Success
7 REASONS YOU SHOULD ALWAYS WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS
Dreams; we all have them, and they come in all shapes and sizes. Sometimes they show up as small pulls and tugs, and at other times as an all-consuming desire.
Unfortunately, most people confuse wishing, wanting, and dreaming with pursuing. Which is why most people find it difficult to achieve their dreams and reach their lofty goals.
But, there is hope. Your wildest dreams and your most audacious goals have a good shot of being attained, so long as you always do this….
Write Down Your Goals.
“A Goal Is a Dream With a Deadline.”
– napoleon hill –
We know what you’re thinking… “Come on, my dreams and goals are too big to suddenly appear just because I put them down on paper.”
And you know what, if you’re thinking this you’re right, at least partially. You’re partially right because goals and dreams don’t suddenly appear just because they’ve been written down. We are sure many people wished things worked this way, but they don’t. There’s no easy button for success.
However, writing down goals should never been underestimated. Because without a doubt, there is power behind the deed. We say this from experience, but not just that, there is actually science to back this statement up.
Goals and dreams, regardless of their size, do eventually appear and will appear for those who put them down on paper, but the keyword is eventually. No, it doesn’t happen suddenly, but it happens, gradually, subtly, and assuredly.
There’s no doubt about it – when you write down your goals, you create the conditions that allow for progress to be made.
But don’t just take our word for it, here are a handful of other solid reasons why you should start writing down your goals, asap:
7 Reasons You Should Always Write Down Your Goals
1. Increases Your Motivation
When you write down your goals and dreams your motivation to achieve them increases. One of the primary reasons you’ll experience increased levels of motivation is related to self-accountability. And self-accountability happens the moment you commit on paper your intent to reach an objective. When you put pen to paper, it’s as if you’re subconsciously giving yourself a command. And anytime you aren’t doing things your subconscious mind knows it should be doing, you’ll start to feel the pressure of what your mind is subtly suggesting you do.
By writing down your goals, you effectually create your own internal drill sergeant. And that internal drill-sergeant acts as a driving force that pushes, pesters, and nudges you to act on those dreams until they are achieved.
Interestingly, much of why you get this motivational benefit, also has a lot to do with this next benefit.
2. Improves Your Recall
When you start writing down your goals, you embed them deeply into your mind. This is important, because when your goals get strongly embedded into your mind, they become easier to recall. Scientists actually have a name for this, it’s called the “generation effect”.[1] It’s basically a fancy name for the fact that…If you generate something out of your own mind (like a goal), vs. remembering some vague interest or desire, you’ll be quicker to remember your goal over that vague desire that was induced by something you read, watched, or learned about from someplace else.
And this is a benefit to you, because goals better remembered are goals better achieved. Which leads me to the next benefit.
3. Writing Down Goals Concentrates Your Efforts
Think of a magnifying glass. If you just hold it up and let light pass through, without intention, without trying to do anything with it, nothing happens. The light passes through and scatters everywhere. However, when you angle the magnifying glass to concentrate the light passing through it onto something, you’ll start burning whatever that concentrated light touches.
Similar to the magnifying glass, an unwritten goal will just get jumbled in your mind with all your other wants, wishes, and dreams. When it’s unwritten it becomes scattered, along with every other thing that runs through your mind on the daily.
However, when you write down your goal, your intention to achieve that goal gets focused. And the more laser-focused your intention to achieve a goal is, the more concentrated your efforts to achieve it will be.
Why is more concentrated effort a good thing?
Because an increase in concentrated effort, means an increase in your chances of hitting your goal.
4. Makes Your Dreams Concrete
The moment your dream or goal is placed on a piece of paper, is the moment it becomes real. It becomes something to be interacted with, it becomes tangible. Before a goal is on paper, it’s nothing more than a thought, a longing, a mental state. It’s a passive yearning.
But, when your goal finds its way onto a journal, a word document, or a piece of paper, it becomes concrete. When you write your goal down, you give it name, a deadline, a description.
In short, you give it parameters that can you can measure against and act upon. It becomes much like a way-point on a map, giving you a sense of where you are, and how much further you have to go.
Related: Quotes on Goal Setting
5. Writing Down Goals Helps You Tap the Full Potential of Your Brain
When you dream, desire, and long for something you are pretty much only using the imaginative right-side of your brain. But, when you actively jot your dreams and goals down, when you start clarifying what they are, and begin defining and giving life to them, you begin to use the left-side of your brain.
And when you have both sides of your brain, focused on and working towards something, well, that’s when the miracle of achievement starts to happen.[2]
So, if you want to enlist the full potential of your whole brain to get what you want, start writing down your goals.
6. Makes You 42% More Likely to Achieve Your Goal
When you write down your goals, you increase the odds of reaching that goal. That’s the whole premise of this article. But you may be one of those people who have been asking themselves up until this point, “Well, what are the chances, statically speaking of me reaching my goals if I write it down? Is it even worth the effort?” Well, if that’s you, here’s your answer.
You actually have a 42% higher chance of reaching your goal when you start writing them down. So yes, it’s worth the effort.
According to a study conducted by Dr. Gail Matthews, a psychology professor at Dominican University of California, you are 42% more likely to achieve your goals just by writing them down.[3]
So yeah, you may want to start writing down your goals, because well, science say so!
7. Success Leaves Clues
Look, not everyone wants to be a billionaire, a CEO, or some uber-successful person, we get that. But, we can learn a lot from people who seem skilled at high achievement and accomplishing things. How do we know? Because, we’ve been studying high achievers for years now, and success leaves clues.
And one clue we’ve observed that most highly successful people have in common (not all), is they set goals for themselves. They decide what they want to achieve, when they want to achieve it by, and then commit to achieving that goal by writing it down.
Here’s what a few notable people worth listening to have to say about goals:
Tony Robbins: “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible.”
Albert Einstein: “If you want to live a happy life, tie it to a goal, not to people or things.”
