Chris Gardner Quotes

If you want something, you can't wait for someone to make it happen for you.

You have to make it happen.

The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want and if they can't find them, make them.

Banish the words 'I can't' from your vocabulary. Remember: If 'can't' equals 'won't', 'can' equals 'will.'

To hell with circumstances; I create opportunities.

Life is what you make of it. Don't make excuses - make it happen.

I think that we as a people are always prone to think about, well, tomorrow will be a better day. Well, why will it be a better day? And I think the more that we believe in doing things better, doing the right thing rather than hoping that that's going to happen, let's make it happen.

You focus on the things that you can control, and that's what I'm doing.

One has to take initiative in life to achieve what he or she wants.

I like motivational books, because I like the go-getting American spirit - your destiny is in your own hands, life is what you make it, don't accept your limitations, jump before you're pushed, leap before you look.

If you really want something you can figure out how to make it happen.

Let us not be content to wait and see what will happen, but give us the determination to make the right things happen.

Every person who ever had a plan to do anything, and went and did it, or who laid his plan before others, and won their co-operation to do it with him, without going to external authorities to please do the thing for them, was a direct actionist.

People like to blame others. I think a person should just look at their own situation, look around them, find out what they wish to do, and seek and go and do that. And that's it.

Sometimes you have to create your own chance.

If you want something, you've got to take it.

Don't sit around and wait for the opportunities to come. You have to get up and make those opportunities come.

If you want somethin', go get it. Period.

I'm coming to believe that there are two kinds of people... those who choose to be masters of their own fate and those who wait in chairs while other dance. I would rather be one of the former than the latter.

People who soar, are those who refuse to sit back and wish things would change

Take action. Every story you've ever connected with, every leader you've ever admired, every puny little thing that you've ever accomplished is the result of taking action. You have a choice. You can either be a passive victim of circumstance or you can be the active hero of your own life.

Those who approach their jobs and careers with enthusiasm always find plenty of opportunities, while those who complain about no one ever giving them a chance are merely observers of life. When you are determined that you will not allow others to determine your future for you, when you refuse to allow temporary setbacks to defeat you, you are destined for great success. The opportunities will always be there for you.

I don't want to sit around and hope good things happen. I want to make them happen.

When people say to me: "Oh don't worry, if one door closes another one opens..." If one door closes for me, go through the window - I'm not interested in waiting around for people to give me opportunities. I try and make things happen and if I am given opportunities I take them and work harder.

Don't say, "If I could, I would." Say, "If I can, I will."