Sometimes, it takes a little bit of encouragement to believe you are ready to take career-changing chances to fulfill personal financial goals. But too often we are surrounded by naysayers and burdened by day-to-day responsibilities, making risk-taking in seeking financial rewards seem too dangerous.

Here is some advice from some notable people who have achieved financial, intellectual and creative success by taking chances and working hard to encourage you to pursue your financial and career dreams.

Ben Franklin was an American Founder and statesman, author and inventor.

He writes in “The Way to Wealth” circa 1758: “Methinks I hear some of you say, ‘Must a man afford himself no leisure?’ I will tell thee, my friend, what Poor Richard says, Employ thy time well, if thou meanest to gain leisure; and, since thou art not sure of a minute, throw not away an hour. Leisure is time for doing something useful; this leisure the diligent man will obtain, but the lazy man never; for A life of leisure and a life of laziness are two things. Many, without labor, would live by their wits only, but they break for want of stock; whereas industry gives comfort, and plenty, and respect. Fly pleasures, and they will follow you. The diligent spinner has a large shift; and now I have a sheep and a cow, everybody bids me good morrow.”

Ernest Hemingway was a renowned American author and journalist who published a number of works that still hold literary value.

Santiago, Hemingway’s main character in The Old Man and The Sea, offers a bit of advice that could be useful to many debt-laden Americans: “But I try not to borrow. First you borrow. Then you beg.”  

Andrew Carnegie was an American industrial tycoon and philanthropist.

Carnegie offered this as part of a formula for success: “The average person puts only 25 percent of his energy and ability into his work. The world takes off its hat to those who put in more than 50 percent of their capacity, and stands on its head for those few and far between souls who devote 100 percent.”

Entrepreneur John Paul DeJoria was twice homeless before he started Paul Mitchell Systems with a $700 investment. He is now at the head of a $900 million per-year hair-care company and founder of the tequila company Patron.

“The biggest hurdle is rejection. Any business you start, be ready for it. The difference between successful people and unsuccessful people is the successful people do all the things the unsuccessful people don’t want to do. When 10 doors are slammed in your face, go to door number 11 enthusiastically, with a smile on your face.”