Pablo Picasso: “Our goals can only be reached through a vehicle of a plan, in which we must fervently believe, and upon which we must vigorously act. There is no other route to success.”
So, if achieving a smidgen of what some of the most the highly successful people in the world have achieved is of interest to you, writing down your goals must become a priority.
“Goals That Are Not Written Down Are Just Wishes.”
– anonymous –
BONUS REASON: Writing Down Your Goals Facilitates Happiness
Most people don’t know this, but having a goal can actually help make you happier. Seriously, it can. You see, when people write down their goals, and commit to going after something bigger and better than what they have at the moment, they create hope for themselves.
Hope for a better tomorrow, hope for a better future, a hope that the happiness they seek may actually be achieved. And hope, believe it or not, is a species of happiness.[4]
Without a doubt, there is power in writing down goals. The power to help create the happiness we all seek in our lives.
So even if the first seven reasons to start writing down your goals are not good enough for you, hopefully this last one is…..because who doesn’t want to be happy? Truly, the simple act of jotting down a goal can actually help facilitate your happiness. We know, it sounds crazy…but its true!
Related: Why Goal Setting Fails
Recap…
Alright, you’ve made to the end, great job! Now, here’s a quick recap to help solidify in your mind why you should always write down your goals.
- Reason #1: It Increases Your Motivation
- Reason #2: It Improves Your Recall
- Reason #3: It Helps You Concentrate Your Efforts
- Reason #4: It Makes Your Dreams More Concrete
- Reason #5: It Helps You Tap the Full Potential of Your Brain
- Reason #6: It Increases The Odds of Reaching Your Goal by 42%
- Reason #7: It Is What Many High Achievers Do
- Bonus Reason: It Can Actually Facilitate More Happiness in Your Life
Conclusion
Big dreams, small dreams, lofty goals and little goals, all of them…can be achieved.
Not magically, not suddenly, but eventually if you begin to place your trust in goal setting. Because when you write down your goals, you place your trust in action. And action (not passive longing) always shortens the distance between you and your dream.
Unquestionably, action wins the day. So never forget…
Don’t let your dreams just be dreams friends. Move towards your dreams, stop wishing, stop waiting, stop wasting time. Start taking action, write down your goals, and do something everyday that will bring you closer to your goals and the dream will be yours.
Till you reach your aims,
STRIVE
PS – You can jumpstart your dreams and bridge the gap between your goals and accomplishment with The Strive Journal. Why? Because achievement doesn’t just happen.
Achievement takes a plan (a.k.a. writing down your goals) and encouragement. This 365 day guide is full of wisdom, encouragement, accountability, and success principles that will help you push through your obstacles and achieve your dream.
From sleeping in their cars to building billion-dollar empires, self-made millionaires like John Paul DeJoria and Oprah Winfrey prove that wealth isn’t just about luck—it’s about habits. These individuals didn’t inherit their fortunes; they built them through discipline, strategy, and a relentless drive to succeed. At The STRIVE, we’re dedicated to helping dreamers like you turn ambition into action.
That’s why we’ve compiled this list of 10 proven habits of self-made millionaires to help you build wealth in 2025 and beyond. Whether you’re starting from scratch or aiming to level up, these habits are practical, time-tested, and accessible to anyone willing to put in the work. Ready to ignite your financial success? Let’s dive into the millionaire mindset and uncover the habits that can transform your future.
1. Set Clear, Daily Goals
Self-made millionaires don’t wander aimlessly—they plan their success. Elon Musk, for instance, is known for breaking down massive goals (like colonizing Mars) into daily tasks. This habit keeps them focused and productive.
How to Apply It: Start each day by writing down 3–5 specific, actionable goals. Use tools like The STRIVE Journal to track progress and stay accountable. For example, set a goal to save $100 this week or read one chapter of a finance book. Over time, these small wins compound into massive results.
Why It Works: Daily goals create clarity and momentum, aligning your actions with your long-term vision of financial freedom.
2. Commit to Continuous Learning
Warren Buffett, one of the world’s richest self-made billionaires, spends hours daily reading—up to 500 pages! Millionaires know that knowledge is power, especially in a fast-changing world like 2025’s economy.
How to Apply It: Dedicate 30–60 minutes daily to learning. Read books like Rich Dad Poor Dad (a favorite on The STRIVE’s book recommendation list), listen to podcasts like The Millionaire Mindset, or take online courses on platforms like Coursera. Stay updated on market trends, investments, or skills relevant to your industry.
Here’s Why It Works: Continuous learning sharpens your skills and uncovers new opportunities, giving you an edge in wealth-building.
3. Network Strategically
Daymond John, the Shark Tank star and FUBU founder, credits his success to building relationships with the right people. Millionaires don’t just network—they connect with mentors, peers, and influencers who push them forward.
How to Apply It: Attend industry events, join online communities (like LinkedIn groups), or reach out to someone you admire with a thoughtful message. For inspiration, read about John Paul DeJoria’s journey on The STRIVE—he built his empire through strategic partnerships.
Why It Works: A strong network opens doors to opportunities, from business deals to mentorship, that accelerate wealth creation.
4. Invest Early and Consistently
Self-made millionaires like Barbara Corcoran built wealth by investing early, even with small amounts. Whether it’s real estate, stocks, or their own businesses, they let compound interest work its magic.
How to Apply It: Start investing now, no matter how small. Open a low-cost brokerage account, contribute to a 401(k), or explore real estate crowdfunding. Aim to invest at least 10–15% of your income consistently. Check out our personal finance tips for budgeting strategies to free up cash for investments.
Here’s Why It Works: Early investments grow exponentially over time, turning modest savings into substantial wealth.
5. Embrace Failure
Steve Harvey, whose success story we’ve covered at The STRIVE, faced countless rejections before becoming a household name. Millionaires view failure as feedback, not a dead end.
