Jules Henry Marx, better known by the stage name Groucho Marx, was born in New York in 1890 and died in Los Angeles in 1977. He was a comedian, actor, writer, and star of radio, television, and film. Groucho was the third-born of the Marx Brothers, with whom he made 13 feature films. Many people consider Groucho Marx one of the greatest American comedians of all-time due to his quick wit, says Wikipedia. Although many things he said were humorous, he also said many things that were motivational and inspirational. Here are the 20 best Groucho Marx quotes that apply to business.
20. On Not Letting Your Fears Hold You Back
“Don’t let the fear of the thorn keep you from the rose.”
According to A-Z Quotes, this is one of the best Groucho Marx quotes that apply to business. This quote is about how you should not let your fears hold you back and prevent you from enjoying success and happiness. If you fear failure or the unknown, you must overcome these fears or not reach your full potential.
19. On the Importance of Planning
“There’s only two things you can start without a plan: a riot and a family. For everything else, you need a plan.”
Planning is a vital element of any business; otherwise, you will end up in chaos. You should use both short-term and long-term goals as part of your planning process. The short-term goals are smaller achievements that you will make along the way, and they will each contribute something towards achieving your long-term goals. Every aspect of your business needs a plan, and this should include what needs doing, by when, and what resources you will need to achieve this.
18. On Accepting Both Good Times and Bad
“I have had a perfectly wonderful evening, but this wasn’t it.”
Business is full of highs and lows, so you need to adapt to these changing situations. While you will hope for more good times than bad, it is inevitable that you will experience some low points. When you hit these times, it is crucial to remember that there are better times ahead if you can work your way through the problem.
17. On Business Opportunities
“Sell a man a fish; he eats for a day. Teach a man how to fish, you ruin a wonderful business opportunity.”
If you come up with an innovative business idea, then you should run with it. Do not leave it as simply an idea, or you might live to regret it. Once your business is up and running, you should embrace any business opportunities that come your way that will increase your chances of success.
16. On Finding Solutions to Problems
“Politics is the art of looking for trouble, finding it everywhere, diagnosing it incorrectly, and applying the wrong remedies.”
Forbes lists this as one of the best Groucho Marx quotes that apply to business. In this quote, Marx refers to how politicians are always finding the wrong solutions to problems. Doing this is something that you should avoid in your business. When you hit a problem, consider various solutions and weight up the pros and cons of each. Doing this will help you to find a solution that offers the best outcome.
15. On Being Open-Minded
“Be open-minded, but not so open-minded that your brains fall out.”
It is easy to fall into the trap of looking at everything in the same way, always using the same strategies, and applying the same solution to every problem. However, this is not necessarily the best way of going about things. You should keep an open mind, accept change, consider new strategies, and embrace any opportunities that come your way. e
14. On Striving for Financial Success
“Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy.”
One of the key indicators of the success of any business is profitability. In most cases, one of the primary reasons people start their own business is to enjoy financial success and the freedom that this offers. If you want your business to become profitable, then you need to offer a product or service that consumers want. You also need to keep an eye on the finances and make sure that your profits significantly outweigh your costs.
13. On the Importance of Reading
“I love to read. My education is self-inflicted.”
Reading is a fantastic way of gaining knowledge, and this is something in which Groucho Marx believed. You should read everything you can about your industry, as this will help you make the right decisions and run your business efficiently. You should also read any material that will give you an insight into the needs of consumers, business strategies, and your competitors.
12. On the Importance of Listening
“Years ago, I tried to top everybody, but I don’t anymore. I realized it was killing conversation. When you’re always trying for a topper, you aren’t really listening. It ruins communication.”
This Groucho Marx quote is listed by Good Reads, and it is about the importance of excellent communication. One aspect of communication that people overlook is listening. Having good listening skills is just as important as having excellent verbal skills. If you do not listen, then you will not have all the relevant information you need.
11. Having the Support of a Team
“Behind every successful man is a woman, behind her is his wife.”
