10 Disruptive Quotes for Entrepreneurs

People think that innovation happens by sitting around with your buddies and letting magical ideas pop into your head. Or, your customers tell you exactly what they need, and you just have to build it.

Dream on. Innovation is a hard, messy process with no shortcuts. It starts with making something that you’d like to use and that might make people’s lives better. Then you have to get the word out that your product or service exists.

Success takes crazy, passionate people who believe they can change the world. [click to tweet] Success doesn’t take “professional” and “proven” people. I heard Michael Moritz (he funded Google) of Sequoia Capital explain what kind of entrepreneurs he wanted to invest in. I’m paraphrasing: “Guys under thirty who are building a product that they themselves want to use.” Amen!

I’m going to be moderating an event for Virgin Disruptors with Richard Branson to talk about entrepreneurship and innovation. It will be live streamed on Friday, May 9 at 9:30 am PT/12:30 pm PT with a live audience as well. It’s sure to generate a thoughtful conversation and innovative thinking. RSVP on the Google+ event to get a reminder. You can join the conversation on social media with the hashtag #virgindisruptors

Here are ten disruptive quotes from entrepreneurs to give you inspiration.

“There is no greater thing you can do with your life and your work than follow your passions – in a way that serves the world and you.” Richard Branson

“If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!” Richard Branson

"When something is important enough, you do it even if the odds are not in your favor." Elon Musk

“You have to be burning with "an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right." If you're not passionate enough from the start, you'll never stick it out.” Steve Jobs

"Great companies start because the founders want to change the world... not make a fast buck." Guy Kawasaki

“Want to change the world? Upset the status quo? This takes more than run-of-the-mill relationships. You need to make people dream the same dream that you do.” Guy Kawasaki

"More progress results from the violent execution of an imperfect plan than the perfection of a plan to violently execute." Hubert Humphrey

"To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often." Winston Churchill

"You can dream, create, design, and build the most beautiful place in the world, but it requires people to make it a reality." Walt Disney

"Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all." Dale Carnegie

How are you going to innovate?

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Guy Kawasaki is currently the chief evangelist of Canva and the former chief evangelist of Apple. He's the author of twelve books including APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur — How to Publish a Book,What the Plus!, and Enchantment: The Art of Changing Hearts, Minds and Action. and Guy shares enchanting stuff on the topics of marketing, enchantment, social media, writing, self-publishing, innovation and venture capital.