How to Apply It: Reframe setbacks as learning opportunities. If a business idea flops, analyze what went wrong and adjust. Keep a “failure journal” to document lessons learned and how you’ll improve. This mindset builds resilience, a key trait for financial success.
Why It Works: Embracing failure fuels persistence, helping you overcome obstacles on the path to wealth.
Related: Millionaire Quotes
6. Master Time Management
Time is a millionaire’s most valuable asset. People like Jeff Bezos prioritize high-impact tasks and eliminate distractions to maximize productivity.
How to Apply It: Use the 80/20 rule (Pareto Principle) to focus on the 20% of tasks that drive 80% of your results. Try time-blocking: allocate specific hours for work, learning, and personal growth. Apps like Notion or Trello can help you stay organized.
Reasoning: Effective time management ensures you’re working smarter, not just harder, to achieve your financial goals.
7. Cultivate Discipline
Discipline separates dreamers from doers. Self-made millionaires like Oprah Winfrey stick to routines, even when motivation fades. Whether it’s waking up early or sticking to a budget, discipline drives results.
How to Apply It: Create a daily routine that aligns with your goals. For example, wake up at 6 AM to exercise, plan your day, and review your finances. Use our motivational quotes for a daily dose of inspiration to stay on track.
Why It Works: Discipline builds consistency, turning habits into long-term wealth-building behaviors.
8. Diversify Income Streams
Millionaires rarely rely on a single income source. Kevin O’Leary, for example, invests in businesses, real estate, and media ventures to spread risk and grow wealth.
How to Apply It: Explore side hustles like freelancing, e-commerce, or content creation. If you’re new to this, start small—sell a skill on Upwork or launch a blog inspired by The STRIVE’s entrepreneurship tips. Reinvest profits into new ventures.
Why It Works: Multiple income streams provide financial security and accelerate wealth accumulation.
9. Practice Mindfulness and Mental Health
Arianna Huffington, founder of The Huffington Post, emphasizes mindfulness as a key to success. Millionaires prioritize mental clarity to make sound decisions and stay focused.
How to Apply It: Incorporate mindfulness practices like meditation or journaling into your routine. Apps like Headspace or a simple gratitude journal can reduce stress and boost focus. Reflect on your “why” to stay motivated, as we discuss in our personal growth articles.
Reasoning: A clear mind enhances decision-making, helping you navigate financial challenges with confidence.
10. Give Back to Build Forward
Self-made millionaires like Andrew Carnegie, whose quotes inspire us at The STRIVE, believed in giving back. Philanthropy not only creates impact but also builds networks and personal fulfillment.
How to Apply It: Donate time, skills, or money to causes you care about. Volunteer at a local nonprofit or mentor someone starting their journey. Even small acts, like sharing knowledge, can create ripple effects.
Why It Works: Giving back fosters goodwill, strengthens your reputation, and attracts opportunities that align with your values.
Your Roadmap to Wealth in 2025
Building wealth isn’t about overnight success—it’s about adopting the habits of those who’ve already made it. From setting daily goals to giving back, these 10 habits of self-made millionaires are your blueprint for financial success in 2025. Start small, stay consistent, and let these practices compound over time.
At The STRIVE, we believe in turning dreams into reality. Ready to take the first step? Pick one habit from this list and commit to it for 30 days. Track your progress with The STRIVE Journal and share your journey with our community. For more inspiration, explore our success stories and let these millionaires’ journeys fuel your own.
What’s your next step toward wealth in 2025? Share this article with a friend, join our newsletter for weekly motivation, and let’s make this your year of financial freedom!
Till you reach your aims,
STRIVE
PS – if you enjoyed this article, then you’ll love this article on how to build your net worth.
Steve Jobs was the renowned co-founder and CEO of one of the largest technology companies in the world; Apple. He was a pioneer of the personal computer revolution, who also founded NeXT Computer Inc., and co-founded Pixar Animations Studios. He was truly a visionary, who’s innovations helped him amass a net worth of $250 million by the time he was just 25, to then a staggering $10.2 billion by the time of his death.
To be sure, Steve Jobs put a dent in the universe. So much so, that most of the world still uses, desires, and enjoys many of the digital creations and innovative concepts he put into motion by having the courage to follow his dreams.
