When you are an entrepreneur you may need to listen to some good motivational speeches. That dose of encouragement, advice, or success stories can be the push you need to get ahead with your business. Knowing someone else’s entrepreneurial story can be a great lesson for you.
Motivational speeches for entrepreneurs are like a spark capable of igniting the fire you need inside you to dare to forge your way in business and even become key when things get tough. Entrepreneurship is not an easy road, it is full of stories that will serve as a guide to achieving your purpose. Keep reading some of the best motivational speeches!
1. Arnold Schwarzenegger: “The Rules for Success” (2015)
Arnold Schwarzenegger is a well-known Austrian-American actor, businessman, politician, and former professional bodybuilder. Schwarzenegger is world famous for giving motivational speeches with great meaning. The most popular is known as “The Rules for Success”.
It quickly gained popularity, coming to be regarded as a speech that should be listened to not only by entrepreneurs but by all human beings. There are six rules that Schwarzenegger proposes for living a successful life! They are:
- Trust yourself.
- Break the rules.
- Don’t be afraid to fail.
- Don’t listen to what others say.
- Work hard.
- Give something back.
2. Indra Nooyi: “Performance with Purpose” (2019)
The Iron Lady of business, Indra Nooyi, has positioned herself as a superb leader who has taught an important lesson about gender equality. She served as CEO of PepsiCo Corporation for 12 years and is now a role model, mainly for young women.
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Nooyi is an Indian migrant, in fact, her quote “I have the mentality of an immigrant: to think that you can be out of a job at any time. So you need to make sure you deserve it every day” serves as an inspiration to those who are in this situation of living abroad. He managed to increase PepsiCo’s stock and drove a more health-conscious model and reduced the company’s environmental impact.
Her personal story is already an inspiration in itself, but, in addition, in 2019 she gave the “Performance with Purpose” speech. A reminder not only to be resilient but also to have a goal with a purpose beyond the economic. The call is for our actions to have a positive impact on society!
3. Steve Jobs: “How to Live Before You Die” (2005)
The speech of Steve Jobs, entrepreneur, co-founder, and CEO of Apple, is one of the most famous. “How to Live Before You Die” is about three stories that converge in a single final message. It could be defined as a kind of hero’s journey. It was said by Jobs in 2005 at Stanford University.
Why is it one of the greatest examples of motivational speeches for young people? Because it reminds us of the importance of life. In this speech Jobs reveals his battle with cancer, but does not report that he has metastases. Instead, he focused on those tips he considers excellent for living before you die. “Dare to follow the dictates of your heart and your intuition. In a way, they already know what you really want to be,” he says.
4. Pablo Heinig: “Three core competencies for the future” (2015).
Pablo Heinig is an electrical mechanical engineer and a Ph.D. student in Leisure and Human Potential Development. In his speech, he exhorts us to prepare ourselves to develop our full potential in a world where technology is increasingly competitive. He said these words at TEDXCórdoba in 2015, and since then it has been listed as one of the must-read motivational speeches in Spanish.
What are those core competencies for the future according to Heining? The management of rationality, emotionality, and the management of corporality.
He also leaves a powerful message: “If you manage to think, feel and put your body as the person you want to be, you will end up being that person. And you deserve to be what you want to be because what you are now is the product of your history”.
5. Denzel Washington: “Falling Forward” (2011)
Nearly 5,000 students had the joy of listening live to Washington’s “Falling Forward” speech, delivered during his graduation at the University of Pennsylvania. In a quite entertaining way, he managed to capture not only the attention of his audience but also of entrepreneurs, who claim that this is one of the motivational speeches capable of injecting an extra dose of positivism.
Perhaps it is because it is full of vibrant phrases such as this: “Failures are inevitable. Despite this, graduates should not fall backward but fall forward, learn from their mistakes and keep moving forward.” Certainly, Washington talks about not letting the fear of failure stop us from taking the plunge, in fact, he says, “Nothing in life is worth taking a chance on, nothing.”
6. Martha Debayle: “The 10 lessons every powerful woman should know” (2017).
Women entrepreneurs are surely looking for referents who, like them, managed to make their way in a world marked by gender inequality! It’s no secret that thousands of women are raised with the idea that at some point a man will come into their lives who will give them economic stability and that every woman’s destiny is to be a mom and a housewife.
But what happens when you want to break away from this concept? What happens when you decide to be an independent woman? You have to fight against a whole system because even though today there are more opportunities for everyone, being a woman is still a challenge.
However, Debayle, on the YouTube channel Forbes Mexico was able to give a speech that connected with hundreds of women.
Debayle opened her heart as an entrepreneur and businesswoman, she reminds us in her speech that the best decision is not always the most popular, and that resisting criticism is not easy, but, we can break out of the mold. We can make different decisions, be an entrepreneur and be the woman we want to be. You have to be brave!
7. Will Smith: excerpt from the movie The Pursuit of Happyness (2006)
Will Smith plays Chris Gardner in the popular movie The Pursuit of Happyness. In one part of this film, his character says one of the most famous short motivational speeches: “Never let anyone tell you that you can NOT do something… Not even me… If you have a dream you have to protect it. And people who are not capable of doing something will tell you that you can’t either. If you want something goes for it, period.”
Isn’t this encouraging for entrepreneurs? Mainly for those who are just starting out. In this journey, you will encounter people who doubt your ability, question your projects, and discourage you, but follow your instinct. Surround yourself with those who seek your growth and achieve each of your goals.
8. Anthony Robbins: “What should you fight for?”
Anthony Robbins is an entrepreneur, author with over 5 record-selling books, and life and business strategist for countless celebrities and politicians. In an interview, he revealed his most personal side.
His mother wanted him to be a truck driver, but he decided there was more to it. He dared. This story can help us to start living the life we want, no matter what plans other people have for us, even if it is our family.
9. Mark Zuckerberg: Speech at Harvard University
The founder of Facebook and one of the richest people in the world, Mark Zuckerberg, 2017 returned to Harvard University to give an inspiring speech. The meaning of it was to inspire people to create an Earth where all people have a mission and a sense of belonging. Great, don’t you think?
This is one of the motivational speeches for young people inviting them to create the jobs of tomorrow, break away from the traditional job scheme, and identify themselves as citizens of the world. He added:
“I’m not coming to give you a traditional speech about why you should find your mission in life. We are millennials. That search is instinctive for us. Instead, I’m here to tell them that searching for their purpose is more than enough.”
10. JK. Rowling: “Live life well.”
In 2008, J.K. Rowling, the writer of the Harry Potter youth saga, gave a message at Harvard University that became an icon in motivational speeches for young people. In it, the author gives some details of her personal life that serve as an example for all those who want to learn, but, at the same time, she defends the value of creativity.
Rowling says: “We don’t need magic to transform our world; we already have within us all the power we need: the power to imagine something better”.
Do you encourage creativity in your work team? Do you use some of the techniques to enhance creativity? Maybe it’s time to take into account one of the phrases of historical women!
