How to Increase Your Productivity: 16 Quotes from Successful People

Wondering how to increase your productivity?

When it comes to “how to” do anything, who do you look to for advice? The best individuals are those who achieved tremendous success. Progress looks like different things to various people — the way Mother Teresa defines value strays from the way Bill Gates does. However, if you define “success” as living to your full potential, productivity is the key.

These quotes will help lift you out of a slump when you’re plodding through a seemingly endless pile of work. You can cross-stitch them and hang them above your work desk or seek out motivational posters with these sayings. Alternately, you can merely keep a list to reference when you need an injection of encouragement.

On Practicing Positivity

“I was once asked why I don’t participate in anti-war demonstrations. I said I will never do that, but as soon as you have a pro-peace rally, I’ll be there.” — Mother Theresa.

“Keep your face to the sunshine and you cannot see a shadow.” — Helen Keller

“The cynics may be the loudest voices, but I promise you, they will accomplish the least.” — Barack Obama

“Optimism is a happiness magnet. If you stay positive, good things and good people will be drawn to you.” — Mary Lou Retton

On Maintaining Focus

“No. You’ve got it all wrong. Everything you didn’t circle just became your Avoid-At-All-Cost list. No matter what, these things get no attention from you until you’ve succeeded with your top five (aspirations).” — Warren Buffett

I don’t focus on what I’m up against. I focus on my goals and I try to ignore the rest ” — Venus Williams

“I don’t care how much power, brilliance or energy you have. If you don’t harness it and focus it on a specific target and hold it there, you’re never going to accomplish as much as your ability warrants.” — Zig Ziglar

“Stay on track, don’t look back. You have come too far not to finish what you started. You can improve, you can change, you can progress, you can make a difference. You can do it if you stay on track.” — Germany Kent

On Working With Others

“Great things in business are never done by one person. They’re done by a team of people.” — Steve Jobs

“Teamwork is the ability to work together toward a common vision. The ability to direct individual accomplishments toward organizational objectives. It is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.” — Andrew Carnegie

“Find a group of people who challenge and inspire you, spend a lot of time with them, and it will change your life.” — Amy Poehler

“The way a team plays as a whole determines its success. You may have the greatest bunch of individual stars in the world, but if they don’t play together, the club won’t be worth a dime.” — Babe Ruth

On Courage

“Now that I knew fear, I also knew it was not permanent. As powerful as it was, its grip on me would loosen. It would pass.” — Louise Erdrich

“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” —  Maya Angelou

“The moment I said yes to the challenge, the moment I was open to having the conversations, suddenly in that instant, my life was changed. I grew more courageous; I shed some shyness, some awkwardness, some social fear.” — Shonda Rhimes

“I believe that the only courage anybody ever needs is the courage to follow your own dreams.” — Oprah Winfrey

Boost Your Productivity With These Quotes

If you’re wondering how to increase your productivity, learning from others is a good first step. The next time you need a motivational boost, reach for these 16 quotes. They’ll inspire you to keep going, even on your toughest days!