To highlight and further share Jobs’ timeless wisdom and advice on success and life, we rounded up some of his best quotes. So, if you’re seeking some inspiration from one of the 21st centuries most iconic figures, then you’ll love these top Steve Jobs quotes on success and life:
BEST STEVE JOBS QUOTES FOR SUCCESS
1. “If today were the last day of your life, would you want to do what you are about to do today?” – Steve Jobs
2. “I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.” – Steve Jobs
3. “Being the richest man in the cemetery doesn’t matter to me. Going to bed at night saying we’ve done something wonderful…that’s what matters to me.” – Steve Jobs
4. “I think if you do something and it turns out pretty good, then you should go do something else wonderful, not dwell on it for too long. Just figure out what’s next.” – Steve Jobs
5. “If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.” – Steve Jobs
6. “Be a yardstick of quality. Some people aren’t used to an environment where excellence is expected.” – Steve Jobs
7. “Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it.” – Steve Jobs
8. “You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backward. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something–your gut, destiny, life and karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life.” – Steve Jobs
9. “Quality is more important than quantity. One home run is much better than two doubles.” – Steve Jobs
10. “Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.” – Steve Jobs
11. “You can’t just ask customers what they want and then try to give that to them. By the time you get it built, they’ll want something new.” – Steve Jobs
12. “Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it. They just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while.” – Steve Jobs
13. “All I ask is that today, you do the best work of your entire life.” – Steve Jobs
14. “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” – Steve Jobs
15. “Things don’t have to change the world to be important.” – Steve Jobs
16. “Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.” – Steve Jobs
17. “Getting fired from Apple was the best thing that could have ever happened to me. The heaviness of being successful was replaced by the lightness of being a beginner again. Less sure about everything. It freed me to enter one of the most creative periods of my life.” – Steve Jobs
18. “Here’s to the crazy ones, the misfits, the rebels, the troublemakers, the round pegs in the square holes…. The ones who see things differently–they’re not fond of rules…. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them, but the only thing you can’t do is ignore them because they change things…. They push the human race forward, and while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius, because the ones who are crazy enough to think that they can change the world are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs
19. “If I try my best and fail, well, I’ve tried my best.” – Steve Jobs
20. “Have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow know what you truly want to become.” – Steve Jobs
21. “Focus is about saying NO.” – Steve Jobs
22. “That’s been one of my mantras—focus and simplicity. Simple can be harder than complex; you have to work hard to get your thinking clean to make it simple.” – Steve Jobs
23. “If you want to make everyone happy, don’t be a leader, sell ice cream.” – Steve Jobs
24. “If you are working on something exciting that you really care about, you don’t have to be pushed. The vision pulls you.” – Steve Jobs
25. “Sometimes life will hit you in the head with a brick, don’t lose faith.” – Steve Jobs
26. “I don’t care about being right, I care about success and doing the right thing.” – Steve Jobs
27. “Sometimes when you innovate, you make mistakes. It is best to admit them quickly, and get on with improving your other innovations.” – Steve Jobs
28. “Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life.” – Steve Jobs
29. “”Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” – Steve Jobs
30. “It’s impossible to fail if you learn from your mistakes. Don’t give up.” – Steve Jobs
31. “I’ve noticed something in my life, which is the people who are really good want to work with the best people they can find — hopefully people who are even better than them, you know? I mean that that’s my view of things, if you work with people who aren’t as good as you, you become a country of midgets, if you work with people who are better than you, you really grow.” – Steve Jobs
32. “You’ve got to be a really good talent scout. Because no matter how smart you are, you need a team of great people.” – Steve Jobs
33. “If you don’t love it, you’re going to fail.” – Steve Jobs
34. “Everything around you that you call life was made up by people that were no smarter than you. And you can change it, you can influent it… once you learn that, you’ll never be the same again.” – Steve Jobs
40. “The most precious thing that we all have with us is time.” – Steve Jobs
36. “Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower.” – Steve Jobs
37. “People think focus means saying yes to the thing you’ve got to focus on. It means saying no to the hundred other good ideas that there are. You have to pick carefully.” – Steve Jobs
38. “We’re here to put a dent in the universe. Otherwise why else even be here?” – Steve Jobs
39. “Death is very likely the single best invention of life, it’s life’s change agent — it clears out the old to make way for the new.” – Steve Jobs
40. “Passion and persistence are what separate the successful from failures.” – Steve Jobs
Bonus Steve Jobs Quote
Bonus: “Stay hungry. Stay foolish.” – Steve Jobs
Final Thoughts
There you have it, the best Steve Jobs quotes on success and life. We hope these Steve Jobs sayings provided you with a bit of insight into Jobs’ genius ways, but more importantly, we hope they inspired you to go after whatever it is that sets your heart on fire.
With that being said, if you haven’t found what you’re looking for, keep seeking and reaching!
Till then,
STRIVE
PS – If you enjoyed these Steve Jobs quotes on success, then you’ll love this Steve Jobs Success Story article.
Many people don’t know this, but success isn’t just about striking it big with some great new invention or idea. Success is also more than becoming famous and having a T.V. series created about you. Indeed, for most people, success is not lottery winning type of event. Rather, success is more about making up our minds to do something, and then proceeding to accomplish that thing in a reasonable amount time. So, considering success is more about patience, persistence, and getting up everyday to put in the work, we’ve gathered a handful of inspiring quotes on patience and success.
“Patience is a Key Element of Success.”
Our hope is that these quotes will inspire you to take a step back when things don’t seem to be going your way, assess the situation, and then truly realize that what you are after is possible, and that it may just require a bit more effort and patience on your part. So, if you’re ready for some great quotes on patience and success, let’s dive in.
Inspirational Quotes on Patience and Success
1. “Patience is bitter, but its fruit is sweet.” – Jean-Jacques Rousseau
2. “Patience, persistence, and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” – Napoleon Hill
3. “Paralyze resistance with persistence.” – Woody Hayes
4. “If you can’t fly, then run, if you can’t run then walk if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.” – Martin Luther King, Jr.
5. “Be patient and tough; someday this pain will be useful to you.” – Ovid
6. “If you wait by the river long enough, the bodies of your enemies will float by.” – Sun Tzu
7. “Energy and patience in business are two indispensable elements of success.” – P.T. Barnum
8. “Patience and fortitude conquer all things.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
9. “Patience is not passive, on the contrary, it is concentrated strength.” – Bruce Lee
10. “To know how to wait is the great secret of success.” – Joseph DeMaistre
11. “Success requires both urgency and patience. Be urgent about making the effort, and patient about seeing the results.” – Ralph Marston
12. “Just because it is not happening right now doesn’t mean it never will.” – Anonymous
13. “Patience is the key which solves all problems.” – Sudanese Proverb
14. “The price of success: hard work, patience, and a few sacrifices.” – Edward Bok
15. “To lose patience is to lose the battle.” – Mahatma Gandhi
16. “Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience.” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
17. “Be patient. Empires are not built in a day.” – Anonymous
18. “The two most powerful warriors are patience and time.” – Leo Tolstoy
19. “Be patient. Sometimes you have to go through the worst to get the best.” – Anonymous
20. “A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else.” – George Savile.
