We are used to reading motivational quotes from authors and business leaders, but we sometimes forget about the wisdom that comes from the music industry. The bands, artists and musicians of the world go through the same experiences that any other successful person has to, and the smart ones learn just as much.
Here are a few quotes that taught me a lot about life, leadership and success.
If you stick to your integrity and your goals, eventually somebody will appreciate what you are doing on a wider scale. ~ Bonnie Raitt
You do not merely want to be considered just the best of the best. You want to be considered the only ones who do what you do. ~ Jerry Garcia
Rock ‘n’ roll is an attitude; it’s not a musical form of a strict sort. It’s a way of doing things, of approaching things. Writing can be rock ‘n’ roll, or a movie can be rock ‘n’ roll. It’s a way of living your life. ~ Lester Bangs
I did this the way you are supposed to. I played every club in New York City and I bombed in every club and then killed it in every club and I found myself as an artist. I learned how to survive as an artist, get real, and how to fail, and then figure out who I was as singer and performer. And, I worked hard. ~Lady Gaga
You build on failure. You use it as a stepping stone. Close the door on the past. You don’t try to forget the mistakes, but you don’t dwell on it. You don’t let it have any of your energy, or any of your time, or any of your space. ~Johnny Cash
We all fail somewhere along the line. The race you lost, the test you didn’t pass and, in my case, the record execs who claimed “you’ll never make it in the music business.” Whatever. The point is, you get up, brush yourself off and get on with life. … it is what you learn from your failure that makes all the difference. ~Jon Bon Jovi, Bon Jovi
Don’t be afraid of failure – embrace that too. Dare to fail. If you never fail, you’ve never taken risks, and that’s no way to take on this life. ~Richie Sambora, Bon Jovi
When you follow your heart, you’re never supposed to do things because of what you think people might say. You do it for the opposite reasons. ~ will.i.am
You’ve always got to remember, rock and roll’s never been about giving up. For me, for a lot of kids, it was a totally positive force… not optimistic all the time, but positive. It was never—never—about surrender. ~Bruce Springsteen
Of course I’m ambitious. What’s wrong with that? Otherwise you sleep all day. ~Ringo Starr
Dream On, Dream On, Dream On Dream until your dreams come true. ~Aerosmith
Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans. ~John Lennon
Though I still have no semblance of a life outside of Nine Inch Nails at the moment, I realize my goals have gone from getting a record deal or selling another record to being a better person, more well-rounded, having friends, having a relationship with somebody. ~Trent Reznor
As a rock star, I have two instincts, I want to have fun, and I want to change the world. I have a chance to do both. ~Bono
In order to change the world, you have to get your head together first. ~Jimi Hendrix
All of these quotes are featured in my book Opportunity Rocks along with the lessons they taught me about life and how to be successful.
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