Albert Einstein once said: “The leader is one who, out of the clutter, brings simplicity…out of discord, harmony…and out of difficulty, opportunity”.
Being a leader is no piece of cake. It means hard work, courage, self-sacrifice and taking risks. A good leader must be able to find solutions for all kind of problems, and quickly. A leader must be the team’s mentor, behaving like a guide, a model who works toward the common good and at the same time lets each talent shine.

Take Mark Zuckerberg as an example, who originally just developed a network to connect Harvard’s students. Now this network has already grown into a platform connecting 2 billion people. Steve Jobs, for his part, totally transformed our way of communicating and consuming both through his smartphones and the development of Mac universe.

Be inspired by these 16 quotes from the best speeches, interviews and biographies of those men who contributed to the world’s progress, changing the lives of millions thanks to their creativity, passion and, above all, hard work.

Steve Jobs (Apple)

« My job is not to be easy on people. My job is to make them better »

Barack Obama

« One voice can change a room »

Larry Page (Google)

« My job as a leader is to make sure everybody in the company has great opportunities, and that they feel they’re having a meaningful impact »

Coco Chanel

« The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud. »

Sheryl Sandberg (Facebook)

« The ability to learn is the most important quality a leader can have.»

Jeff Bezos (Amazon)

« Part of company culture is path-dependent – it’s the lessons you learn along the way »

Martha Stewart (Martha Stewart Living)

« I think baking cookies is equal to Queen Victoria running an empire. There’s no difference in how seriously you take the job »

Mark Zuckerberg (Facebook)

« If you want to build something great, you should focus on what the change is that you want to make in the world. »

Thomas Jefferson

« Whenever you do a thing, act as if all the world were watching »

Richard Branson (Virgin Group)

« Communication is the most important skill any leader can possess. »

Alfred Hitchcock

« If I won’t be myself, who will »?

Steve Case (AOL/Time Warner)

« There are no road signs to help navigate. And in fact, no one has yet determined which side of the road we’re supposed to be on »

Joan Rivers (Actress and television host)

« I have no methods. All I do is accept people as they are. »

Warren Buffet (Businessman and investor)

« Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone planted a tree a long time ago »

Steven Spielberg

« Your job is to create a world that lasts forever »

Tony Robbins (Coach et essayist)

« People who succeed at the highest level are not lucky. They are doing something differently than everyone else. »