Business is never easy. There are ups and downs along the way, and many entrepreneurs fail simply because they gave up at a difficult moment. To see yours through, you need a healthy dose of motivation and inspiration, and it doesn’t matter from where you get them.

In 2015, Mark Zuckerberg was said to have read 23 books, which he also believed every business person should read. He is also known for jogging regularly. That said, it’s obvious where he gets his inspiration. The big question is: where do you get yours?

Today, I want to introduce you to the world of sports as a great source of inspiration for business people. Business is much like sports. They are both driven by passion, training, determination, competition, and even wins and losses. Below are inspirational quotes from ten professional athletes that can inspire you as an entrepreneur.

Do It Properly

There’s a saying that what’s worth doing is worth doing right. You want to be successful in business? Do it right.

Don’t Be a Coward

Whether you like it or not, you are going to face challenges as an entrepreneur. It’s up to you to either quit or discover a creative way to transcend those challenges.

Which Are You?

I don’t know about you, but as a businessman I want to be part of the first group–those who make it happen.

Be Prepared to Work Hard

If talent is all it takes to succeed in business, then a lot of talented people would be successful business people today. Unfortunately, like many sports, business is 10% (or even less) talent or luck and 90% hard work.

Don’t Be a Quitter

No one becomes successful in business by quitting. If you fail or don’t get it right the first time, get up, dust yourself off, and try again.

Stay Ahead of the Game

A great business person plans ahead of time. They are typically two or more times ahead of their competition. They are able to forecast the future and tap into unseen opportunities.

How Do You Play?

Are you playing it safe? Unfortunately, that won’t always help you achieve the immense success you want. Great business people know when to play safe and when to be drastic. To grow, you need to step out of your comfort zone.

Never Settle

Losers settle for less. Successful people reach for the stars and beyond. The key is knowing how to set high goals without overreaching. Then work tirelessly towards achieving the goals.

It’s Never Too Late to Start

Don’t discourage yourself. So far as you are alive, it’s never too late to start. Take for instance Reid Hoffman, the founder of LinkedIn. He founded the company at the age of 33, but he didn’t go public with it until he was 43 years old.

Give Back

Business is about giving back, adding value to people’s lives. A business that doesn’t solve a problem is as good as dead. Find how you can give back to the people. Give and you shall receive.

These quotes are all from successful athletes, sports legend who pushed themselves beyond their limits in order to achieve great success. If they made it, why can’t you? The truth is that the only thing in your way is you. Step out from your comfort zone and reach for success.

This post also appeared in Macaulay Gidado Medium Publication.