11 Quotes on Hard Work, Risk-Taking and Getting Started From Beauty Billionaire Estee Lauder

Like most entrepreneurs, passion was at the core of cosmetics tycoon Estee Lauder. From a young age, Lauder was obsessed with beauty, and it wasn’t before long that she turned her dreams into reality. With the help of her chemist uncle, Lauder developed creams and other products that she would sell to local beauty stores in her hometown of Queens, N.Y. In 1946, Lauder officially launched her now world-renowned beauty company Estee Lauder with her husband Joseph Lauder. The business skyrocketed to success.

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In 1998, Lauder was the only woman to land on Time’s top 20 business geniuses of the 20th century. In 2004, the year Lauder died, the beauty entrepreneur was named Time’s person of the year. Estee Lauder has become one of the biggest brands in beauty, with a worth of more than $50 billion. The company employs more than 46,000 people worldwide.

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To learn more from Lauder and the cosmetics empire she built, here are 11 inspirational quotes on hard work, perseverance and getting started.

On getting started

“All great things begin with a vision … a dream.” -- Estee Lauder

On hard work

“I didn’t get there by wishing for it or hoping for it, but by working for it.” -- Estee Lauder

On perseverance

“First comes the shy wish. Then you must have the heart to have the dream. Then, you work, and work.” -- Estee Lauder

On motivation

“Business is there if you go after it.” -- Estee Lauder

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On risks

“Risk-taking is the cornerstone of empires.” -- Estee Lauder

On goals

“Projecting your mind into a successful situation is the most powerful means to achieve goals.” -- Estee Lauder

On success

“Each businessperson must find a style, that voice that grows clearer and louder with each success and failure. Observing your own and your competitors’ successes and failures makes your inner business voice more sure and vivid.” -- Estee Lauder

On mindset

“I am a visceral person by nature. I act on instinct, quickly, without pondering possible disaster and without indulging in deep introspection.” -- Estee Lauder

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On opportunity

“People do make their luck by daring to follow their instincts, taking risks and embracing every possibility.” -- Estee Lauder

On ideas

“Most good ideas sparkle in simplicity, so much so that everyone wonders why no one ever did that before.” -- Estee Lauder

On persistence

“When I thought I couldn’t go on, I forced myself to keep going. My success is based on persistence, not luck.” -- Estee Lauder