20 Harry Potter Quotes That Apply to Business
When J. K. Rowling wrote the first book in the Harry Potter series, little did she know that it would become one of the most loved series around the world with both child and adult fans. The books have since been transformed into a commercially and critically successful film series, which has widened the fan base even further. The characters are much-loved, and everyone has their own favorites. The storylines of these books and movies lend themself to offering inspiration, as the characters face adversity and overcome many difficult situations. There have been many amazing and inspirational quotes from the books and films, and these can help people in many situations. Here are 20 Harry Potter quotes that apply to business.
20. On Having Determination
“I am going to keep going until I succeed- or die”’
According to Bustle, this quote spoken by Harry Potter is all about the determination to succeed. You can apply the same ethos to your own attitude to business. Achieving success requires a lot of determination and motivation. Often, you will face hurdles along the way. At these times, it is vital that you maintain the same level of motivation and determination. It is only by doing so and keeping going that you will reach your full potential and the business success you crave.
19. On Being an Inspirational Leader
“Those, like you, who have leadership thrust upon them… find to their own surprise that they wear it well”. Dumbledore
Sometimes, the most unexpected leaders can become a success. You may doubt your own abilities to lead a business to success, but that does not mean that it is unachievable. Look at the qualities you can bring to a business and work with those. Also, identify your weaknesses so that you can make self-improvements. Have a little faith in your abilities, and you may surprise even yourself. Also, you should never give anyone in your team the impression that you doubt yourself, as this will only encourage them to believe the same.
18. On Being Honest in the Workplace
“It takes a great deal of bravery to stand up to our enemies, but just as much to stand up to our friends”. Dumbledore
You may face adversaries in business and need to stand up for yourself. However, you may also need to stand up to your allies. If you believe that their ideas will steer your business in the wrong direction, you need to have the courage to stand by your convictions and defend your own ideas and beliefs. You should always be honest with your colleagues about what you think, and encourage them to do the same for the sake of transparency and clarity in the workplace.
17. On Sharing Achievements with Your Team
“There are some things you can’t share without ending up liking each other, and knocking out a twelve-foot mountain troll is one of them”.
In most cases, there are multiple people working for a business, not just one person. Even if you are the owner or manager, you should not take all the credit for successes yourself. It is important to share the credit with your team. They will have each played a role in your success, and it is vital that they get the credit they deserve. Working together as a team will keep everyone motivated and working toward the same goal. When your team members feel like they have achieved something and received the recognition for their work, it can motivate them to strive to achieve the next goals that are set for them.
16. On Staying True to Yourself
“I am what I am an’ I’m not ashamed”’
The most successful business people are those who stay true to themselves and their beliefs. This quote from Hagrid tells people that they should have faith in who they area and change for no one. You may come across people who try to change who you are or who discourage your methods or beliefs. You should never let anyone deter you from being yourself, and you should not put on an act for the benefit of others.
15. On Getting Through the Hard Times
“We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on”. Dumbledore
Facing hard times is inevitable in any business environment. These situations can vary from low profits to problems within a team, and from the challenges of launching a new product to encountering difficulties with raising awareness of your business. Not letting the hard times get you down is vital for you to come out on the other side. Try to adopt a positive approach to even the bleakest of situations.
14. On Reaching Your Full Potential
“It matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be”.
How you start in life is irrelevant to what you can achieve in business. Some people have completed business degrees prior to launching their own business, others have no qualifications and have come up with an amazing idea. Similarly, there are those who come from an affluent background and others who have grown up in a working-class environment. Your start in life is irrelevant to your ability to achieve great things in business.
13. On Taking On New Challenges
“Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure”.
Dumbledore said this to Harry in ‘The Half-Blood Prince’, says Mashable. The challenges of business are potentially very exciting. Even if things sometimes seem hard, the outcomes of a situation can create new opportunities. Also, taking a step into the unknown can lead you into an exciting new phase for your business that can help you to progress to the next level.
12. On Preparing for Challenges
“Time will not slow down when something unpleasant lies ahead”.
