Entrepreneurship is risky and unpredictable. For every entrepreneur who launches a startup that goes on to become a multi-million dollar company, there are countless others whose ideas never see the light of day.
So why do people embark on this often very difficult journey? To find an answer we looked to successful entrepreneurs from around the world. For some entrepreneurship is an opportunity to pursue their passion or purpose, and for others to fulfill a dream of making a difference.
Read on for quotes from Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook founder; Allon Raiz, founder of Raizcorp and Swaady Martin-Leke, founder of luxury brand, YSWARA.
TO CHANGE THE WORLD
“There are great days and there are bad days. At the end, what matters most is to build something that is bigger than myself, my team and which will have a positive impact on my continent” – Swaady Martin-Leke, founder of YSWARA
“What was the purpose of me getting into entrepreneurship? The answer is simple, to impact the world and the people that live in it” – Steve Mululu, founder of Dream Body Fitness
“The world is looking to young people to jump in and make a difference and that is what we are busy doing” – Sylvester Chauke, founder of DNA Brand Architects
“There’s lots of bad reasons to start a company. But there’s only one good, legitimate reason, and I think you know what it is: it’s to change the world” – Phil Libin, CEO of Evernote
“Have a vision that is far bigger than you that drives you. Make more than money, make a difference” – Lindani Dhlamini, CEO of SekelaXabiso
TO FULFILL A VISION
”Chase the vision, not the money; the money will end up following you” –Tony Hsieh, entrepreneurs, venture capitalist and CEO of Zappos
“I did not choose to be an entrepreneur it chose me. I got into it by mistake and never looked back” – Allon Raiz, founder of Raizcorp.
“What was the purpose of me getting into entrepreneurship? The answer is simple, to impact the world and the people that live in it” – Steve Mululu
“All humans are entrepreneurs not because they should start companies, but because the will to create is encoded in human DNA” – Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn
TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE
“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, co-founder of Apple
“Give your business a purpose and try to make a positive difference. Not only can this help people and the planet, it also gives customers a reason to buy from you and other businesses a reason to collaborate” – Richard Branson, founder of Virgin Group
“The world is looking to young people to jump in and make a difference and that is what we are busy doing”
FOR THE ADVENTURE
“When I’m old and dying, I plan to look back on my life and say ‘wow, that was an adventure,’not ‘wow, I sure felt safe.'” – Tom Preston-Werner, co-founder of Github
“You know you are on the road to success if you would do your job, and not be paid for it.” – Oprah Winfery, founder of Harpo Productions
“If you just work on stuff that you like and you’re passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.” – Mark Zuckerberg, founder of Facebook
