33 Inspiring Quotes About Achieving Your Dreams as an Entrepreneur

True, being an entrepreneur can be exhausting, lonely, frustrating and terrifying. But it's worth every drop of blood, sweat and tears when you are pursuing your passion and turning your dream into a reality.

In an ongoing series called Real Entrepreneurs, we pick the brains of founders and leaders about what it is like to have every decision big and small rest on their shoulders and have compiled their thoughts on what it takes to succeed on the long, sometimes crazy journey of an entrepreneur.

"In business, the only thing that is more important than the number is the person."

Daymond "The People's Shark" John. Read the entire interview here.

"The reality is there's an element of risk and luck in anything that you do. But I find that with disciplined risk, you're either winning and succeeding or you're learning. And that's really the foundation to evolving and growing as a business."

Shirley Chen, founder of Narrativ

"Being an entrepreneur means one word: freedom. I have the ability to chart my own course and pursue what I'm passionate about."

Brandon Webb, former Navy SEAL and head sniper instructor, founder of Hurricane Group, a digital media publishing and e-commerce (subscription box CrateClub) business

"I know that I've got to do my job better and harder than anyone in that building so that everyone there can take care of their families. And that's one of the coolest feelings for me."

Richard Rawlings, owner of Gas Monkey Garage and star of Discovery's Fast N' Loud. Read the entire interview here.

"The word to me is synonymous with ‘hustler.’ As an entrepreneur, you cannot be afraid to put yourself and your ideas out there and figure out how to give them life."

Lisa Barnett, co-founder and CMO of Little Spoon, a fresh, direct-to-your-door baby food company.

"There is joy in the sheer pursuit of our potential — knowing that we are really 'going for it,' working with a sense of urgency, stretching and being fulfilled by our achievements."

Todd Johnson, entrepreneur, mentor and coach. Read the entire interview here.

Mario Armstrong

"Most successful people reflect daily. It gives our brain a chance to pause the chaos with conscious thought of our previous actions and to hopefully derive meaning/learning from those moments! But only if you're honest with yourself!"

Mario Armstrong, serial entrepreneur and host of The Never Settle Show

"'Fear of failure' is something that shouldn't be in your vocabulary in the military, or entrepreneurship. You need to take calculated risks and not be afraid of setbacks. And in both cases, you need the mindset that I will do whatever it takes to accomplish the mission."

Colin Wayne, Army veteran, fitness model and CEO of Redline Steel. Read the entire interview here.

“Entrepreneurs cross the fine line between crazy and genius.”

Greg Berry, who launched the meal kit company BurgaBox.

Read his full interview here.

"You have to keep positive thoughts in your head. You need to feel happy -- on your own, not as a result of someone else."

Cynthia Calamari (left), co-owner of MF3, a Lagree Fitness Megaformer studio. Read the entire interview here.

"I want to improve the world and spend my life doing something meaningful."

Helmuts Bems, CEO and co-founder of Sonarworks, a company changing how music is being created and listened to. Read the entire interview here.

“Being an entrepreneur is following your passion and finding a profit in it. You spend 70% of your life at work, you better love what you do.”

Victoria Cairl, VP of Business Development at Show-Score.com, a Broadway theater ticket and community startup.

Read her full interview here.

“An entrepreneur is someone who sees a need in the market and does something about it, rather than just sitting on the sidelines.”

Anne Reilly, Founder/CEO of Mott50, the first anti-aging fashion collection with built-in sun protection. Read her full interview here.

“It is about having a vision and mission that is bigger than me.”

Shazi Visram, Founder and CEO of Happy Family, a premium, organic food company for babies, toddlers, kids and their mothers. Read her full interview here.

"Being in the military taught me to risk it all early and to risk it all often."

Andrew Weins and I am the owner and operator of the Menomonee Falls, WI territory of JDog Junk Removal & Hauling

"We have to slow down, particularly women who have been taught to overachieve in every single endeavor. They believe they have to be outstanding every single day at being a parent, spouse, and contributor at work. If you are trying to do that, you are going to crash and burn, and very likely not be outstanding at any of it."

