to silence our research,” Ahmed wrote. “This ruling sends a strong message to those who aim at intimidating and silencing independent research.”

In a separate statement, Ahmed added, “We hope this landmark ruling will embolden public-interest researchers everywhere to continue, and even intensify, their vital work of holding social media companies accountable for the hate and disinformation they host and the harm they cause.”

X, meanwhile, said in a statement posted on the platform that it disagrees with the court’s decision and plans to appeal.

“Today a federal court in San Francisco issued a decision in the case X brought against the Center for Countering Digital Hate for illegally obtaining platform data to create misleading research,” the company said in a post. “X disagrees with the court’s decision and plans to appeal.”

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