In this Groucho Marx joke, he refers to the support a man has from his wife and his mistress. However, the same principle applies to having a team behind you. There are very few people who make it on their own, as most have a team of talented people supporting them. As your business grows, so will your team. Each person in that team can make a valuable contribution to your success, and it is vital that you show your appreciation for their contributions.
10. On Leadership
“Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men… the other 999 follow women.”
In another of Groucho Marx’s jokes, he refers to only a few men becoming leaders as the rest of the men are following women. While this was said in humor, it is possible to interpret this quote so that it applies to business as not every person has what it takes to become a good leader. Becoming a good leader requires a combination of experience and skills, and it also takes a diverse range of personality traits.
9. On Enjoying What You Do
“If you are not having fun, you’re doing something wrong.”
If you are going to go to the trouble of running your own business, then you should make sure it is doing something that you enjoy. You spend too many hours of your life working to spend that time doing something that makes you miserable. There are also benefits to your business of doing something that you enjoy as it will keep you motivated, and your passion will rub off on your team and your customers.
8. On Becoming Successful in a Fair Way
“The secret of life is honesty and fair dealing. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.”
Underhand tactics and deception might temporarily get you further in business, but they are not the best way of going about things in the long-term. Customers will have more faith in you and your business if you operate in an honest and fair manner. Also, you will take more pride in what you have achieved if you have done it through honesty and fairness.
7. On Learning from Others
“Learn from the mistakes of others. You can never live long enough to make them all yourself.”
Often, you will learn through your own mistakes in business. However, you can also learn from the mistakes of others. If you know people in your industry, both those who have succeeded and those who have failed, then you can learn a lot from them. Knowing both the things that they have done well and the mistakes they have made along the way can help you in your own journey to success.
6. On Setting High Standards
“I refuse to join any club that would have me as a member.”
This Groucho Marx quote is listed by Brainy Quote, and it is all about having standards. You should have standards in your business right from the start, and then strive to maintain the standards you have set. The higher you have set your standards, the more motivated you are to do well and always try your best.
5. On Facing Up to Reality
“I am not crazy about reality, but it’s still the only place to get a decent meal.”
Facing up to reality can sometimes seem like a difficult thing. It may seem much easier to live in a dream world where everything is going well. Unfortunately, business is very rarely like living in a dream. If you do not face up to reality and deal with situations as they arise, problems can become worse, and your business will suffer accordingly.
4. On Why It is Never Too Late
“When I was young, I was amazed at Plutarch’s statement that the elder Cato began at the age of eighty to learn Greek. I am amazed no longer. Old age is ready to undertake tasks that youth shirked because they would take too long.”
Sometimes, a business idea comes to a person later in life, and they allow their age to stop them from doing anything about it. They may see business as being a young person’s game and think that the opportunity has already passed them by. However, that is not the case as you can start a business at any age. In some cases, age is an advantage as you already have life experience.
3. On Taking on the Competition
“There is no sweeter sound than the crumbling of one’s fellow man.”
Even if you are the kindest and least competitive person in the world, you will need to take on the competition in business. If you want to stand out, then you need to do something different from the competition to attract customers. It will involve either finding your unique selling point or doing things better in a particular sector of the market than your competition. A failure to do either will leave you trailing behind your competition.
2. On Finding a Learning Style That Suits You
“I find television very educating. Every time somebody turns on the set, I go into the other room and read a book.”
Learning is a vital element of your success in business, and it is a lifelong process. Everyone learns in different ways, so you need to find the learning style that works best for you. While reading is the best option for some people and others learn best by attending courses, a hands-on approach is more productive for some people. Some people like to use different learning styles for different types of skills. For example, you might find it easier to learn about marketing strategies through reading but find that a hands-on approach to learning is more effective for practical tasks.
1. On Deciding What You Want from Life
“I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I cha choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn’t arrived yet, I have just one day, today, and I’m going to be happy in it.”
According to Successories, this is one of the best Groucho Marx quotes that apply to business. It is about how you have the power to choose your path in life, and whether you are happy or unhappy is not down to events. If you are not satisfied with your life, then it is down to you to do something about it.
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