Flash forward 38 years from now. You’re in your dining room, sitting at the table, hands folded. Directly across from you is your granddaughter, staring at you. Intently. There is silence. And then you smile: “I want you to take this business to new heights. It’s now yours.” Your granddaughter nods her head, beaming: “I will make you proud.” Wouldn’t you like to make this a reality?

Here are 9 quotes that will inspire you to be your own boss:

1. “If you don’t build your own dreams someone will hire you to build theirs.” – Tony Gaskins

The alarm clock screams. Now it’s time to wake up. Go to work. Punch in the clock. Punch out. Go home. And then repeat the whole process. Sound familiar? And every second, you ache for that pay raise that will make life easier. Meanwhile, your boss is eating well—turning all of your hard labor into hard cash. And when she feels the time is right, she can fire you quicker than you realise.

But, with a mindset shift, you can change your circumstances. Start by planning for life outside of your job. Do you dream of controlling your schedule? Want to be in charge of your destiny? That can only happen when you become your own boss.  

2. “I knew that if I failed I wouldn’t regret that, but I knew the one thing I might regret is not trying.” – Jeff Bezos

When you’re elderly, you don’t want to reminisce and say: “Damn, why didn’t I just get up off my butt and go for it?” You knew you had the talent, the gift, that spark. But you let it fizzle. Don’t become that person sitting on the rocking chair, haunted by regrets as you gaze at a clock, watching the last seconds of your life tick away.

Be that person who says: “I gave it my all. I found something that I was passionate about, and I poured my heart into it.” Become that person who looks back at your present self with pride and admiration.

3. “Life is a flash of lighting in the dark of night. It is a brief time of tremendous potential.” – B. Alan Wallace

When you were born, you graced this planet with your presence.  And trust me, no hyperbole. You really are a miracle, a special force capable of all things. Heck, you made it through the gift of birth. And nothing in the world is more powerful than that. Remarkably, you beat plenty of odds to get here. Why not apply that same willpower to your business?

4. “Waste your money and you’re only out of money, but waste your time and you’ve lost a part of your life.” – Michael LeBoeuf

Time is a priceless jewel. And each second is worth ten times more than a sliver of gold. Therefore, wasted time is like money flushed down the toilet. So, remember this: you can’t get back yesterday. But you can own tomorrow. Why not lay the groundwork for starting your business? Why not invest in your future? The time is now.

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

Odds are like eggs; if you hit them hard enough, their shells will crack. So, if you feel that the odds aren’t in your favor, then find something more potent than silly odds. Something that can motivate you to tap dance on them. And I can’t think of a stronger motivator than freedom. But you may ask: “How do I become free?” There’s only one way I can think of: by being your own boss.

But keep in mind: freedom isn’t free. You’re going to have to work for it. But it’s achievable. You’ve been a fighter your whole life. You’ve made it this far, haven’t you? Why not kick some butt to be your own boss?

6. “Think big and don’t listen to people who tell you it can’t be done. Life’s too short to think small.” – Tim Ferriss

All successful people have that same mosquito whispering in their ears: doubters. There’s always going to be naysayers out there who will tell you something is impossible. But don’t listen to them. They’re just trying to project their self-limiting thoughts onto you. So, think big. Chase your passion. Start your business.

7. “Success is the sum of small efforts – repeated day in and day out.” – Robert Collier

Consistency. Life is all about consistency. For example, one quarter may not seem like much money. But let’s say you deposit one quarter into a bank account every day for the next five years. How much would that be worth? You’d be shocked, just as you would be shocked to see the impact of consistent effort when chasing a goal—like building your own business.

8. “People capable of making enough money to never work again are the same people who will never quit working.” – Chris Dixon

It takes discipline to be able to continually clock-in and clock-out each day. I know there are days when you just want to stay in bed. Probably most days. But you still find a way to enter that battlefield—sometimes while suffering from the flu. No doubt, you’ve got heart. So, channel that same dedication to being your own boss.

9. “Don’t spend so much time trying to choose the perfect opportunity, that you miss the right opportunity.” – Michael Dell

Analysis paralysis is a virus, and the worst part is that you may not even know you’re contaminated by it. Sometimes we tend to overthink things, complicating what should be simple. We may analyze different scenarios to the point of exhaustion. Running in one place, stuck on an intellectual treadmill.

There comes a time when you must strike. If you make a mistake, recalibrate, then go for it again. But don’t stagnate. Always push forward.

Your life is yours to live so be your own boss.