21. “All great achievements require time.” – Maya Angelou
22. “Great works are performed not by strength but by perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson
23. “The hardest test in life is having the patience to wait for the right moment.” – Anonymous
24. “Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.” – William Penn
25. “Great difficulties may be surmounted by patience and perseverance.” – Abigail Adams
26. “Patience is the path to your ambitions.” – Gary Vaynerchuck
27. “Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” – Joyce Meyer
28. “Patience is the companion of wisdom.” – Saint Augustine
29. “Success is the result of perfection, hard work, learning from failure, loyalty, and persistence.” – Colin Powell
30. “Patience is the key to everything.” – Turkish Proverb
31. “Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.” – John Quincy Adams
32. “Have patience. All things are difficult before they become easy.” – Saadi
33. “One moment of patience may ward off great disaster. One moment of impatience may ruin a whole life.” – Chinese Proverb
34. “Success is the sum of small efforts repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier
35. “Patience is the silent partner of ambition, turning small steps into great victories.” – Thomas Edison
36. Success is a marathon, not a sprint. Patience allows you to pace yourself for the long haul.” – John C. Maxwell
37. “The greatest achievements come to those who wait wisely, working diligently while time unfolds opportunity.” – Benjamin Franklin
38. “Patience turns dreams into achievements by giving you the courage to endure setbacks.” – Helen Keller
39. “Success doesn’t come quickly, but it comes surely to those who wait with purpose.” – Lao Tzu
40. “Overnight success stories take a long time.” – Steve Jobs
41. “Patience is the companion of wisdom, guiding small, steady steps to monumental success.” – Augustine of Hippo
42. “With patience, every seed of effort grows into the tree of success, no matter how long it takes.” – Booker T. Washington
43. “The road to success is paved with patience, where every delay is a lesson in persistence.” – Maya Angelou
Bonus Quote on Patience and Success
Bonus: This last quote on patience is one of our favorite in summing up how patience is the key to success:
“Trees That Are Slow To Grow Bear The Best Fruit.”
– Molière –
Final Thoughts on Patience and Success
Without a doubt, success takes patience and time. And we hope these quotes have inspired you to realize that just because your success has yet to arrive, doesn’t mean that it never will.
So, stay patient and faithful of your better future, because patience pays. And no matter what happens, be patient and keep moving forward.
Till next time,
STRIVE
PS – If you enjoyed these quotes about patience and success, then you’ll love these inspirational quotes about remaining patient but still staying hungry for success.
Sylvester Stallone has been one of the most recognized names in Hollywood over the past four decades. And it all started with a simple story of a down and out dock worker named Rocky. A nobody who was given an opportunity of a lifetime and seized it.
“It’s All About Dreams. Dreams Cost Nothing, They Are Free.”
– Sylvester Stallone –
Since then, Sylvester Stallone, and his series of movies revolving around Rocky have been inspiring people all around the world. Not surprisingly, Sylvester Stallone’s real life story is every bit as motivating and inspiring as the fictional Rocky character he created. As you’ll soon see, Sylvester Stallone’s life story is also a success story.
His success story is one that should be observed, retold, and shared, just as much as his movies are. Why? Because success leaves clues. So, that’s what we intend to do in this post today; share his inspiring rags to riches story and hope you takeaway something to help you create your own success story.
With that being said, let’s dive in…
THE SYLVESTER STALLONE STORY OF SUCCESS
Most people don’t know this about Sylvester Stallone, but he had a dream as a young man to become a big movie star in Hollywood. He longed to become a great director, producer, and writer. But of course, everyone told him it could not be done. But, he wasn’t one to take no for an answer. And after finding little luck in the New York’s films scene, he decided to try his chances in Los Angeles.
As luck would have it, his life in Los Angeles was not all sunshine and rainbows. He struggled and strived for a few years in Los Angeles as well. At one point, things got so bad and he was so short on money that he had to take his wife’s jewelry, and sell it without her permission just to make a few extra dollars.
He even went through a short period of homelessness, spending a few nights sleeping on the floor of a bus station. But the worst of his dire straits would be when he had to sell his dog because he could barely keep him fed.
Struggle was a way of life for Sylvester Stallone for many years. But he was willing to suffer through barely making ends meet , so long as he could keep taking shots at roles, regardless of the size. He was willing to go through hell so long as there was the potential to fulfill his dream of making it in Hollywood.
“Life Is An Opponent That Never Stops Punching, So You Better Never Stop Punching Back.”
– sylvester stallone –
The Inspiration Behind The Inspiration
Fortunately, his trials and tribulations would not last forever. One day after witnessing a boxing match between a virtually no-name boxer (his name was actually Chuck Wepner) who went head to head with the greatest of all time, Muhammad Ali, a brilliant idea came to him.
It is said, that after he watched this man take on the champ Ali, even knocking him down at one point, and almost going the entire distance of the fight with him, he became inspired by what he felt was a metaphor for life.
In fact, he became so inspired by what he saw, that when he got back home from the fight, he locked himself up in his 8ft x9ft apartment for over three days straight. And when he finally came out of his apartment, he had completed the script that would eventually come to be known as ‘Rocky’.
One Shot, One Opportunity
But just having that script in hand didn’t mean he was fated to overnight success. No, there were still more obstacles that had to be overcome. The script was written, but Sylvester didn’t yet have a backer/producer for it.
However, his big opportunity would crystalize after wrapping up a casting call for a film he was auditioning for. A film that was being directed and produced by two notable film makers Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. Now, he didn’t make the cut during that audition. But, before leaving the set that night he seized his moment while having conversation with Robert Chartoff and Irwin Winkler. And it was during that conversation that he boldly mentioned his interests in writing along with some of his ideas to the film producers.
As fate would have it, they became intrigued enough in what he was saying, that they invited him to stop by their office at a later time so they could learn more about him and his ideas. And as they say…the rest is history.
Nothing’s Over Till It’s Over
Sylvester Stallone’s script one over the two film makers, and they decided they would buy the script from him so they could make it into a movie. They offered Sylvester Stallone upwards of $300,000, which was the most money he had ever been offered, let alone seen at that time. But, he knew that if his script would become a success, he would forever regret not going for the lead role. So, he made it a point to star in his own film, realizing that this would be his true shot at achieving success.
