Want to Change the World? These Quotes Will Inspire You. Get motivated by words from change-makers in business and philanthropy.
By Nina Zipkin
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Your work – regardless of industry -- can be a force for growth and meaningful change. This slideshow collects quotes from founders, CEOs and change-makers to give a special perspective into the thinking and empathy required to make big shifts happen. Let these words inspire and motivate you.
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Make it personal
"No matter how convenient it is for us to reach out to people remotely, sometimes the most important task is to show up in person." - TOMS Founder Blake Mycoskie
Read more: How I Did It: The TOMS Story
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Consider a different view
"Empathy is one of our greatest tools of business that is most underused." – KIND Founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky
Read more: 5 Business Lessons from KIND Founder and CEO Daniel Lubetzky
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Seek honesty
"One of the most important parts of being a leader is to look in the mirror and tell the truth about what you are seeing. Even if -- especially if -- it's not good." -Adam Braun, Founder of Pencils of Promise.
Read more: An Oft Unspoken Key to Success: Put Aside Your Ego and Be Vulnerable
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Be obsessed with solutions
"Have true passion for the project that you're about to do. You need to be obsessed with it. I think that entrepreneurs need to live and breathe it." – Debbie Sterling, Founder of GoldieBlox
Read more: How One Young Entrepreneur's Quest to Encourage Women Engineers Led Her to GoldieBlox
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Seek new perspectives
"Innovation doesn't happen in isolation." – Neil Blumenthal, Co-founder of Warby Parker
Read more: Warby Parker Co-Founder On the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurship
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Learn from failure
"There's no more powerful lesson than knowing that your setbacks will one day help you succeed." - Reshma Saujani, Founder and CEO of Girls Who Code
Read more: Girls Who Code's Reshma Saujani: 'Everything I've Achieved Has Come From Perseverance'
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Change the present
"It kind of drives me crazy when people are constantly saying, "Oh do this for your grandchildren, your children.' I think, "Who are you talking about? Do this for yourself! Your own personal self!'" – Robin Chase, the founder and former CEO of Zipcar, on climate change.
Read more: Zipcar Founder: Entrepreneurs Have to Build a Collaborative Economy, or Else
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Find your tribe
"As we begin our careers, it's imperative that we create a community of peers that will push us to succeed." Shiza Shahid, Co-founder and CEO of the Malala Fund
Read more: You Know Malala. Now, Meet Shiza.
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Give, don’t take
"Having impact can't feel transactional. It has to come from an authentic place where there is real connection." - Kiva co-founder Jessica Jackley
Read more: 'Having Impact Has to Come From an Authentic Place'
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Change lives
"But humanity's greatest advances are not in its discoveries – but in how those discoveries are applied to reduce inequity. Whether through democracy, strong public education, quality health care, or broad economic opportunity – reducing inequity is the highest human achievement." - Bill Gates, Co-founder of Microsoft and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation
Read more: 6 Leadership Lessons From Bill Gates on His 60th Birthday