Often people turn to a motivational quote for a bit of inspiration. The power of quotes is significant and there has been research as to why quotes are so powerful. Inspiring quotes have a unique way of resonating with people, sparking motivation, and encouraging change. They often provide us with the emotional boost we need during difficult moments or when we’re seeking direction in our lives. Quotes can be simple yet profound, reminding us of the power of positivity, hard work, and perseverance. 

 

At the core of inspiring quotes is their ability to engage with our emotions and thoughts. According to psychological studies, the human brain is wired to respond strongly to words that trigger positive emotions or encourage action. Their simplicity and clarity make them memorable, and they provide us with easily digestible advice or wisdom. The best quotes are often short and to the point, which makes them easier to remember and apply in our daily lives.

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I have always been a fan of quotes – when I was in high school in the 70s I used a plastic wheel dymo label maker to print out quotes that I could put on my bookshelves. These words of wisdom helped guide me and taught me to reach for higher ideas and ideals. Following are some of my favourite quotes and why I think they are important. My list changes over time but this group certainly provides some great guidance.

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Finest Hour

"Let us therefore brace ourselves to our duty and so bear ourselves that if the British Empire and Commonwealth lasts for a thousand years, men will still say – ‘This was their finest hour’." - Winston Churchill

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This is my favourite quote of all time for a number of reasons. France and the other European countries had fallen to Germany in just six weeks. The only thing standing between the German troops and England was 20 miles of water. England was incredibly vulnerable and isolated. There were many who thought at the time that England should try to negotiate a truce with Hitler. Churchill would have none of it. Interestingly, although he was a politician throughout his life, Churchill lost many elections and had many defeats even when he was in government. He is without a doubt the quintessential example of “situational leadership”. He was absolutely the right man at the right time for the job of Prime Minister during the second world war. For all of his many faults his unique style and ability to communicate helped carry the day.

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He was particularly gifted at encouraging the nation to band together and carry on the fight against the German forces, even if it meant doing so alone. These were very long odds but Churchill’s ability to create a picture of greatness and destiny helped unify the nation and emboldened the country to fight on. Many think that this quote recognizes the accomplishment of the country. It was far from celebrating any accomplishment, but challenging the citizens to do all they could so if they were successful in their endeavor to fight the war, that such action and commitment would be seen as the finest accomplishment of the country for a thousand years.  In our lives we should look at the things we do, and think about the actions we may take today, that will have a lasting impact on our careers, lives and those we love. We should strive to make this our “finest hour”.

Be Optimistic!

“Courage friends – it is not too late to build a better world.” – Tommy Douglas 

 

Tommy Douglas was voted as the greatest Canadian for his untiring efforts to bring about our universal health care system. Why this quote resonates with me is that Douglas was aways an underdog. The CCF or NDP were never in a position to form a national government but Douglas never relented in his unwavering effort to build a better world. His commitment to a core principal of service to his fellow man and society in general provides us with a challenge we should all be bold enough to take on.

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Be Trustworthy

“Trust is the residue of promises fulfilled.” – Frank Navran 

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Frank Navran penned 10 ethical values that he outlined in a speech he gave in Moscow some 25 years ago. His summary of trust as a residue seems to sum up exactly what we need to know about trust. It is not a commodity that we can buy but it is something that we earn but not directly – as Navran points out, trust is created and enhanced, not for the sake of trust but as a by-product of keeping your word and taking actions that demonstrate your commitment to truth, honesty and promises. 

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Money Matters

“No Margin – No Mission – No matter how noble the mission, it cannot be achieved without balancing the books.” - Sister Sharon Ford 

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Sister Ford was not your traditional nun. She operated a $4 billion health system known as the Catholic Health Initiatives. It owned and operated more than 100 facilities across 18 states. Sister Ford was driven by the mission of service to provide care to those who needed it, but she also understood that the good work could not continue unless there was a strong attention to the finances of the organization. This is a lesson that we in the public service sometimes seem to forget. (Incidentally CHI delivers $1 billion of charity care a year to those who cannot afford to pay!)
 

Question The Status Quo

“ It is usually processes that fail – not people.” – Anonymous
 

When results are not what we expect it is easy to conclude that someone dropped the ball. Often we should delve more deeply into our failures as many times it is the processes that we use that are no longer yielding the results we need. We must continually question what we do, how we do it and why we do it to ensure that our processes are keeping up with our changing world. The seven worst words in business – “we have always done it this way!”

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Be Persistent

“I have not failed – I have just found 10,000 ways that don’t work.” – Thomas Edison

 

Edison was the most prolific inventor in history with over 1,000 patents and inventions that laid the groundwork for our modern life. Even with so much success, Edison failed more times than he was successful. His unique approach to failure allowed him to carry on until he found the right solution. We can learn much from his approach to how important “failures” were on his path to success.

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Take Action

“Among the greatest enemies of success is procrastination.” - Anonymous

 

Many organizations and government agencies tend default to the status quo. They will put off decision making and resist making changes as they are perceived risks in making changes. Most do not recognize that the risk of not changing with the times is even greater. There should be a bias towards action. Putting off decisions should be carefully considered and not be the norm.

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Work Hard

“The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary.” 

- Vince Lombardi

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This saying is attributed to Vince Lombardi but it actually predates him by several decades. He did add to the quote with the following – “Work is the key to success, and hard work can help you accomplish anything.” Regardless of the history of the quote it certainly underscores the direct connection between hard work and success.

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Be Accountable

“Excuses don’t exist at great organizations.” – Anonymous

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This statement suggests that high performing companies focus on actions and accountability instead of making excuses for failures or setbacks. Instead of blaming external factors, great organizations take responsibility for their actions and find solutions.