---
title: Work & Life Quotes | Marco Pontili   
description: Personal collection of quotes that inspire my approach to work, creativity, and focus. Ideas on productivity, learning, and balance.   
url: https://marcopontili.com/quotes   
canonical: https://marcopontili.com/quotes   
lastmod: 2026-07-14   
author: Marco Pontili   
lang: en-US   
type: page   
---

# Quotes

I love collecting quotes that keep me inspired and focused. Here’s a short work-related selection I often revisit.

1.  > *“*The secret of getting ahead is getting started.*”*
    > 
    > Unknown

2.  > *“*Turn *have to* into *get to*.*”*
    > 
    > Unknown

3.  > *“*Shape your goals with purpose.*”*
    > 
    > Unknown

4.  > *“*Hold yourself to a higher standard but not an impossible one.*”*
    > 
    > Ryan Holiday

5.  > *“*It isn't a question of managing your time but your attention.*”*
    > 
    > Maura Thomas / Adam Grant

6.  > *“*Time filled with little things has little potential.*”*
    > 
    > Derek Sivers

7.  > *“*Focus is about saying no.*”*
    > 
    > Steve Jobs

8.  > *“*Persist in my efforts. Resist to distraction.*”*
    > 
    > Unknown

9.  > *“*Don’t be the person who says yes with their mouth but no with their actions.*”*
    > 
    > Unknown

10.  > *“*80% of results come from 20% of effort.*”*
     > 
     > Joseph M. Juran

11.  > *“*The best way to complain is to make things.*”*
     > 
     > James Murphy

12.  > *“*Anticipate, plan, persevere.*”*
     > 
     > Unknown

13.  > *“*Avoidance is the enemy of great.*”*
     > 
     > Susan David

14.  > *“*Talking about action is easier than taking action.*”*
     > 
     > Unknown

15.  > *“*Fail early, fail often.*”*
     > 
     > David Kelley

16.  > *“*Failure is an event, not a person.*”*
     > 
     > Zig Ziglar

17.  > *“*There’s glory in making a mistake.*”*
     > 
     > Unknown

18.  > *“*People don’t leave jobs, they leave bad bosses.*”*
     > 
     > Marcus Buckingham / Curt Coffman

19.  > *“*It’s a never-ending process of trying, failing, reflecting, and above all, learning.*”*
     > 
     > Unknown

20.  > *“*You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.*”*
     > 
     > Jim Rohn

21.  > *“*Listening accomplishes more than speaking.*”*
     > 
     > Ryan Holiday

22.  > *“*Intelligence is the ability to adapt to change.*”*
     > 
     > Unknown

23.  > *“*There is clarity in simplicity.*”*
     > 
     > Unknown

24.  > *“*Whatever is rightly done, however humble, is noble.*”*
     > 
     > Sir Henry Royce