This is a quote taken from Harry Potter’s thoughts when he ends the school year on the Hogwarts Express and he is dreading leaving his friends behind to return to the Dursleys in ‘The Goblet of Fire’. Throughout your business journey, you may face many challenges. This is often unavoidable, and it can even be an important aspect of growing a successful business. You must face these challenges head-on because they will not go away.
11. On Treating Your Team with Respect
“If you want to know what a man’s like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals”.
This is something that Sirius Black says to Harry Hermione and Ron. This applies to business because a good leader will treat his team with respect, value their contributions, and recognize their strengths.
10. On Being Realistic
“It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live”.
This is something that Albus Dumbledore says to Harry Potter in ‘The Sorcerer’s Stone’. Having dreams, goals, and aspirations are part of what makes a good business leader. However, it is equally important that you are realistic about what is achievable. People can waste their life chasing a dream that is unachievable.
9. On Making the Right Business Decisions
“It is our choices that show who we really are, far more than our abilities”.
In all types of business, you will face making many decisions. The decisions you make and the consequences of these will show whether you are a good business leader. Your decision-making has the power to outweigh many other abilities.
8. On Facing Tough Situations
“We must all face the choice between what is right and what is easy”.
Awaken the Greatness Within says that these words are spoken by Albus Dumbledore to Harry Potter. It applies to business because you will often face decisions that are not easy, but you must do the right thing.
7. On Teamwork
“We are only as strong as we are united, as weak as we are divided”.
This is something that Harry Potter says to his friends and classmates. In relation to a business setting, it refers to working together as a team. Even if you are in a senior position, the roles of other workers will all play a part in achieving a goal, and it is important to realize that. A good leader will motivate his team to get everyone working together.
6. On Overcoming Your Fears
“Fear of a name increases fear of the thing itself”.
Hobby Lark says that Dumbledore says this to Harry in ‘The Sorcerer’s Stone’. Many aspects of running a business are scary, especially when you do not know what will happen next or you know that you will face challenging times. This quote from Dumbledore says that things are not always as scary as you think if you just face them head-on and accept the situation. You may then realize that your own fears were greater than the things you were fearing.
5. On Having Courage in Business
“The thing about growing up with Fred and George is that you sort of start thinking anything’s possible if you’ve got enough nerve”.
This is something that Ginny said in ‘The Order of the Phoenix’, and it is the perfect example of having courage in business. You can keep a business going at a steady pace with hard work but taking it to the next level can involve taking risks and having nerve. Sometimes it is scary to take a leap into the unknown, but having the courage to do so is a step towards achieving greater things.
4. On Being Creative and Using Your Imagination
“Of course it is happening inside your head Harry, but why on earth should that mean it is not real?”.
This Harry Potter quote is taken from a conversation between Dumbledore and Harry Potter. It is possible to interpret this sentence as an encouragement to use your imagination and creativity. The ability to do so can help you to find new strategies to use to achieve a goal in business, and it can also inspire new business ideas.
3. On the Importance of Communication
“Words are… our most inexhaustible source of magic, capable of both influencing injury, and remedying it”.
Communication is an essential component of the smooth-running of a business. Keeping open the lines of communication with your team can help everyone to work efficiently towards a shared goal. However, it is important to note that the way you use communication is relevant. Your communications should contain elements of positivity and not focus on the negatives, or your use of communication may have the reverse effect.
2. On Looking for the Positives
“Happiness can be found, even in the darkest of times, if only one remembers to turn on the light”.
Things do not always run smoothly, and you may go through some difficult times in your business. It is vital that you try to find some positives in each situation, no matter how bleak things may seem, as this will keep you motivated. For example, you can use a negative situation as a learning process. By identifying what went wrong and what you could have done differently, you can turn it into a positive by putting things in place to avoid the same situation arising again.
1. On Planning Ahead
“The consequences of our actions… predicting the future is a very difficult business indeed”.
One of the most important parts of running a business is planning ahead by setting goals. It is also one of the most difficult elements as it is impossible to predict the future. The consequences of your actions at various stages of working towards a goal can alter the course and even the end result. When planning and goal-setting, you must try to look at various outcomes at each stage to try and predict what may happen and plan accordingly. This quote from Method Shop describes this perfectly.