Steve Jobs’ Words on Innovation (+ 19 More Uplifting Quotes to Inspire)

Do you want to build high-performing teams? Do you want to ensure you stay motivated to lead others? Then take inspiration from these Uplifting Quotes on corporate life that will help you to build a great workplace culture.

Modern management involves building a positive workplace culture.

When employees feel unhappy in an organisation, it shows in their work. They become demotivated, producing poorer results in the process.

The same goes for you. If you feel demotivated, your attitude reflects in your team’s work. They see that you don’t have your nose to the grindstone and they act in kind.

As a manager, it’s your job to inspire your team. Luckily, there’s plenty of advice available from the experts. Business moguls, like Steve Jobs, and sports stars, such as Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods, all have wise words you can learn from.

Use these Uplifting Quotes to inspire yourself and your team.

Uplifting Quotes that will Inspire You (and your Team)

Steve Jobs – It’s About Innovation

The former head of Apple, Steve Jobs is one of the most recognised names in the technology industry.

He says: “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.”

This is a great quote for managers, but it works just as effectively for developing a great company culture. Organisations thrive on innovation. Use this quote to encourage your teams to come up with new ideas. Those who come up with the great ideas of today become the leaders of tomorrow.

Tiger Woods – Push Yourself

Recognised as one of the greatest golfers of all time, Tiger Woods has achieved more than most in the sporting world. But his words can inspire your teams too.

“No matter how good you are you can always get better, and that’s the exciting part,” he says.

Strive to be better. In fact, treat stagnation as the enemy. Don’t settle once you reach the pinnacle, or else you won’t stay there for very long.

Harry Triguboff – Maintain Your Optimism

An Australian property developer, Harry Triguboff is the country’s second-richest person. He points to an unwavering sense of optimism as a key motivator.

“A developer who is not optimistic shouldn’t be a developer,” he says.

Optimism for the project is key for high-performing teams too. Approaching the task in a positive manner enthuses the team, keeping them motivated in the process.

Rick Pitino – Have Something to Work For

Rick Pitino is one of the most successful American college basketball coaches of all time. He’s also the first to win the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men’s basketball championship with two colleges.

He says having something to work for is key to high-performing teams. “Today, people must understand why they’re working hard. Every individual in an organisation is motivated by something different.”

Pitino shows us that work is more than turning up to get paid. Everybody has different motivations and goals. Embrace and work towards them.

Helen Keller – Have Self-Belief

Despite being visually and hearing-impaired, Helen Keller became an author and lecturer. She also earned a university degree.

She points to self-belief as key when she says “Believe in yourself. Never bend your head. Hold it high. Look the world straight in the eye.”

Here’s what this quote inspires in others. It tells them that having belief in yourself allows you to tackle issues head-on. A great company culture encourages employees to believe in themselves.

Anthony Pratt – Nothing Good Comes Easy

Australian entrepreneur Anthony Pratt – following in the footsteps of his father – earned his billions in the packaging industry. He says “I like to do things that you need to chip away at.”

That may not seem too motivating at first but look deeper. Pratt tells us that nothing good comes easy. Use this quote when your teams struggle to see the light at the end of the tunnel of a long project. It will help them realise that every small step is still a step forward.

Henry Ford – You Achieve What You Think

Vehicle magnate Henry Ford essentially created the modern automobile industry. Even today, Ford is one of the world’s leading automobile manufacturers.

He had a simple philosophy about achievement. “Whether you think you can or you think you can’t, you’re right.”

It’s a simple idea. If you don’t think you can do something, you instantly demotivate yourself. Much like Keller, Ford says that believing in yourself is key.

Joss Whedon – Keep Creating

Joss Whedon rose to fame with the television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer. He’s now one of the world’s most distinguished directors.

Much like Steve Jobs, Whedon believes in constant innovation. “Write it. Shoot it. Publish it. Crochet it, sauté it, whatever,” he says. “MAKE.”

The key takeaway here is that you get nothing done if you just think about it. Taking positive action motivates teams and creates a great company culture.

Andrew Forrest – Don’t Let Setbacks Grind You Down

Fortescue Metals Group founder Andrew Forrest is one of Australia’s richest entrepreneurs. He says: “If you haven’t had a few dents in your resume, you haven’t tried.”

Here’s what he’s saying. Too many people use the prospect of failure as a reason not to do anything. With this quote, Forrest implies that he has his own failures. The same goes for all successful people. It’s how you pick yourself up and move forward that counts.

C.S. Lewis – It’s Never Too Late

Author C.S. Lewis wrote the Narnia series. He believed in not allowing a negative perception of yourself to influence your actions.

“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream,” he says.

It’s not uncommon for those in high-performing teams to feel threatened when you introduce new people. Use this quote to remind employees that there’s always something new to aim for. It doesn’t matter how long they’ve worked with you.

