--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I started with shoes, and with hard work…" description: "\"I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department store business and again, things went well.\"..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg" --- # I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline… ![“I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department store business and again, things went well.” quote by Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg) > “I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department store business and again, things went well.” [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Hard work and discipline in modest beginnings can lead to business success and enable expansion into larger ventures. **In simple terms:** Starting small with effort can grow into bigger success. Key Takeaway Begin with discipline, then scale. Themes entrepreneurship hard work growth Mood motivational pragmatic Type business inspirational When to use this quote - starting a small business - career development - expanding operations - financial planning Key Concepts business strategy discipline scaling Questions to Reflect On - What discipline habits have helped you most? - How can you mitigate risks when scaling? A Different Perspective Discipline alone may not overcome market competition or lack of capital. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Department stores](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/department-stores/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) ## Related quotes > [I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [Like so many large companies in the U.S., Monsanto has prospered in large part due to U.S. taxpayer-funded programs and services.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dick-durbin/like-so-many-large-companies-in-the-u-s-monsanto-has-prospered-in/) [Dick Durbin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dick-durbin/) > [In life being poor does not a hindrance to become prospered. Just think of an idea before thinking of different reasons. You can do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/innah-delos-angeles/in-life-being-poor-does-not-a-hindrance-to-become-prospered-just/) [Innah Delos Angeles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/innah-delos-angeles/) > [My mother had gotten a job as a receptionist at a dancing school and had the idea that we should open our own dancing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-kelly/my-mother-had-gotten-a-job-as-a-receptionist-at-a-dancing-school-and/) [Gene Kelly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-kelly/) > [“It seemed the more messed up a country became, the more the black market prospered.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/masaji-ishikawa/it-seemed-the-more-messed-up-a-country-became-the-more-the-black/) [Masaji Ishikawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/masaji-ishikawa/) > [I've prospered because of my father. I know I'll never be his equal, but I've prospered because I've honoured my parents.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-eubank-sr/i-ve-prospered-because-of-my-father-i-know-i-ll-never-be-his-equal/) [Chris Eubank Sr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-eubank-sr/) > [New York was growing so fast that the extraordinary prosperity which attended 'The Times' almost from the outset brought no real injury to any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elmer-davis/new-york-was-growing-so-fast-that-the-extraordinary-prosperity-which/) [Elmer Davis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elmer-davis/) > [“The society that embraced him continued to prosper by stressing the family unit and their close-knit community. Hers prospered by forcigng independence and self-sufficiency.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-price/the-society-that-embraced-him-continued-to-prosper-by-stressing-the/) [Sarah Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-price/) > [“I was stunned at how easily things went on without me”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mitch-albom/i-was-stunned-at-how-easily-things-went-on-without-me/) [Mitch Albom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mitch-albom/) > [“Then Rhys groaned, “If we’re all here, either things went very, very wrong or very right.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sarah-j-maas/then-rhys-groaned-if-we-re-all-here-either-things-went-very-very/) [Sarah J. Maas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sarah-j-maas/) > [Things went in a direction that I didn't want to go. I started doing bit parts and things that are pretty much laid out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tina-yothers/things-went-in-a-direction-that-i-didn-t-want-to-go-i-started-doing/) [Tina Yothers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tina-yothers/) > [You can be mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You can Swear and curse the fates. But when it comes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-can-be-mad-as-a-mad-dog-at-the-way-things-went-you-can-swear-and/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [It'd be nice to have someone who understood some of the things that went on in my head.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richelle-mead/it-d-be-nice-to-have-someone-who-understood-some-of-the-things-that/) [Richelle Mead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richelle-mead/) > [“A funny thing happened post-diagnosis. They put him on drugs, things went up and down, but he lived. He lived. It was like a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garth-risk-hallberg/a-funny-thing-happened-post-diagnosis-they-put-him-on-drugs-things/) [Garth Risk Hallberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garth-risk-hallberg/) > [I don't think I could have dreamt it up any better than how things went, of being at my peak at just the right…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rickey-henderson/i-don-t-think-i-could-have-dreamt-it-up-any-better-than-how-things/) [Rickey Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rickey-henderson/) ## More by Henry Sy > [SM Seaside City Cebu: soon to be the Philippines' Largest Mall and the 4th Largest in the World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/sm-seaside-city-cebu-soon-to-be-the-philippines-largest-mall-and-the/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [My basic strategy is to stick to my core business and to my area of expertise.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/my-basic-strategy-is-to-stick-to-my-core-business-and-to-my-area-of/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I came to the Philippines to follow my father who came here earlier, looking for a better life. I helped my father in our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-came-to-the-philippines-to-follow-my-father-who-came-here-earlier/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I will not settle to become No. 2. Ever since I was a child, even before coming here to the Philippines, I've always believed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-will-not-settle-to-become-no-2-ever-since-i-was-a-child-even-before/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I've always wanted to be a businessman. No other ambitions - I just wanted to be in business, even when I was a child…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-ve-always-wanted-to-be-a-businessman-no-other-ambitions-i-just/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [In five years, I completed grade school. Even when I was a young boy, I had a plan for my life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/in-five-years-i-completed-grade-school-even-when-i-was-a-young-boy-i/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [We strongly believe that the Philippines has huge potential in the tourism industry, given our beautiful islands, moderate weather conditions, good cuisine, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/we-strongly-believe-that-the-philippines-has-huge-potential-in-the/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [Our store was so small, it had no back or second floor. We just slept on the counter late at night after the store…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/our-store-was-so-small-it-had-no-back-or-second-floor-we-just-slept/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I have always believed that if we do well, we must also do something to help others in society.