Six empowering words for women in business

In the 21st century, women continue to innovate, occupy leadership roles, and help other women achieve their goals.

Need an inspiration boost? Consider these words of encouragement for women from some of today's top female entrepreneurs. Read on to find out how these women have reached the top of their industries by harnessing the power of some simple, yet highly important principles that every inspiring woman should know.

Confidence

In their book, "The Confidence Code: The Science and Art of Self Assurance – What Women Should Know," New York Times bestselling authors, Katty Kay and Claire Shipman, hypothesize that confidence is the main reason men have historically had so much more success in business. Kay notes, "Confidence, ultimately, is the characteristic that distinguishes those who imagine from those who do."

She also notes that "If you choose not to act, you have little chance of success. What's more, when you choose to act, you're able to succeed more frequently than you think. How often in life do we avoid doing something because we think we'll fail? Is failure worse than doing nothing? And how often might we have triumphed if we had just decided to give it a try?" Wise words, indeed.

Actions manifest themselves from confidence.

You could have all the expertise in the world, but the ability to own your abilities and showcase them to others makes all the difference. So, hold your head up and go show the world what you’ve got!

Opportunity

For businesswomen to level up to trailblazer status, they often need to find their own opportunities, let go of expectations, and start forging their own paths. As the former CEO of Catalyst, Ilene Lang, says, "When you're a trailblazer, there is no path. I never knew where anything might lead." She also explains that the unknown comes with freedom from expectations, which "allowed for innovation because I had to find my own opportunities."

Speaking of opportunity, Shark Tank contributor, QVC host, and inventor Lori Greiner offers some profound insight. "Dear optimist, pessimist, and realist — while you guys were busy arguing about the glass of wine, I drank it! Sincerely, the opportunist!"

While the unequal distribution of opportunities based on gender can’t be underestimated, there will always be new opportunities to explore, you just need to keep searching!

Purpose

When it comes to motivational quotes for women, "This Is Us" star Chrissy Metz is a veritable treasure trove. Her book, "This Is Me," delves deep into the actress's life lessons as she embarked on a journey to self-acceptance. Among the many pearls of wisdom she shares, Metz says, "We all have a purpose. Some people are the tall oak trees, and some people are the beautiful bushes. But everyone has a purpose. There is nobody here on earth who doesn't have a path or a purpose. An innate destiny. Every human being who comes, comes called."

These are empowering words for women in business and in life. We all have a purpose. Finding yours might just lead you to a revelation that you dreamed about, but never seriously considered.

Knowledge

You know that saying, "Knowledge is power." It turns out that not having knowledge can also be pretty powerful. Just ask Spanx founder, Sara Blakely, who says, "Don't be intimidated by what you don't know. That can be your greatest strength and ensure that you do things differently from everyone else." Her Spanx line began as shape-enhancing undergarments, but it has since expanded to include yoga wear and jeans. And Blakely knows what she's talking about, after all, she's among the wealthiest self-made women in America with a fortune that adds up to a cool billion dollars.

The key to any kind of growth will always be knowledge. No matter how many other factors you learn to harness, they are all useless without practical skill and theoretical expertize. Never be too afraid or too arrogant to avoid learning new things. Who knows, you might just find an amazing opportunity in the process?

Control

In her book, "Girl, Wash Your Face: Stop Believing the Lies About Who You Are So You Can Become Whom You Want to Be," Rachael Hollis writes: "Know this one great truth: you are in control of your own life. You get one and only one chance to live, and life is passing you by. Stop beating yourself up, and dang it, stop letting others do it too... Stop! Just get off the never-ending track."

In this vulnerable, honest look at the lies we all tell ourselves, Hollis manages to transform her personal struggles into more than just words of encouragement for women. The entire book is a call to action. Climb behind the wheel, and get rid of all the distractions keeping you from your unique version of success.

Remember feedback is important, but only you know who you truly are. Do not let yourself be defined by what others think of you and accept your own shortcomings. Self-acceptance is the true way to grow.

Fear

At first glance, the word "fear" might not seem like it belongs in a list of words of encouragement for women or motivational words for female business leaders, but if you reframe how you think about it, it's a good fit. Just ask former Yahoo CEO, Marissa Mayer, who says, "If you push through that feeling of being scared, that feeling of taking risks, really amazing things can happen."

"Fear is a mindset, and so is the will to succeed," says Bethenny Frankel, who is well known as a cast member of "Real Housewives of New York City," but she's also the strong female entrepreneur at the helm of the Skinnygirl empire. She took the business from its humble beginnings to a $100 million-a-year lifestyle brand. In 2017, Frankel parlayed her fame and influence into humanitarian efforts when she launched B Strong, a charitable organization that provides disaster relief around the world.

Fear and failure are both catalysts of development. If you’re not scared of failing, it’s not really going to help you grow as you won’t have any real stakes on the line. Diving into uncomfortable situations will help you develop the skills and confidence to successfully face similar hurdles in your life. Sure, it may come with the risk of insecurity, embarrassment, or anger, but anything that is valuable has its price.

What are some of the motivational quotes for women that have inspired you? Share your thoughts with us on Facebook.