32 Meaningful Quotes From Speakers at Entity Academy

Last summer, I filled my notebook with insights and quips from the guest speakers at ENTITY Academy. Men and women who are entrepreneurs and leaders in their field came and spent their valuable time with us. They answered our questions and provided priceless advice, both for career and life in general. Whenever I could, I tried to pen the best nuggets of wisdom, word for word. Now, after the program, here are some of my favorite notebook gems.

Pamela Baxter – Founder of Beauty by Popsugar

On getting your foot in the door and excelling in your field:

• “Just because it doesn’t work the first time doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be doing it.”
• “If you can’t get in through the front door, try the back door.”
• “If everyone is coming to me for answers, I’m not growing.”

Jessica Poter – Television Writer

On how to work your way up in any industry:

• “You want people to want to help you.”
• “Don’t be afraid to leave your job.”

Merle Ginsberg – Freelance Journalist

On what it’s like to work as a journalist:

• “Even if you’re on staff, you have to hustle for the job.”
• “If you want to know about it, chances are other people want to know about it.”
• “Never say ‘more cleverly.'”

Gina Loring – Poet, and Vocalist

On how to not just write poetry, but also use it as a tool for empowerment and healing:

• “Your silence will not protect you.”
• “Are you living in a pity party? Are you sitting on your gifts?”
• “Something you can’t say is something that has its claws in you.”
• “Check in with people who love you; take a break.”

Susan Rockefeller – Documentary Filmmaker and Founder of Musings Magazine

On living a life where your career is an important part of your feelings of fulfilment:

• “Find intersections of where joy meets your purpose.”
• “Take it upon yourself to say your choices matter.”
• “No grit no pearl.”
• “Trust the process.”

Tara Strong – Voice Actress

On positive ways to handle conflict, rejection, and personal integrity:

• “Nobody can make you feel anything about yourself unless you let them.”
• “You have to take responsibility for the effect you have on other people.”
• “No job you didn’t get is your job.”
• “It’s better ‘done’ than ‘perfect.'”

Ione Butler

On finding the ways to make your dreams reality through re-defining what you consider yourself capable of:

• “Think outside the box with what’s possible and achievable.”
• “If you don’t know what you want, how will you know where you’re going? … Deciding is like putting a location into a GPS.”
• “Work smart, not hard.”
• “Be politely persistent.”
• “If you’re the most successful person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.”
• “My definition of success is doing what you want to be doing.”

Sandro Monetti – Writer and Director

On what it takes to work in entertainment journalism:

• “‘My mother loves you’ is never a good opening statement.”
• “Follow the rules, which are showing up on time, not being a jerk, and winning people’s trust.”
• “Never take no for an answer.”
• “Use the power of empathy.”
• “There’s almost always something uncomfortable that hasn’t been addressed, and it’s our job as journalists to address it.”
• “Put yourself in the story: what am I interested in that I haven’t read yet?”

As you can imagine, with all these great quotes from speakers at ENTITY Academy, I’m running out of space in this notebook. Are you inspired yet?