Striking out on our own to build a business empire from scratch is nothing short of daunting. (That we spend 11 hours a day staring at our screens doesn’t help matters, either.) But there are things we can do to stay focused, and loading up on some inspiration is a great place to start.
We scoured the Gram and pulled together 18 feeds that energize the entrepreneurial spirit (so you don’t have to).
1. @garyvee
Gary Vaynerchuk is an entrepreneur, author, internet personality, and usually the first name dropped on a list like this one. We’d hate to break with tradition, so give his account a follow and brace yourself for a mighty dose of motivation each morning.
2. @brenebrown
Brené Brown is a motivational speaker, author, and vulnerability advocate. She’s not so much about the entrepreneurial spirit as she is about doing the unconventional with courage and heart. And sometimes that’s all we need.
3. @sgrstk
You’ve probably seen this one swimming around your social feeds over the years. The Captain is its creator, as well as the author of lesser-known history books and some spot-on (albeit obscene) advice.
4. @gabbybernstein
If you need a gentle nudge to ensure you’re working and living with purpose, spiritual author and speaker Gabrielle Bernstein has an Instagram that will help you breathe a little easier.
5. @robmooreprogressive
Rob Moore is the author of Money Book as well as the host of The Disruptive Entrepreneur podcast. His account doesn’t take itself too seriously but still manages to yield nuggets of solid advice.
6. @_kimberlysnyder
Kimberly Snyder is the founder of Solluna, a natural lifestyle brand, and is the author of a series of natural beauty and detox books. Her Instagram is a sunny California dream full of gentle quotes about the importance of the big picture of your life.
7. @arvinsworld
The founder of SHREDZ has built an Instagram that will punch you in the face with motivation. In-between quotes meant to kick your ass out of your seat are videos of men wrestling tigers and women crushing watermelons with their thighs.
8. @sarablakely
Come for the motivational quotes, stay for the coffee mug collection. Seriously, women in charge seem to have the best coffee mug collections, and the founder of Spanx is no exception.
9. @therock
Not a place for printed quotes, but The Rock’s Instagram is exactly where you need to be for a little video inspo. His short speeches are full of his distinct charm, and he serves up some occasional encouragement for whatever it is you have to conquer in a day.
10. @mindykaling
This television writer, series headliner, and author has an Instagram feed full of killer OOTD pics, Indian restaurant recommendations, and, of course, inspiration for the next generation of boss-ass entrepreneurs. This is especially true for those of us who like to call it a night early in the name of our dreams.
11. @6amsuccess
Not an individual business or entrepreneur, but this account’s sleekly styled inspirational quotes add that extra fire in your Monday routine.
12. @brit
As the CEO of women’s lifestyle brand Brit + Co, Brit Morin has her finger on exactly what young women need to hear. Her Instagram is a peek into the life she’s made for herself, sprinkled with encouraging quotes for the next up-and-coming #GirlBoss.
13. @grantcardone
Grant Cardone is a real estate mogul and bestselling author with a storied history in the US sales world. His Instagram is video-heavy since his inspiration sparks brightest when he’s speaking. But you’ll still find a lion’s share of quote-spiration when you need it.
14. Lewis Howes
Between writing books on leadership and development, and hosting the Top 50 podcast School of Greatness, this former arena footballer is full of quotable nuggets. Lewis Howes’s feed is one intentional quote followed by another, with the occasional plug of inspiration in the form of silly videos (like this one of his friend climbing him “like a monkey”).
15. @tailopez
Tai Lopez became famous for reading a different business or development book a day, then reviewing them in his signature voice. His Insta feed is a little meme-heavy, but the videos pulled from his Snapchat are definitely worth the scroll.
16. @everette
Everette Taylor has built not one, not two, but six successful brands—including PopSocial and GrowthHackers. His feed doesn’t deliver hard-hitting encouragement, but his captions are level-headed and humble, making Taylor a leader by example.
17. @peterjvoogd
Like Everette Taylor, Peter Voogd motivates with the captions of his carefully posed and polished feed. Voogd’s wildly popular book, Six Months to Six Figures, has pushed him to the forefront of business leadership in the millennial generation.
18. @entrepreneur
No list on motivational business would be complete without Entrepreneur. The online magazine runs an Instagram account filled with video clips and stylized quotes chock full of advice, lessons, and motivational tidbits for the ambitious self-starter.
