---
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.\" — Henry Sy"
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg"
---

#  I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline…

![“I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered.” quote by Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg)

> “I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered.”

[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 a modest start can grow a thriving enterprise.

**In simple terms:** Discipline builds business success.

Key Takeaway

Focus on discipline and effort.

Themes

entrepreneurship discipline growth

Mood

motivational pragmatic

Type

business inspirational

When to use this quote

- startup
- personal development
- leadership

Key Concepts

business strategy hard work

Questions to Reflect On

- What habits sustain growth?
- How to balance discipline with flexibility?

A Different Perspective

Discipline alone may not guarantee success.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Discipline](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/discipline/) [Hard work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hard-work/) [Work](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/work/)

## Related quotes

> [I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department store business and again, things went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business-2/)

[Henry Sy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-sy/)

> [When you're doing that you lose your focus on the discipline of the business, and how you train people at Hamburger University, and everybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cantalupo/when-you-re-doing-that-you-lose-your-focus-on-the-discipline-of-the/)

[Jim Cantalupo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cantalupo/)

> [What I like to say when you get into something that feels like a bubble or, at least, feels irrational is that you still…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/travis-kalanick/what-i-like-to-say-when-you-get-into-something-that-feels-like-a/)

[Travis Kalanick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/travis-kalanick/)

> [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/)

> [An athlete gains so much knowledge by just participating in a sport. Focus, discipline, hard work, goal setting and, of course, the thrill of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kristi-yamaguchi/an-athlete-gains-so-much-knowledge-by-just-participating-in-a-sport/)

[Kristi Yamaguchi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kristi-yamaguchi/)

> [Your ability to discipline yourself to set clear goals, and then to work toward them every day, will do more to guarantee your success…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brian-tracy/your-ability-to-discipline-yourself-to-set-clear-goals-and-then-to/)

[Brian Tracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brian-tracy/)

> [“There is no shortcut for hard work that leads to effectiveness. You must stay disciplined because most of the work is behind the scenes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/germany-kent/there-is-no-shortcut-for-hard-work-that-leads-to-effectiveness-you/)

[Germany Kent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/germany-kent/)

> [Some say work smarter, not harder, but the wisest are both. Whether you're more of a hard worker or a smart worker, if you're…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/colby-tatem/some-say-work-smarter-not-harder-but-the-wisest-are-both-whether-you/)

[Colby Tatem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/colby-tatem/)

> [“It is one thing being disciplined to plan and it is another thing being a disciple of great work. Be your own disciplinarian.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/israelmore-ayivor/it-is-one-thing-being-disciplined-to-plan-and-it-is-another-thing/)

[Israelmore Ayivor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/israelmore-ayivor/)

## 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 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/)

> [I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered. I moved to the department store business and again, things went…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business-2/)

[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.",
            "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/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Business"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fae/henry-sy-20101_business_i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work_398130.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“I started with shoes, and with hard work and discipline, the business prospered.” — 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/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-sy/i-started-with-shoes-and-with-hard-work-and-discipline-the-business/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
