11 quotes about adaptability in business

In this blog, you’ll find 11 quotes about adaptability in business. Use them to inspire you through change in business, career and life!

Some of the quotes don’t mention “adaptability” at all, that’s why I wrote short comments what I personally love about them and why they made the list.

Please note that it is my interpretation – if you understand the quotes about adaptability different, tell that in the comments, I’d love to explore new perspectives!

1. It’s not the strongest of a species that survives, nor the most intelligent, but the ones most resilient and responsive to change. – Charles Darwin

This quote from the father of evolution theory, is the perfect start. 

It reminds us that nothing on Earth has stayed the same, so we are helping ourselves if we’re seeing change as a part of life, not trying to stop the change.

Change is inevitable, so if we want to adapt successfully – we need to learn how to respond to change the best.

2. The one who lasts, is the one who changes. – Rainis

A shorter version of Darwin’s quote, and powerful. Times change, people change, technology changes. We need to change with it to survive and thrive.

3. A ship in harbour is safe, but that’s not what ships are for. – J.A.Shedd

For those who love metaphors. Found this quote 5 years ago somewhere on Pinterest, still one of my favourites. Only in action do we feel alive. The comfort zone is tricky and makes us rusty.

It is scary to understand that, but also exciting. Don’t you think?

4. Your most unhappy customers are your greatest source of learning. – Bill Gates

This quote about adaptability is great from multiple angles: 

• First, it challenges you to see one of the most common thing – unhappy customers – as an opportunity;
• Second – it encourages you to be open to learning continuously, and therefore, adapt and change when new info comes up.

Quite practical quote, I must say, don’t you think?

5. Never be limited by other people’s limited imaginations. – Mae Jemison

How is this quote about adaptability? Because it stresses the importance of mental flexibility that is one of the skills of adaptability (read more in this blog). Adapting to change, overcoming challenges in business – it requires imagination and ability to work towards seemingly opposite goals. I like that this quote reminds us to explore our own ideas and don’t stop at somebody else’s opinion. 

That’s what good adaptability at work is always about.

6. Resilience is a precious skill. People who have it have three advantages: a belief they can influence life events, a tendency to find meaning and purpose in life’s turmoil, and a conviction they can learn from positive and negative experiences. – Amanda Ripley

 

How is this quote about adaptability?

Resilience is one of the most important skills of adaptability (read more in this blog). This quote is a great summary why.

7. Success is not final, failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. – Winston Churchill

How is this quote about adaptability?

I love that it shows that we don’t need to adapt only when challenges and failures happen. We also need to continuously change in business even when it’s going really, really well – because none of the two things are lasting.

And this conclusion shouldn’t make us feel sad, angry or un-empowered – it’s just a part of life. Just like the fact that we need air. So it’s better to accept it and lead our lives keeping it in mind.

8. The secret of life, though, is to fall seven times and get up eight times. – Paolo Coelho

There is something truly fulfilling when we surprise ourselves with a solution that we couldn’t even imagine. That requires to do what Mr. Coelho says in this quote – try, fail, fall, get up again, until we succeed. Harder to do in life, but that’s trainable. See more, how.

9. Resilience is not just for surviving the worst day of your life. It’s for thriving every day of your life. – Dr. Rick Hanson

Sometimes we think adaptability is only important when something “bad” (uncomfortable) happens. However, if we truly want to lead fulfilling lives, change IS what makes us feel alive, and thriving. It’s important to remember that.

10. Action and adaptability create opportunity. – Garrison Wynn

Adaptability only works in action. So let’s act towards our dreams and let life show us what we didn’t know – that’s a logical path to fulfilling the dreams.

11. We must be willing to let go of the life we planned so as to have the life that is waiting for us. – Joseph Campbell

This is the juiciest part about adaptability. Sometimes we’re afraid to change because we think it will ruin something.

What if it will get better, and not just better, but amazing in ways we couldn’t even imagine?

I’ll close the blog with this thought. 

Which quotes about adaptability did you like the most? Write in the comments!

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