Ursula Burns, former CEO and Chair of Xerox, Uber board member and former leader of President Obama's national program on STEM education

"You need to get to a place where you can prosper at your passion. Like I have a couple of artist friends that have a real job and do their art on the side. If their art gets big, they'll do that full-time, but there's no reason to go broke in the meantime."

Monica Beets, Yukon gold miner featured on Discovery's Gold Rush. Read the entire interview here.

“An entrepreneur is someone who gets shit done.”

Husband-wife team Jason Payne (CEO) and Lindsay Reinsmith (COO), who launched Ada Diamonds, a Silicon Valley bespoke fine jeweler of lab-grown diamonds. Read their full interview here.

"I do not have a staff of hundreds. I have a very tiny staff trained as artists and architects, and I only take on one building at any given time. I'm very protective of staying small."

Maya Lin, artist, designer, and environmentalist. Read the entire interview here.

"Being an entrepreneur means to be an artist of life. To be willing to take big risks, because of the deep belief in creating things that matter."

Grace Kraaijvanger, founder of The Hivery, a creative and collaborative coworking space designed to support women throughout all phases and stages of their professional lives

"Unwavering belief in yourself and enthusiasm for what you’re doing. Those traits naturally create a sense of ownership that you can’t buy anywhere -- not even Jeff Bezos can sell it!"

Tristan Mermin and Jon Lawson, the operating executives of Batiste Rhum. Read their entire interview here.

"Bringing your entrepreneurial vision to fruition takes a team of smart and experienced people. Find them, trust them and empower them to help you make decisions."

Dr. Katie Rodan and Dr. Kathy Fields, founders of Rodan + Fields. Read the entire interview here.

"You gotta succeed. If you're not succeeding, you're not recruiting anybody."

Tristan Walker, founder and CEO of Walker & Company Brands, a health and beauty company

"Don't ask for permission. As a woman and an entrepreneur, you can't just take what you're offered. Go after what you want."

Natalie Ebel, co-founder of Backdrop. Read the entire interview here.

“An entrepreneur is someone who has the passion and courage to try something that’s never been done before.”

Jim Patterson, CEO of Eaze, a marijuana technology company that connects people with doctors and dispensaries to deliver medical marijuana in 20 minutes or less. Read his full interview here.

“Entrepreneurship is about solving problems, not getting fixated on them.”

Harold Clarke, a real estate broker and the owner of Luxury Big Island by Harold Clarke. Read his full interview here.

“Being an entrepreneur is different than starting and quickly exiting a startup. I think entrepreneurs create long-term companies and jobs.”

Chrissy Crawford Corredor, Founder and CEO of ArtStar, an online platform for discovering and collecting contemporary art. Read her full interview here.

"When you’re an entrepreneur, you have to understand that no one is going to swoop in and save the day. You have to enjoy solving problems for your customers and for your business."

Nick Palmisciano, founder and President of Ranger Up apparel and media company

"To me, an entrepreneur is someone who has a goal of impacting other people by helping them solve a problem, and through that help, aims to grow and scale to help even more people."

Soraya Goddard, Army Lieutenant Colonel and health and wellness business advisor. Read her entire interview here.

“As an entrepreneurs, you have a fire burning inside your belly, a vision and a dream that you will do anything and everything in your power to bring to life.”

Willie Degel, Founder and CEO of the New York-based Uncle Jack's Steakhouse chain. Read his full interview here.

“Entrepreneurship is about the fight -- the process of getting your product and service in the hands of consumers and building a company along the way.”

Jon Snyder, CEO and Co-Founder of Contenders, a licensed apparel company. Read his full interview here.

"You have to do more than just your role. You have put on a lot of different hats and do a lot of different jobs that are outside of your daily tasks."

Linda Jiang, head of industrial design at Essential Products

"I think the best entrepreneurs are able to create win-wins that lead to sustainable business growth and economics."

Luke Holden, CEO of Luke's Lobster

33 Inspiring Quotes About Achieving Your Dreams as an Entrepreneur Leaders of companies big and small share the mindset it takes to attain success in the face of all obstacles.