So, after much negotiating, he would eventually decline upwards of $360,000 for the sale of his script alone. He eventually won out in his negotiations and sold his script for $25,000, but on the condition that he would get to star in the lead role.
Success Ethos
Sylvester Stallone’s calculated risk to forgo what was a huge pay out at the time for his script, has made all the difference in his ultimate success. The Rocky movie has since gone on to become a smash hit, along with a series of related cascading block buster successes. Successes that Sylvester Stallone proclaims he could have never imagined in wildest dreams.
And it all happened because he had a success ethos of never settling. It happened because he was willing to embrace the pain and suffering of being without, until his vision was realized.
He was willing to take on the hits of life, and willing to lose it all to strike it big. And it is because he had a vision of what he wanted, and stuck to it till the end, that he realized his vision, got everything he wanted, and struck it big. Sylvester Stallone’s now has one of the most sizeable net worth’s in Hollywood, and he is arguably one of the most successful and well-known actors of all time.
Stallone’s Lasting Impact: A Creative Force Beyond Rocky
Sylvester Stallone’s journey didn’t end with Rocky’s triumph. His relentless creativity and ability to evolve have cemented his legacy as a multifaceted artist. Beyond acting, Stallone proved himself a visionary writer and director, crafting stories that resonate globally.
In 1978, he directed and starred in Paradise Alley, a gritty drama about three brothers in 1940s New York, inspired by his own challenging upbringing. Though overshadowed by Rocky, it showcased his knack for authentic storytelling.
Decades later, he created The Expendables (2010–present), a franchise he wrote, directed, and starred in, uniting action icons like Jet Li and Dolph Lundgren to revive the genre for a new era. His directorial work on Creed (2015) earned critical acclaim, proving his storytelling prowess at 69.
Stallone’s creativity extends beyond film. An avid painter, he has showcased his vibrant artwork in galleries like the Russian State Museum, using art to express emotions too raw for the screen. His 2005 book, Sly Moves, outlines his fitness philosophy, blending physical discipline with mental toughness, inspiring fans to adopt his work ethic.
At 78, Stallone continues to innovate, starring in the hit series Tulsa King (2022–present), a modern crime drama that highlights his adaptability. His lesson? Success demands versatility and courage to explore new crafts. So, take a page from Stallone: dedicate time to a passion project outside your comfort zone, like writing or art, to unlock new potential.
That said, his enduring impact shows that true success is about creating a legacy that evolves with time.
Video Credit via Mulligan Brothers
Related: Stallone’s Net Worth
Final Thoughts on Stallone’s Story of Success
The great thing about the Sylvester Stallone success story is that it provides us with hope for what is possible. It also provides us with a road map of what achieving success, more often than not, looks like.
So, use his experiences to prepare yourself for what you must do to achieve your dreams. Let them prepare you for the challenging road ahead. And may they give you hope that the vision you glorify in your mind will come to pass.
Lastly, allow this story to help you believe that if you push hard enough, and strive long enough, you will eventually win.
Till next time,
STRIVE
PS – If you enjoyed this Success Story, then you’ll also enjoy these inspiring Sylvester Stallone Quotes, or even these extremely Motivational Rocky Quotes
Successful people have many attributes in common that they lay claim to for their success in life. On the other hand; unsuccessful people have one thing in common that they all suffer from. This one thing is a thought disease known as excusistis. What’s excusitus? Excusitis is an ailment (non-clinical of course) that causes people to make lame excuses for not being able find success, or achieve a certain thing in their lives.
“Excusitis: The Hallmark of The Unsuccessful.”
Indeed, the hallmark of the unsuccessful is having a penchant for making lame excuses. And unfortunately, we know it is found far and wide across every corner of the land. But, there is a cure. Excusitis can be fought off and defeated. There is a vaccine so to speak, for this thought disease. But before you can cure it, it has to be diagnosed first. As such, we aim to help you do just that, by isolating the lame excuses typically made by the unsuccessful. So, scour through this collection of common excuses typically found in an infected mind. Behold:
77 COMMON EXCUSES THAT KILL SUCCESS
1. If only I were more self-disciplined…
2. If only I had better habits…
3. If only I were smart enough…
4. If only I didn’t have a spouse and a family…
5. If only I had enough influence…
6. If only I had enough money…
7. If only I were more confident…
8. If only I had an education…
9. If only I went to a good school…
10. If only I could get good job…
11. If only someone would hire me…
12. If only I had more time…
13. If only times were better…
14. If only I could get motivated…
15. If only conditions around me were better…
16. If only I could live my life over again…
17. If only I were younger…
18. If only I were older…
19. If only I could do what I really wanted…
20. If only I had been born rich…
21. If only I dared assert myself…
22. If only I had the talent some people have…
23. If only I had embraced passed opportunities…
24. If only I could meet the “right people”…
25. If only people didn’t get on my nerves…
26. If only I didn’t have to keep house and look after the children…
27. If only my boss appreciated me…
28. If only I could just get started…
29. If only I had somebody to help me…
30. If only my family understood me…
31. If only I lived in a big city…
32. If only I could save enough money…
33. If only I were free…
34. If only I had the personality of some people…
35. If only I did not have to work so hard…
36. If only my talents were known…
37. If only I could just catch a break…
38. If only I could get out of debt…
39. If only I hadn’t failed…
40. If only I knew how…
41. If only everybody didn’t oppose me…
42. If only I could stop worrying…
43. If only I married the right person…
44. If only people weren’t so dumb…
45. If only I were sure of myself…
46. If only I were luckier…
47. If only other people understood me…
48. If only my fate were not already pre-destined…
49. If only I were not so out of shape…
50. If only I hadn’t lost my money…
51. If only my family were not so extravagant…
52. If only I lived in a different neighborhood…
53. If only I didn’t have a “past”…
54. If only I owned my own business…
55. If only other people would listen to me…
56. If only there wasn’t something wrong with me…
57. If only I was born in the right country…
58. If only the government didn’t require such high taxes…
59. If only I didn’t care what others thought…
60. If only I had been given a chance…
61. If only I now had a chance…
62. If only other people didn’t “have it in for me”…
63. If only I were good with money…
64. If only I were a different gender…
65. If only I were a different race…
66. If only the government weren’t against me…
67. If only I were better at technology…
68. If only I were stronger…
69. If only I were better looking…
70. If only I weren’t so lazy…
71. If only nothing happened to stop me…
72. If only I could change…
73. If only I could read better…
74. If only I had a better memory…
75. If only things weren’t so crazy in the world right now…
76. If only I had never given up that one time…
77. If only I had good health…
Bonus Lame Excuse…..
