I have decided to being sharing motivational quotes that I come across throughout the day with everyone else.  I find that these quotes pop up everywhere.  I see them in articles, at the bottom of emails, on advertisements, websites and etc.  My goal is to update this blog throughout the course of the day.  Please feel free to add to it if you like.  Hopefully, one of the quotes will motivate someone throughout the course of the day.  The first quote of the day is:

“What we think or what we know or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do”
- John Ruskin

“I have learned that the greater part of our misery or unhappiness is determined not by our circumstance but by our disposition.”
- Martha Washington

“Always make a total effort, even when the odds are against you.”

“Enjoy life. This is not a dress rehearsal.”
- Author Unknown

“Enthusiasm spells the difference between mediocrity and accomplishment.”
- Norman Vincent Peale

Quotes that Motivate

 My intent of this blog is not to brag or give the perception that I am better than others, but I just want to share some information that may help others.  I was recently asked by a new business associate, “what motivates you to work so hard in these difficult times and keep a positive attitude?’.  My initial response was, “I don’t think we really have any other choice”.    I was initially very flattered by what I viewed as the highest compliment that I can be paid by a business associate.  While I stand behind my initial response, I decided to take a step back to self evaluate and figure out why I am working hard in these difficult times and what motivates me.  A little background on me, I am a former college football player that has achieved varying degrees of success in the business world.  I have been in the mortgage industry for approximately 11 years and do not plan on leaving the business.  Aside from the obvious motivators in my life like: children, wife, house payment, bills and etc. (no particular order of importance), I have a strong desire to compete and succeed.  That seemed to explain to me the “who”, “what”, “when”, “where” and “why” of the question I was asked.  The part that I was still searching for was the “how” as it pertained to the positive attitude.  Being a former athlete, I realized that I still use some basic forms of motivation daily that impact my attitude like:  music, motivational stories, speeches, movie scenes and quotes.  I have compiled a few of my motivating quotes that I refer to frequently, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do:

• Blake: We’re adding a little something to this month’s sales contest. As you all know, first prize is a Cadillac Eldorado. Anybody want to see second prize?
  [Holds up prize]
  Blake: Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you’re fired.

 – Glengarry Glen Ross 

• Life is not a matter of having good cards, but of playing a poor hand well.
  -Robert Louis Stevenson

• Don’t let the fear of the time it will take to accomplish something stand in the way of your doing it. The time will pass anyway; we might just as well put that passing time to the best possible use. 

- Earl Nightingale

• You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of. You don’t have charge of the constellations, but you do have charge of whether you read, develop new skills, and take new classes.

-Jim Rohn

• The future is literally in our hands to mold as we like. But we cannot wait until tomorrow. Tomorrow is now. 

-Eleanor Roosevelt

While I am sure that some will find this silly and useless, I hope that others will see it for what it is.  It is just merely another tool to assist all of us in making our days that much more productive and successful.  I use some quotes to help motivate me to make a tough sale and others to help motivate me to push hard through tough times and stay positive.  Whatever works for you, go with it!  We all have the same goals, we just go about accomplishing them in different ways.