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-have-always-believed-that-if-we-do-well-we-must-also-do-something/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I am pleased that through SM Foundation, we are able to do many socio-civic projects and support college scholars in need who come from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-am-pleased-that-through-sm-foundation-we-are-able-to-do-many-socio/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [I used to roller skate a lot in my youth on Taft Avenue, Manila. That is the reason there is always a skating area…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-used-to-roller-skate-a-lot-in-my-youth-on-taft-avenue-manila-that/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [There is no substitute for hard work. There is no such thing as overnight success or easy money.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/there-is-no-substitute-for-hard-work-there-is-no-such-thing-as/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [Every time the country is in a crisis, I think and decide where is the best way to go. We have to always think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/every-time-the-country-is-in-a-crisis-i-think-and-decide-where-is-the/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) > [In life and in business, you need to be good-hearted and trustworthy, and to have integrity. This is the way to build long-term relationships.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/in-life-and-in-business-you-need-to-be-good-hearted-and-trustworthy/) [Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) [Explore all 31 Henry Sy quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/) ## More Business quotes > [Companies with cultures that celebrate diverse opinions and encourage the exchange of ideas have an advantage when solving difficult problems. A company that doesn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/doug-mcmillon/companies-with-cultures-that-celebrate-diverse-opinions-and-encourage/) [Doug McMillon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/doug-mcmillon/) > [You can laugh at me, but I understand show business.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ksenia-sobchak/you-can-laugh-at-me-but-i-understand-show-business/) [Ksenia Sobchak](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ksenia-sobchak/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Take some books and read; that’s an immense help; and books are always good company if you have the right sort.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/take-some-books-and-read-that-s-an-immense-help-and-books-are-always/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [I'm a business first and foremost so whatever my business is, it's separate from my personal. It's like whatever I do business wise, it's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/snoop-dogg/i-m-a-business-first-and-foremost-so-whatever-my-business-is-it-s/) [Snoop Dogg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/snoop-dogg/) > [Many early-stage entrepreneurs make one simple mistake: Describing this 'big picture' in vague concepts and words.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunil-nagaraj/many-early-stage-entrepreneurs-make-one-simple-mistake-describing/) [Sunil Nagaraj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunil-nagaraj/) > [Nobody has a crystal ball, and part of evolving a business plan is to say, 'I might have said we're going left, but I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-kavanaugh/nobody-has-a-crystal-ball-and-part-of-evolving-a-business-plan-is-to/) [Ryan Kavanaugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-kavanaugh/) > [I think a business guy is different from an artist. They walk different paths. Artists create the best outputs when they're having fun. And…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/g-dragon/i-think-a-business-guy-is-different-from-an-artist-they-walk/) [G-Dragon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/g-dragon/) > [ “\[S\]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nora-ephron/s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-the-possible-irrelevance-of/) [Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nora-ephron/) > [If you have a different mindset, you will have a different outcome: if you make different choices from your peers, your life will then…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-ma/if-you-have-a-different-mindset-you-will-have-a-different-outcome-if/) [Jack Ma](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-ma/) > [“Some say the Earth is angry Because he wants no company; I say the Earth is angry Because he lives alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/some-say-the-earth-is-angry-because-he-wants-no-company-i-say-the/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [ If the State does not acquire supremacy over \[vast private\] enterprises, it becomes their puppet, and they become the real State. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/if-the-state-does-not-acquire-supremacy-over-vast-private-enterprises/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [It's not just that families can't buy a home or start a business without some savings tucked away.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cooper/it-s-not-just-that-families-can-t-buy-a-home-or-start-a-business/) [Jim Cooper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cooper/) > [I'm not into business at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/freddie-mercury/i-m-not-into-business-at-all/) [Freddie Mercury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/freddie-mercury/) > [I've long believed one of the mainsprings of our own liberty has been the widespread ownership of property among our people and the expectation…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/i-ve-long-believed-one-of-the-mainsprings-of-our-own-liberty-has-been/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 39,016 Business quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department store business and again, things went well.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Henry Sy" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business-2/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Business" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business-2/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/d2c/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_698432.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department…” — Henry Sy", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Henry Sy", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I started with shoes, and with...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business-2/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business-2/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```