Bonus: If only I didn’t make so many excuses…
Diagnosis
Alright, you’ve run the gambit of excuses commonly uttered by the unsuccessful. If you came across any excuses you currently cling to or believe in, then you’ve just self-diagnosed yourself with excusitis. If this is the case for you, don’t be too alarmed, all hope is not lost.
In fact, this knowledge is power, because now you know where you stand. But more importantly, now you know you need a cure.
The Cure
So what’s the cure for being susceptible to lame excuses? Believe it or not, the cure for excusitis is quite simple. The cure is nothing more, nor less than belief.
When a person believes that anything is possible for them, they won’t allow themselves to be duped by an excuse. Belief allows people to short circuit thoughts related to them not being good enough, smart enough, rich enough, or just enough to accomplish something.
Belief triggers within us, a knowing, that regardless of any perceived limitation, we can use our minds and resourcefulness to circumvent any and all obstacles.
Related: How to Stop Making Excuses
Final Thoughts
Success is your birthright, but only if you believe it to be so. So, crush your excusitis, zero out your excuses, and believe… truly believe that you can be, do, and have whatever it is you want in this life, and have it you will.
“If You Believe You Can Do a Thing, You Can Do It.”
– CLAUDE M. BRISTOL –
So believe, be determined, and stay patient.
And until you reach your aims,
STRIVE
PS – Dream chasing it tough, but not impossible. If you’re looking for a bit more encouragement to push you towards what’s possible for you, check out these quotes.
Dan Peña is a high performance executive business coach, entrepreneur, and motivational speaker. He’s also a self-made multimillionaire and founder of the Guthrie Group, and the Quantum Leap Advantage, a transformational program that teaches people how to tap into their potential and build generational wealth. That said, Dan is a tough-love, castle-owning, non-sugar coating high achiever who knows a thing or two about success. So, we’ve decided to pull together some of the most inspiring and powerful Dan Peña quotes on success we could find.
Our hope is that this small batch of quotes will give you a few gems you can take and run with to find a bit more success in your life. We also hope that these Dan Peña quotes will inspire you enough to learn more about him and his methods for achieving success. So, if you’re ready for some of ‘The Trillion Dollar Man’s’ best insights, let’s dive in:
35+ POWERFUL DAN PEÑA QUOTES FOR SUCCESS
1. “I’ve never seen a ‘part-time’ super successful, high-performance’ person.” – Dan Peña
2. “Life without dreams is like a bird with a broken wing — it can’t fly.” – Dan Peña
3. “Don’t focus on mistakes; focus on the positive. Say “Next Time”! – Dan Peña
4. “It’s my ambition to say in four words what others say in a whole book.” – Dan Peña
5. “You can’t love anybody unless you love yourself first.” – Dan Peña
6. “Don’t under any circumstances, ever, second guess yourself.” – Dan Peña
7. “There is never an easy time to make a hard decision.” – Dan Peña
8. “The road to success is always under construction.” – Dan Peña
9. “I can guarantee you will never achieve anything greater than your greatest aspiration.” – Dan Peña
10. “Tough times don’t last. Tough people do!” – Dan Peña
11. “If love got the job done most parents would have produced high performers — It doesn’t!” – Dan Peña
12. “‘Thinking it over’ is for people who can’t take action.” – Dan Peña
13. “Don’t just work longer hours, ‘staying busy’ as most other people do. ‘Work smart’ — i.e. stay productive and don’t get distracted.” – Dan Peña
14. “If you want things to change, you first have to change.” – Dan Peña
15. “Fear of failure is caused by lack of self-esteem and confidence. Dealing with fear is the key to super success.” – Dan Peña
16. “Wishing, hoping, and dreaming without an action plan — is nothing more than a pipe dream.” – Dan Peña
17. “Self-esteem is the bedrock of high performance, it’s the bedrock of everything.” – Dan Peña
18. “You are who you hang around with. Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future.” – Dan Peña
19. “87% of the planet hate what they do.” – Dan Peña
20. “Man’s greatest burden is unfulfilled potential.” – Dan Peña
21. “People with low self-esteem protect themselves by not taking risks. High self-esteem gives you the power of confidence to take chances.” – Dan Peña
22. “High performance people take action quickly and change their mind slowly.” – Dan Peña
23. “Most people today are snowflakes. They melt under pressure.” – Dan Peña
24. “Once you learn how to make money, it is not that hard… what’s hard is to stay excited about it.” – Dan Peña
25. “You can’t have a dream come true unless you have a dream.” – Dan Peña
26. “Practice success before you’re successful.” – Dan Peña
27. “Good things come to those who go out and fu**ing earn it.” – Dan Peña
28. “You have no idea how limitless you are when you don’t care what other people think or say.” – Dan Peña
29. “Mistakes are inevitable but the important thing is we learn and not repeat them.” – Dan Peña
30. “Dream big, think big, be big.” – Dan Peña
31. “We must all remember life doesn’t have to be fair for us to succeed, if we take charge and become creators of our own destiny.” – Dan Peña
32. “Always shoot for the moon. Even if you don’t hit the bulls-eye, you’ll at least get 80 percent.”
