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10 Motivational Quotes for Sales Team
We’ve all heard the saying: words have power. And it’s true—people might say “sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me,” but words have a serious effect on how we perceive things and how we function. And it’s scientifically proven; in their co-written book Words Can Change Your Brain, neuroscientist Dr. Andrew Newberg and communications expert Mark Robert Waldman state that “a single word has the power to influence the expression of genes that regulate physical and emotional stress.”
You might snort at that inspirational poster on your coworker’s wall when you walk by… the one with the sunset that says “BELIEVE & SUCCEED.” But even just displaying and periodically reading uplifting messages can have an impact on the thoughts people have—and their motivation. That’s why the Ambition team decided to compile 10 of our favorite quotes to motivate your sales team. Let’s take a look at some inspirational, witty, and maybe even funny motivational quotes for sales team.
1. “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein
Albert Einstein once said, “In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” And it isn’t hard to see how you can tie this quote in to sales team motivation. Meeting daily quotas, booking meetings, and wading through cold calls can be tedious and difficult work. But in that difficulty lies an opportunity to exceed expectations and crush goals.
2. "The secret of getting ahead is getting started." – Mark Twain
Mark Twain might not have been directly speaking to sales teams when he said, “The secret of getting ahead is getting started,” but this quote is sure to resonate. You can’t reach your goals unless you just start pursuing them. Having a concrete way to view and track those goals helps of course (hi 👋… we make software for that!), but you can’t get anywhere without starting. That’s why this is one of our top quotes to motivate your sales team.
3. "Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible." – Tony Robbins
Of all the motivational quotes for sales team, this is one of our favorites. When Tony Robbins said, “Setting goals is the first step in turning the invisible into the visible,” he didn’t know he was encompassing a primary need in sales: make goals clear and visible. Lack of clarity that makes goals unattainable—that’s what Ambition’s sales goal tracking software helps teams solve, making goals not only attainable, but helping sales teams hit targets every time.
4. "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." -Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison definitely wasn’t on the sales floor when he said, "Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time." But this quote still applies. When your sales reps hit a wall with a customer, it’s important to remind them that they have to just keep trying. There’s always going to be someone that won’t be sold—the important thing is to keep selling!
5. "Change before you have to." - Jack Welch
When it comes to making a sale, sometimes you have to improvise. If one tactic isn’t working for your sales team, they need to be willing to make adjustments and change things up. Jack Welch said, “Change before you have to,” and this is a great one for sales team motivation. This quote points to the idea that sales reps should remain flexible in their approach and be ready to change course before they’re forced to do so.
6. "There is always room at the top." - Daniel Webster
In the 19th century, in response to warnings against becoming a lawyer (a thought-to-be oversaturated field at the time), it’s believed that US politician Daniel Webster said, “There is always room at the top.” This is as true for sales as it is for law practice! There’s always room for top performers on a sales team—it only helps the success of the whole. Now, there may not be room for multiple sales contest winners at the top of your Ambition sales competitions… but who doesn’t love a healthy dose of competitive spirit to motivate the team?
7. "Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission." - Zig Ziglar
When your sales team is united over a common mission, target, or goal, they’re unstoppable—that’s why Zig Ziglar’s quote, “Outstanding people have one thing in common: An absolute sense of mission” makes our list of top motivational quotes for sales team. When your reps know what their goals are and have a clear pathway to achieving them, they’re more motivated to get things done.
8. “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.” - Winston Churchill
You may have heard “you win some, you lose some,” but Winston Churchill put it much more eloquently when he said, “Success is never final. Failure is never fatal. It is courage that counts.” This is another motivational quote for sales teams because it reminds your reps that no matter what they do, the most important thing is that they keep striving for those goals. Whether they win or lose, continued effort is what keeps sales happening, and that courage to keep making calls is what counts.
9. “Customers are like teeth. Ignore them and they’ll go away” - Jerry Flanagan
This quote by Jerry Flanagan is a little quirky, but it’s motivating in its own way! Flanagan said, “Customers are like teeth. Ignore them and they’ll go away,” and I think most sales reps have found this to be true. This is a great quote to motivate your team to stay in contact with their prospects, make those calls, schedule those meetings… and maybe brush their teeth.
10. “Winning isn’t getting ahead of others. It’s getting ahead of yourself.” - Roger Staubach
If there’s one quote that encompases winning in sales, it’s Roger Staubach’s, “Winning isn’t getting ahead of others. It’s getting ahead of yourself.” When it comes to sales, some fun competition between reps can be exciting, but it’s best to remember that the person you’re really in competition with is yourself! This quote encourages reps to continue striving to do better and make sure they aren’t standing in their own way by focusing on the wrong things.
