There are so many reasons why we love direct sales—from the flexibility of choosing a schedule that works with your life to the ability to sell a product you genuinely love or believe in and find fulfillment in. But anyone who’s ever been involved in this business will tell you it’s not always a walk in the park. You’re the boss—and while that’s an incredible benefit—there are going to be days that are incredibly challenging.
If you need a reminder of why you got into direct selling, check out a dozen of our favorite motivational sales quotes. We hope you find one that speaks to you! Save your favorite to your desktop, tape it to your bathroom mirror for some encouragement, or even print and frame it—so you can remember why you’re selling and why it matters!
1. “Work hard; be kind.” Rick Libby
Everywhere we go, our Chief Grape Stomper and Head Cheerleader, Rick Libby, shares his personal motto with every Wine Guide he meets. The advice to “work hard” comes from his father, and the advice to “be kind,” from his mother. Simple yet poignant words that now guide him in his everyday actions and interactions, and words that he believes are a core value of Traveling Vineyard.
2. “Anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve.” J. K. Rowling
This famed author came from nothing—today, she’s worth $650 million, and her characters are beloved by readers across the globe. She persevered through difficult rejection in her pursuit to bring Harry Potter to the world, and the world would not be the same without those stories. Rowling’s words are, therefore, a constant reminder that it may take some grit, but that no goal is out of reach.
3. “Once you find something you love to do, be the best at doing it.” Debbi Fields
As the founder of Mrs. Fields Bakery, Debbi Fields’ brand “enjoys the highest aided brand awareness in the industry and sells products at over 300 retail locations globally and online.” Fields was a born entrepreneur and her advice rings true to this day. Once you find the work that speaks to you personally and that you truly love, hone your craft and be the best at what you love best. It’s a winning combination.
4. “We are only as strong as our connections.” Mala Grewal
Mala Grewal, founder and CEO of Talent Catalyst, is a “people extraordinaire wearing many hats such as executive coach, facilitator, consultant, speaker and author to connect us all to our highest potential in a measurable way.” She is a crowd favorite at our leadership training events. We love this motivational sales quote because, at Traveling Vineyard, we’re in the business of building relationships with our customers and with each other. Establishing meaningful relationships and connections will become the foundation from which your business will grow and succeed, from your personal sales success to the success of the team members you nurture and support.
5. “You are what you think, so just think big, believe big, act big, work big, give big, forgive big, laugh big, love big, and live big.” Andrew Carnegie
Carnegie may have been the first public figure to make “going big” a thing. At Traveling Vineyard, we’ve seen great success come to those who are “all in.” Whether you devote three hours a week to your work, or 30 hours, make that time as powerful and productive as it can be. Give your all. Take risks. Imagine big things for yourself. Likewise, apply this notion to your personal life, whether it’s family or community or something else that tops your list, you will see bigger returns when you go big. There’s a sense of satisfaction that comes from this idea, too, and that satisfaction becomes your fulfillment.
6. “When you’re motivating women … what’s important is not just money, it’s meaning.” Sarah Robbins
Sarah Robbins is a motivational speaker and successful direct selling figure. She recently spoke to our Wine Guide community at our national conference in Washington, DC, and this was just one of the quotes we loved. Each of us has a different source of motivation behind why we chose direct sales, and so to grow a direct sales team, Robbins says, means taking that to heart. Just as we make it a priority to know the “why” behind our own motivation, we must encourage new and potential team members to get to know the “why” behind what motivates them, allowing us to support and nurture each person at an individual level.
7. “The things you are passionate about are not random, they are your calling.” Fabienne Fredrickson
Fabienne Fredrickson is the founder of Boldheart™ and Boldheart.com (formerly The Client Attraction Business School and ClientAttraction.com). She is a coach and mentor to thousands of business owners around the globe on authentic marketing and consistent business growth. We love her quote because it serves as a reminder that if you love what you’re doing, you know you’re on the right path!
8. “Successful people look for the good.” Valorie Burton
Valorie Burton, keynote speaker for our recent Harvest conference, is a ray of sunshine, good vibes and amazing advice, so it’s no wonder that we’ve included one of her quotes here. The gist? Successful people are not “Negative Nellys!” It’s incredibly important to put energy where it will yield change, and only positivity has that power. It’s not always easy, but referring back to this quote reminds us to tell ourselves, “I am successful. And successful people see the good. So let’s look at this problem from a new perspective and change course for the better through positive action.” After all, who has time for negativity?
9. “Communication leads to community, that is, to understanding, intimacy and mutual valuing.” Rollo May
Julie Anne Jones shared this quote in one of her blog posts, and it completely resonated with us, too! In fact, Jones is currently the keynote speaker for our fall regional meeting circuit. She says good communication is a cornerstone to what we do—it shows our friends, family, customers, and community that we care about them, and in turn, gives them a reason to care about us.
10. “I can’t emphasize enough of what a great industry and what a great way this is for people to start living the American dream.” Dick Chrysler
This quote from former Congressman Dick Chrysler on the Direct Selling Association (DSA) is an important one; we are a proud member of the DSA and, as such, we are proud to uphold the organization’s code of ethics. We know that Chrysler’s comment is true—direct selling has given so many people the opportunity to pursue their dreams and better their families’ lives. Being an entrepreneur is an amazing thing, and we’re excited to provide that kind of opportunity to others and help them “change their world.”
11. “See things in the present, even if they are in the future.” Larry Ellison
Experts including Oracle CEO and founder Larry Ellison say visualizing your success will help get you there, and we wholeheartedly agree! In our article, The Master List Of Direct Selling Tips From 11 Experts, some of our most seasoned independent Wine Guides—members of our Elite Leadership Team—share how they’ve used this technique to start from scratch and become incredibly successful.
12. “It is not the magnitude of the story that matters, it’s the decision to actually tell it.” Kindra Hall
Hall, who spoke at our Harvest event, taught us the importance of story. Her advice—to tell our unique stories, be genuine, and connect with customers—is something we wholeheartedly agree with. By sharing with others why we do what we do and what drives us via specific and engaging storytelling, we can make authentic personal connections. Storytelling comes naturally to most of us, and Hall reminds to be fearless in sharing our stories, because it is the fear that often holds us back.
What’s your favorite motivational quote for direct sales?
Follow our Facebook page for more motivational sales quotes, and then leave a comment below with your favorites—add your own, and let’s get a whole new list started!