John Maxwell – Start Doing

John Maxwell found success as an author and motivational coach. As such, there are few in a better position than he to advise you on the subject of motivation.

He agrees with Joss Whedon about how getting started is a motivator in itself. “After you start doing the thing, that’s when the motivation comes and makes it easy for you to keep on doing it.”

Encourage your team to take action. When they start moving forward, they’ll want to push further.

Mark Twain – Keep Aiming High

One of America’s most prominent authors, Mark Twain wrote several classic books. He was also considered one of the great thinkers of his time.

He once said, “It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.”

How can this help you to motivate high-performing teams?

What Twain says here is that where you start from doesn’t matter. It’s how hard you fight to get where you want to go. Keep pushing and nobody can deny you.

Sheryl Sandberg – Grab Opportunities

The COO of Facebook, Sheryl Sandberg is one of the most prominent women in the technology industry.

She talks about the importance of grabbing opportunities when she says “If you’re offered a seat on a rocket ship, don’t ask what seat! Just get on.”

This is one of the most important of our Uplifting Quotes. It helps employees understand the importance of opportunities. Every new task is a way to develop professionally and move forward.

Lindsay Fox – Build Friendships

Lindsay Fox owns Linfox, one of Australia’s largest logistics companies. He also places great value on the motivating factor of great relationships.

“Personal relationships are always the key to good business,” he says. “You can buy networking; you can’t buy friendships.”

This is another one of our Uplifting Quotes that seems aimed more at leaders than employees. But it hides a nugget of wisdom for everybody. All workplace successes find their roots in people. With this quote, you inspire people to connect on a personal level. In doing so, you create high-performing teams.

Daniel Kish – Adapt Your Mindset

Serving as World Access for the Blind’s President, Daniel Kish has dedicated his life to the visually-impaired. He says that motivation is all a matter of your mindset.

“Ignorance and fear are but matters of the mind.”

“And the mind is adaptable,” he adds.

Use this to let employees know that what seems terrible today shouldn’t affect their motivation. Negativity in the workplace is the enemy of a great company culture. Use this Uplifting Quote to help your team realise the importance of staying positive in the face of adversity.

Kerry Stokes – Work on Your Weaknesses

As one of Australia’s most prominent billionaires, Kerry Stokes has an array of business interests. However, he also recognises his own weaknesses.

“I have a fear of public speaking. It’s very hard work. Words are not my skill, and because they’re not my skill, I have to work doubly hard.”

Here’s what this shows your employees. Their weaknesses are not reason enough to not try. In fact, they are the motivation needed to improve. Impress this upon your team to create high-performing teams.

Ellen DeGeneres – Be Passionate

Comedienne and television presenter Ellen DeGeneres hosts her own talk show on America’s NBC TV network.

She has a simple motivational message. “Follow your passion, stay true to yourself.”

This is one of the great uplifting quotes because of its simplicity. What DeGeneres says here is that motivation comes from doing what you love. Use this to help your team find their passion, so they have something to strive towards.

Michael Jordan – Use Failure to Fuel Success

To this day, many see Michael Jordan as the best basketball player of all time. He has a similar mindset to Andrew Forrest when it comes to failure.

“I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life,” he says when reminiscing about his sporting life. “And that is why I succeed,” he concludes.

This one of our Uplifting Quotes can help you maintain a great company culture in the face of failure. Teach your team that their failures are lessons. This keeps them motivated enough to carry on pushing when they go through setbacks.

John Paul Getty – Keep Learning

The founder of Getty Oil Company, John Paul Getty was once the richest person on the planet. He put his success and ability to stay motivated down to constant learning.

“To succeed in business, to reach the top, an individual must know all it is possible to know about that business,” he says.

This is a motivator for you and your team. The less you know, the less you can achieve. This lack of achievement lowers your motivation levels. If you keep learning about what you do, you can push towards new achievements. Each new achievement boosts your motivation levels. The same goes for your team.

Bill Gates – Don’t Let Success Seduce You

One of the world’s richest people, Bill Gates built a business empire with Microsoft. But he didn’t allow success to go to his head.

“Success is a lousy teacher,” he says. “It seduces smart people into thinking they can’t lose.”

There’s wisdom in these words. Success can demotivate employees just as much as failure. It can result in stagnation, which hampers future successes. This quote pushes employees to keep trying, especially when things are going well.

The Final Word

We can learn many things about building high-performing teams and creating a great company culture from these Uplifting Quotes.

This includes the following:

Success can demotivate just as much as failure.
Your relationships hold the key to your business successes.
Keep developing your skills to create new opportunities.

These Uplifting Quotes can inspire you and your team. Use them to understand the reasons behind your work.

And remember, a great manager can DOUBLE the capacity of their people.