Insightful Time Management Quotes

Last Updated on March 3, 2024 by Dave Schoenbeck

As a manager or business owner, you might daydream about the best combination of words to use to motivate your team and optimize their time. Maybe you’ve Googled “time management quotes” once or twice. 

We’ve compiled a list of a few time management quotes for work to boost you, your team, and maybe even your bottom line. Read on for more!

A businessman does paperwork behind an hourglass

Quotes as Inspiration

Remember growing up and listening to your parents lecture you about working hard in school or teachers encouraging you? Maybe you took them seriously, but you were more likely to be impacted by one of your favorite superheroes saying the same thing. 

Fortunately, or unfortunately, not much has changed. For example, your team may not listen to you when you share time management quotes, but they are all ears if it comes from leadership greats like John Maxwell or Tony Robbins.

Everything is a Choice

At the start of every day, you have a choice. Do you stay in bed where it’s comfortable and safe, or do you get up and see what the day brings? Throughout the next set of hours, you’ll have more decisions as choices confront you.

Take this time management quote for work from Sir John Lubbock, “In truth, people can generally make time for what they choose to do; it is not the time but the will that is lacking.”

If you want to make time for something, you will make time for it. If something is important enough, you will find a way.

Motivational Time Management Quotes

Inspirational quotes on time management from the sales and leadership greats are not hard to come by. Consider Zig Ziglar’s time management quote, Lack of direction, not lack of time, is the problem. We all have twenty-four-hour days.” We all have the same 24 hours to complete a task, yet some people lack direction and waste their time — or the time of their team. Time management is about more than quotes and life hacks. There is a different approach for each business and person.

Your team can create a priority list to use time effectively so everyone understands what a “have to do” and “nice to do is.”

Ineffective Time Management Quotes

Bruce Lee was a natural actor from an early age and highly adaptable. Why is that? Consider this time management quote, “If you spend too much time thinking about a thing, you’ll never get it done.” He is a man of action. He had a team of people supporting him — whether it was his family, wife, or the crew of people on set when he filmed. As a result, he got a lot done in the karate studios he owned, the films he starred in, and more.

Ending on a High Note

Miles Davis said, “Time isn’t the main thing. It’s the only thing.” Although he was a musician and time signatures prove essential for any masterpiece, this sentiment translates to everyday life for any employee or manager. Time management quotes for work don’t apply to the 9-to-5 mindset; it’s each of the 24 hours provided to you and your team. So what is the best quote about time?

Many teams and leaders confuse being “busy” with being “productive,” but the two are not interchangeable. Are you busy with the right tasks and priorities, or are you just doing work for the sake of doing work?

With so many greats providing insight and inspiration, what is your favorite time management quote? Click here to sign up for my free weekly business blog article.

Coach Dave



Dave Schoenbeck
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