My mother was the influence in my life. She was strong she had great faith in the ultimate triumph of justice and hard work. She believed passionately in education.

I'm convinced that the only way to get ahead in this world is to live and sell dangerously. You've got to live beyond your means. You've got to commit yourself to an act or vision that pulls you further than you want to go and forces you to use your hidden strengths.

Its better to get smart than to get mad. I try not to get so insulted that I will not take advantage of an opportunity to persuade people to change their minds.

To succeed, one must be creative and persistent.

If you can somehow think and dream of success in small steps, every time you make a step, every time you accomplish a small goal, it gives you confidence to go on from there.

Every day I run scared. That's the only way I can stay ahead.

Long shots do come in and hard work, dedication and perseverance will overcome almost any prejudice and open almost any door.

Failure is a word I don't accept.

When I go in to see people - and I sell an occasional ad now - I never say, 'Help me because I am black' or 'Help me because I am a minority.' I always talk about what we can do for them.

There is a wisdom in the body that is older and more reliable than clocks and calendars.

You spend so much time in your profession it ought to be something you love.