“Focus on yourself -- do what you want, when you want, without having to consider anyone else's agenda.”

“There are times when you don't know yourself. There are times when you don't want to know yourself. There are times when you want to be what you have never allowed yourself to be before.”

Aidan Chambers (1934) British children's writer

“Nobody can hinder you from doing what you want, if that's what you set your mind to. You can always find a hook to hang excuses on, but they're only excuses. You don't have anyone to blame but yourself. Nobody else makes you fail.”

Ben Carson (1951) 17th and current United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; American neurosurgeon

“When you compete against everyone else, no one wants to help you. But when you compete against yourself, everyone wants to help you.”

Simon Sinek (1973) British/American author and motivational speaker

“Love what you do and do what you love. Don't listen to anyone else who tells you not to do it. You do what you want, what you love. Imagination should be the center of your life.”

Ray Bradbury (1920–2012) American writer

“Invest for the future and do not lose focus. In life you should know what you want then it will not be easy for someone to shift your focus.”

Amantle Montsho (1983) Motswana sprinter

“Don't let anyone else tell you when your time is up or what's best for you, you make that. And if you live by what other people want you to do with your life, you will be miserable, I can guarantee you that.”

Erika Jayne (1969) American singer, actress and television personality

“If you focus on the risks, they'll multiply in your mind and eventually paralyze you. You want to focus on the task, instead, on doing what needs to be done.”

Barry Eisler (1963) American writer

“They will always tell you that you can't do what you want to do, but you can do what you want to do. You just have to believe in yourself. The system is to bring you down, but you can rise up.”

Bob Marley (1945–1981) Jamaican singer, songwriter, musician

“When you want to help people, you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself, you tell them what they want to hear.”

Thomas Sowell (1930) American economist, social theorist, political philosopher and author