33. “The more emotional distractions you have the harder it is to accomplish your goals – especially at the extreme levels!” – Dan Peña
34. “Your most valuable natural asset is your own gut instinct. Don’t be afraid of it. your instinct has more power than all of the conventional wisdom in the world.” – Dan Peña
35. “The truth is, successful people are not ten times smarter than you. They don’t really work ten times harder than you. So why are they successful? Because their dreams are so much bigger than yours!” – Dan Peña
36. “You’ve been deluded into believing that reading is taking action.” – Dan Peña
37. “Life expands and contracts with courage through pain.” – Dan Peña
38. “Success leaves clues kids.” – Dan Peña
Related: Dan Peña Net Worth
Final Thoughts
There you have it, some of the best powerful Dan Peña quotes for success and high achievement. There’s no doubt that his approach is controversial, and some may even say off-putting, but he’s results speak for themselves. So, if it’s success you seek, then you’ll have to overlook his tough love approach.
That said, if you looking for more success insights from this billion/trillion dollar drill sergeant, be sure to check out his site or his channel.
Till you reach your aims,
STRIVE
PS – If you enjoyed these motivational Dan Peña quotes, then you’ll likely enjoy these quotes from one of his highly successful mentee’s, Dan Lok.
Diligence is the steady, earnest, and energetic effort that leads to accomplishment. It’s careful and persistent work that ensures progress is made and goals are achieved. Diligence is the opposite of busy work, it’s intentional and focused work. And when it’s pursued, positive results ensue. So, to further inspire that peculiar quality of work that often leads to success, we’ve rounded up some of the best diligence quotes of all time.
Our hope is that these quotes will inspire you to adopt the work ethic and virtuousness that permeates the diligent. So, if you’re ready for some of the most inspiring quotes about diligence, let’s get started:
BEST DILIGENCE QUOTES
1. “Diligence is the mother of good fortune.” – Benjamin Franklin
2. “Diligent accumulation of personal wealth is not inherently ungodly so long as it is complemented by equally diligent distribution of personal wealth.” – Kobe Bryant
3. “Prefer diligence before idleness, unless you esteem rust above brightness.” – Plato
4. “A slack hand causes poverty, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” – Proverbs 10:4
5. “Everything yields to diligence.” – Thomas Jefferson
6. “We must be diligent today. To wait until tomorrow is too late. Death comes unexpectedly. How can we bargain with it?” – Buddha
7. “Winners embrace hard work. They love the discipline of it, the trade-off they’re making to win. Losers, on the other hand, see it as punishment. And that’s the difference.” – Lou Holtz
8. “The leading rule for the lawyer, as for the man of every calling, is diligence.” – Abraham Lincoln
9. “Work is doing it. Discipline is doing it every day. Diligence is doing it well every day.” – Dave Ramsey
10. “Patience and Diligence, like faith, remove mountains.” – William Penn
11. “Diligent follow-up and follow-through will set you apart from the crowd and communicate excellence.” – John C. Maxwell
12. “Diligence produces success and riches. Laziness creates poverty and failure.” – Dr. T. P. Chia
13. “Diligence is the mother of good fortune, and the goal of a good intention was never reached through its opposite, laziness.” – Miguel de Cervantes
14. “The best strategy in life is diligence.” – Anonymous
15. “If ever there were a shortcut to success, the path of diligence would be it.” – Atlas Rowe
16. “If your determination is fixed, I do not counsel you to despair. Few things are impossible to diligence and skill. Great works are performed not by strength, but perseverance.” – Samuel Johnson
17. “Diligence is a good thing, but taking things easy is much more restful.” – Mark Twain
18. “Chaos is inherent in all compounded things. Strive on with diligence.” – Buddha
19. “Gold laboreth diligently and contentedly for the wise owner who finds for it profitable employment, multiplying even as the flocks of the field.” – George S. Clason
20. “Care and diligence bring luck.” – Thomas Fuller
21. “Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it is the wellspring of life.” – Proverbs 4:23
22. “What we hope to do with ease, we must learn to do with diligence.” – Samuel Johnson
23. “My tip is to work hard, be diligent and dedicated.” – Zhao Wei
24. “Remember the proverb of Solomon: “He becometh poor that dealeth with a slack hand: but the hand of the diligent maketh rich.” – P.T. Barnum
25. “There is no substitute for hard work.” – Thomas A. Edison
26. “Hard work and diligence are essential to success, but they require an internal motivation. That internal motivation is Vision.” – Myle Munroe
27. “Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and diligence.” – Abigail Adams
28. “I never could have done what I have done, without the habits of punctuality, order, and diligence.” – Charles Dickens
29. “That which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified in, and the best of me is diligence.” – William Shakespeare
30. “Patience is emotional diligence.” – Stephen Covey
31. “He who labors diligently need never despair; for all things are accomplished by diligence and labor.” – Benjamin Franklin
32. “The time will come when diligent research over long periods will bring to light things which now lie hidden. A single lifetime, even though entirely devoted to the sky, would not be enough for the investigation of so vast a subject… And so this knowledge will be unfolded only through long successive ages. There will come a time when our descendants will be amazed that we did not know things that are so plain to them… Many discoveries are reserved for ages still to come, when memory of us will have been effaced.” – Seneca
33. “Running taught me valuable lessons. In cross-country competition, training counted more than intrinsic ability, and I could compensate for a lack of natural aptitude with diligence and discipline. I applied this in everything I did.” – Nelson Mandela
34. “Success doesn’t come from what you do occasionally, it comes from what you do consistently.” – Marie Forleo
35. “Diligence is the mother of excellence.” – Aeschylus
Final Thoughts
We hope you enjoyed our collection of inspirational diligence quotes. If any of them particularly inspired you to want to be more diligent, then by all means share it or the page with someone who’d appreciate it.
That said, if you liked these quotes on diligence, then you’ll certainly enjoy these related quotes:
Effort Quotes | Hard Work Quotes | Persistence Quotes
Till you reach your aims,
STRIVE
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