CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Taylor Swift’s ‘Elizabeth Taylor’ Video Puts Jewelry Front and CenterIconic pieces, like the Mike Todd Diamond Tiara, appear in the superstar’s new music video for her song inspired by the actress.
ColumnistsFeb 19, 2020
Coach’s Corner: 28 of My Favorite Sales Quotes
From Steve Jobs to Babe Ruth to herself, Pat Henneberry shares her favorite thoughts on sales and success.
Pat Henneberry is president of consulting and sales training company The Jewelry Coach. Reach her at 512-203-3414, or on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn.
Today I have decided to feature some of my top inspirational sales quotes for you to read, share and remember.
Quotes, to me, are those little reminders that we all need now and then, and some are powerful enough to inspire us for the whole week.
I hope some of these resonate with you too.
“Just know, when you truly want success, you’ll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get.” – Unknown
“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
“Good things come to those who wait. Greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything to make it happen.” – Unknown
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs
“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield
“The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is opportunity for growth.” – Unknown
“Self-confidence is the most attractive quality a person can have. How can anyone see how awesome you are if you can’t see it yourself?” – Unknown
“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” ― Zig Ziglar
“Make a customer, not a sale.” ― Katherine Barchetti
“It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.” ― Jeffrey Gitomer
“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” ― Babe Ruth
“Value the relationship more than your quota.” ― Jeffrey Gitomer
“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” ― Zig Ziglar
“Without hustle, your talent will only get you so far.” ― Gary Vaynerchuk
“It’s not about having the right opportunities. It’s about handling the opportunities right.” ― Mark Hunter
“It is not your customer’s job to remember you. It is your obligation and responsibility to make sure they don’t have the chance to forget you.” ― Patricia Fripp
“Show up early, treat people with respect and perform at the highest levels until the world can’t deny you.” ― Grant Cardone
“Approach each customer with the idea of helping him or her to solve a problem or achieve a goal, not of selling a product or service.” ― Brian Tracy
“Most people think selling is the same as talking but the most effective salespeople know that listening is the most important part of their job.” ― Roy Bartell
Quotes, to me, are those little reminders that we all need now and then, and some are powerful enough to inspire us for the whole week.
I hope some of these resonate with you too.
“Just know, when you truly want success, you’ll never give up on it. No matter how bad the situation may get.” – Unknown
“Challenges are what make life interesting, and overcoming them is what makes life meaningful.” – Joshua J. Marine
“Good things come to those who wait. Greater things come to those who get off their ass and do anything to make it happen.” – Unknown
“The only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle.” – Steve Jobs
“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield
“The pain you feel today is the strength you feel tomorrow. For every challenge encountered, there is opportunity for growth.” – Unknown
“Self-confidence is the most attractive quality a person can have. How can anyone see how awesome you are if you can’t see it yourself?” – Unknown
“There are no traffic jams on the extra mile.” ― Zig Ziglar
“Make a customer, not a sale.” ― Katherine Barchetti
“It’s not who you know, it’s who knows you.” ― Jeffrey Gitomer
“Yesterday’s home runs don’t win today’s games.” ― Babe Ruth
“Value the relationship more than your quota.” ― Jeffrey Gitomer
“You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.” ― Zig Ziglar
“Without hustle, your talent will only get you so far.” ― Gary Vaynerchuk
“It’s not about having the right opportunities. It’s about handling the opportunities right.” ― Mark Hunter
“It is not your customer’s job to remember you. It is your obligation and responsibility to make sure they don’t have the chance to forget you.” ― Patricia Fripp
“Show up early, treat people with respect and perform at the highest levels until the world can’t deny you.” ― Grant Cardone
“Approach each customer with the idea of helping him or her to solve a problem or achieve a goal, not of selling a product or service.” ― Brian Tracy
“Most people think selling is the same as talking but the most effective salespeople know that listening is the most important part of their job.” ― Roy Bartell
“Once you understand that selling is an educational process for the buyer and closing represents graduate school for you, your career will move into high gear.” ― Zig Ziglar
“Allow other people to speak first; the important factor is not who talks, it’s who listens.” — Ilana Eberson
“You must niche to get rich.” — Melinda Emerson
“People don’t buy because what you do is awesome. People buy because it makes them feel awesome.” — Tara Gentile
“So many of us are harboring unrecognized brilliance that could help many more people.” — Amanda Littlejohn
“When you present the value of your products and services in a clear, compelling way, then you’ve tackled 90 percent of objections.” — Nancy Marmolejo
“Dedicate more time to actually selling versus planning to sell.” — Lisa Nichols
The Bottom Line
Everybody needs encouragement once in a while, no matter how devoted they are to their profession.
Use my list of inspirational quotes to keep you and your team fired up to reach your sales goals all year round.
And, of course, don’t forget two of my favorite sales quotes … if you’ve been in one of my workshops, then you’ve heard these from me multiple times: “Sell with a story,” and “You’ve got this!”
More on Columnists
The Latest
MajorsApr 03, 2026
Saks Global Says It Will Emerge From Bankruptcy This SummerThe luxury retailer, which went Chapter 11 in January, announced Thursday that it has secured $500 million in exit financing.
