7 Bruce Lee Quotes Every Entrepreneur Should Know

Great Quotes To Help Every Entrepreneur

Bruce Lee was more than just a ridiculously awesome martial artist and movie star, he was a deep thinker. Like all greats, no matter what their passion was, what made them great was the depth to which they strove to understand all elements of things. Bruce Lee literally kicked ass, and his philosophy can be used to help you kick ass in business and be the best entrepreneur you can be. Radiant Elephant uses the insights baked into these quotes into our own business and branding strategy.

“Adapt what is useful, reject what is useless, and add what is specifically your own.”

Nothing is original anymore, everything is built upon something else. What makes something great is the ability to add to it, cut away the chaff and make it even more viable. Whether we are talking about a restaurant, a tech company, or a financial institute what sets you apart is your fluidity to change and your distinct brand personality that brings something new to the table. The best businesses do what others do, but they set themselves apart with a persona. Two companies can offer the same service, but the ones most adaptable are the ones that will stand the test of time.

“If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.”

When we fall into an intellectual hamster wheel we will never succeed. I’m sure we have all fallen into this trap. “I can’t start the business until it is perfect”, or “we can’t release this product/software until it is flawless”. If we have too high expectations out of the gate it will either fall by the wayside from sheer mental exhaustion, or someone else will do it first. Often times the best way to succeed is by getting thrown into the deep end.

“Use only that which works, and take it from any place you can find it.”

Research can be your best strategy. Look at your competitors and see what makes them successful. When I was researching successful web design companies when I was about to launch my own business I realized that many specialize in one distinct niche, like hotels or finance. In doing so they learn all about the needs of these particular clients and their potential customers know they know what they are doing.

“Defeat is not defeat unless accepted as a reality in your own mind.”

Defeat and failure are so subjective. One person’s defeat could be another’s lesson, and an opportunity to realign, reevaluate, and inevitably succeed. Entrepreneurs must be tenacious, risk-takers, and in my opinion idealistic. If we do not accept defeat or failure then it does not exist. Look at how many of the best business innovators, artists, and musicians faced what many would see as defeat. Instead, they saw this as an opportunity and a challenge. And used the lessons learned to adapt and succeed.

“If you think a thing is impossible, you’ll only make it impossible.”

I am a firm believer, along with Bruce Lee, that our mind creates our reality. This is not a hokey new age thought, it is becoming recognized more and more as fact. Everything is energy, a thought is an energy, and this energy creates our reality. If you are driven to succeed and work hard at it and keep from feeling discouraged then success will come.

“Obey the principles without being bound by them.”

Innovation is key to creating a strong and successful business, and this quote demonstrates the importance of this. Steve Jobs had a deep understanding of the principles of computers and technology, but he was not bound by them, he saw their potential and through creativity and determination succeeded in changing the tech landscape forever.

“I am not afraid of a person who knows 10000 kicks. But I am afraid of a person who knows one kick but practices it for 10000 times.”

To truly succeed practice and mastery are so important. This quote reminds me of Malcolm Gladwell’s theory that it takes 10,000 hours to master a skill. In our modern society, we are pushed to learn as many skills as we can, as opposed to the older way of mastering one. This applies to business. I have seen businesses that try to be everything to everyone, and they fail. In modern times micro-niche businesses that learn about and carve out their niche succeed.

If you meditate on and keep these pearls of wisdom fresh in your mind while dealing with your business it will help you overcome obstacles and have a clearer vision of success.