exerting one's strength

There are two ways of exerting one's strength; one is pushing down, the other is pulling up. 

Booker T. Washington

Booker T. Washington: Educator and Leader by Kristin Thoennes Keller. Capstone Press. 2005. p.19 As found in 2022 Great Quotes From Great Leaders Boxed Calendar: 365 Inspirational Quotes From Leaders Who Shaped the World.

I'm scared all the time

People say to me all the time, 'You have no fear.' I tell them, 'No, that's not true. I'm scared all the time. You have to have fear in order to have courage. I'm a courageous person because I'm a scared person.'

Ronda Rousey

Rowdy Rousey: Ronda Rousey's Fight to the Top by Mike Straka. Triumph Books. 2015. As found in 2022 Great Quotes From Great Leaders Boxed Calendar: 365 Inspirational Quotes From Leaders Who Shaped the World.

be a learner

Ultimately, I realized that what’s most important is to be a learner. Many people know a lot about a little, but there are only a few people who know a little about a lot and can see the company broadly. This was critical to the idea of why I eventually became CEO.

Kenneth C. Frazier

"On Leadership: An Interview with Kenneth C. Frazier, President and CEO of Merck & Co., Inc.," by Ann C Mulé, Veta T. Richardson, and Brent Thomas. Association for Corporate Council. 2017. As found in 2022 Great Quotes From Great Leaders Boxed Calendar: 365 Inspirational Quotes From Leaders Who Shaped the World.

the rough side of the mountain

It's the rough side of the mountain that's easiest to climb; the smooth side doesn't have anything for you to hang on to. 

Aretha Franklin

"The Swingin' Aretha," Ebony. March 1964. p.85. As found in 2022 Great Quotes From Great Leaders Boxed Calendar: 365 Inspirational Quotes From Leaders Who Shaped the World.  

accept his smallness

No one can grow if he does not accept his smallness.

Pope Francis

The Name of God Is Mercy by Pope Francis. Random House. 2016. As found in 2022 Great Quotes From Great Leaders Boxed Calendar: 365 Inspirational Quotes From Leaders Who Shaped the World.