Events & AwardsApr 03, 2026
JCK Luxury, NouvelleBox Partner on New Designer BallroomThe NouvelleBox ballroom will feature independent jewelry designers, including Lene Vibe, Wyld Box Jewelry, and Kiaia Limited.
Brought to you by
Protect Your Customers and Your BusinessYou deserve to know what you are selling–to protect your customers as well as your business and your reputation.
CollectionsApr 03, 2026
Buddha Mama Brings Its ‘Moon’ Locket To DallasThe one-of-a-kind locket, our Piece of the Week, opens to reveal three hidden images to keep close to your heart.
Weekly QuizApr 02, 2026
This Week’s QuizTest your jewelry news knowledge by answering these questions.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Pandora Opens New Canadian Distribution Center Amid Tariff ConcernsThe new facility was also designed to better serve its growing customer base in Canada.
TrendsApr 02, 2026
Michelle Yeoh Fronts New Mikimoto Campaign The campaign is a tribute to the year 1893, when Kokichi Mikimoto created the world’s first cultured pearl.
Brought to you by
Is This You? Every Jeweler Has This Problem; We Have the Solution.Every jeweler faces the same challenge: helping customers protect what they love. Here’s the solution designed for today’s jewelry business.
GradingApr 02, 2026
GIA Debuts New Campus in TaiwanIt is the only GIA school to offer the GIA Graduate Gemologist program in Chinese.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
DCA Launches ‘Second Spark’ Workforce InitiativeThe initiative connects veterans and parents returning to the workforce with careers in jewelry retail.
MajorsApr 02, 2026
Hoover & Strong Names New National Sales RepresentativeThe wholesale manufacturer and precious metals refiner has appointed Michael Angelo as its new national sales representative.
MajorsApr 01, 2026
Foundrae Sues Pandora for Allegedly Copying Its Medallion DesignsFoundrae also accused the jewelry giant of copying its mood board style of marketing.
AuctionsApr 01, 2026
John Jacob Astor IV’s Titanic Pocket Watch Heads to AuctionA Patek Philippe for Tiffany & Co. timepiece owned by the American businessman who died on the Titanic will be offered at Freeman's Chicago.
SurveysApr 01, 2026
Consumers’ Outlook Improves Again in MarchThe Conference Board’s Consumer Confidence Index edged up, with optimism about the present outweighing worries about the future.
IndependentsApr 01, 2026
Zachary’s Jewelers’ Constance Polamalu to Release Children’s BookThe retailer’s Zach Bear gift comes to life in “Zach Bear and the Window Necklace,” which centers on curiosity, bravery, and helping.
Events & AwardsApr 01, 2026
AGA Opens 2026 Gemological Scholarship, Research Grant ApplicationsApplications are open for the AGA Gemological Scholarship Program through May 15, and until June 2027 for the Gemological Research Grant.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Mejuri Adds Silver to ‘Puzzle’ CollectionMejuri’s popular collection of 18-karat yellow gold vermeil rings debuted in sterling silver alongside new “Puzzle” slider charms.
CollectionsMar 31, 2026
Buddha Mama, Ashley Longshore to Host Pop-Up in DallasThe Miami-based jewelry brand and the NYC-based artist will be in Dallas from April 9-11.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
NDC Designates April 8 as 'World Diamond Day'The initiative invites those in the industry to share stories on social media highlighting the meaning and impact of natural diamonds.
SourcingMar 31, 2026
GIA VP Jillian Wolk to Take Over at Tracr Wolk’s first day on the job as CEO of Tracr, De Beers Group’s blockchain platform, will be May 1.
EditorsMar 30, 2026
Tom Moses Looks Back on His Decades at GIA Moses, who will leave the lab in May after nearly 50 years, discusses his start in the business, gemstones that stand out, and what’s next.
TrendsMar 30, 2026
Oscar Heyman Debuts First Spring CatalogThe new catalog, which showcases 35 one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry, is a compliment to the company’s popular holiday catalog.
SourcingMar 30, 2026
Rio Tinto Hauls Last Load from DiavikProduction has ceased at the Canadian diamond mine, which has yielded more than 150 million carats of rough diamonds in its 23-year run.
MajorsMar 30, 2026
Tanishq Opens First New England LocationThe store opening marks the 10th United States location for the India-based jewelry retailer.
MajorsMar 27, 2026
Saks Global Has Changed Its Mind About Closing These 3 StoresTwo Saks Fifth Avenue locations, one in Florida and one in California, and one Neiman Marcus store are off the chopping block.
IndependentsMar 27, 2026
Jimmy West, Longtime LJG Executive Director, Dies at 72West, who started in the art department at the Leading Jewelers Guild in 1979, is remembered for his patience, kindness, and dedication.
CollectionsMar 27, 2026
Itä’s ‘Yarí Whirl’ Ring Tells Every Side of the StoryIn the “Tesoro” version of the ring, our Piece of the Week, each side of the gold hexagonal nugget has a unique colored gemstone design.
