Get All Access for $5/mo

13 Quotes from Today's Most Successful Leaders on Opportunity and Getting Started Spotting an opportunity and acting on it is no easy task. Here's some motivation to help you.

By Rose Leadem

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Axelle/Bauer-Griffin | Getty Images

Whether it be entering the world of entrepreneurship, vying for a new position at a company or planning the next chapter in life, taking leaps is never easy. And it takes courage, perseverance and often, risk. However, it all starts with spotting the right opportunity and getting started.

Related: 10 Thought-Provoking Quotes From the One-of-a-Kind Artist Andy Warhol

While that can be easier said than done, every successful leader has experienced this moment at some point in his or her life. And the most important thing anyone can do is be prepared for new opportunities -- or make opportunities work for them. You never know when a new one will present itself, so you've got to be willing and able to act in the moment and get started.

No matter where you are in life, check out these 13 quotes on opportunity and getting started.

Sheryl Sandberg

"You hav to take opportunities and make an opportunity fit for you, rather than the other way around." -- Sheryl Sandberg

Larry Page

"It is often easier to make progress on mega-ambitious dreams. Since no one else is crazy enough to do it, you have little competition." -- Larry Page

Related: 12 Quotes on Failure From Super Successful Leaders Like Barbara Corcoran, Mark Cuban and More

Mark Zuckerberg

"Building a mission and building a business go hand-in-hand." -- Mark Zuckerberg

Thomas Edison

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work." -- Thomas Edison

Elon Musk

"The first step is to establish that something is possible; then probability will occur." -- Elon Musk

Related: 11 Powerful Quotes to Make You More Successful From Billionaire Entrepreneur Richard Branson

Martha Stewart

"Once you realize that you have identified a passion, invest in yourself. Figure out what you need to know, what kind of experience and expertise you need to develop to do the things that you feel in your heart you will enjoy and that will sustain you both mentally and economically..." -- Martha Stewart

Coco Chanel

"Dress like you are going to meet your worst enemy today." -- Coco Chanel

Steve Jobs

"You have to trust in something; your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever, because believing that the dots will connect down the road, will give you the confidence to follow your heart." -- Steve Jobs

Richard Branson

"Business opportunities are like buses, there's always another one coming." -- Richard Branson

Related: 10 Inspiring Quotes From Billionaire Entrepreneur and Shark Tank Star Mark Cuban

Albert Einstein

"You have to learn the rules of the game. And then, you have to play it better than anyone else." -- Albert Einstein

Jeff Bezos

"In the end, we are our choices. Build yourself a great story." -- Jeff Bezos

Donald Trump

"Watch, listen and learn. You can't know it all yourself. Anyone who thinks they do is destined for mediocrity." -- Donald Trump

Related: 12 Quotes on Motivation from Today's Thought Leaders

Barbara Corcoran

"Finding an opportunity is a matter of believing it's there." -- Barbara Corcoran

Rose Leadem is a freelance writer for Entrepreneur.com. 

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Side Hustle

The Side Hustle He Started in His College Apartment Turned Into a $70,000-a-Month Income Stream — Then Earned Nearly $2 Million Last Year

Kyle Morrand and his college roommates loved playing retro video games — and the pastime would help launch his career.

Business News

A Former Corporate Lawyer Now Makes Six Figures on YouTube — Here's How She Does It

Here are the secrets to starting and growing a successful YouTube channel, according to a YouTuber with millions of subscribers.

Growing a Business

How to Determine The Ideal Length of Your Marketing Emails Your Customers Will Actually Read

Wondering how long your marketing emails should be? Here's what consumers say — so you can send them exactly what they like.

Business Ideas

63 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2024

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2024.

Business News

Y Combinator Helped Launch Reddit, Airbnb and Dropbox. Here's What I Learned From Its Free Startup School.

The famed startup accelerator offers a free course on building a business — and answers five pressing questions for founders.