"Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers…

“Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy” is a saying that has been printed on many posters. “More often than not, successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy” was cited in the book Joining the Entrepreneurial Elite: Four Styles to Business Success (1996) by Olaf Isachsen.

The saying has made many lists of quotations since 2012 and is usually credited to “anonymous.”

Google Books
Joining the Entrepreneurial Elite:
Four Styles to Business Success
By Olaf Isachsen
Palo Alto, CA: Davies-Black Pub.
1996
Pg. 3:
More often than not, successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.

Google Books
Trajectory:
The Ultimate Guide to Building a Successful Business with Twitter
By Michael R. H. Stewart
Scottsdale, AZ: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
2012
Pg. 100:
“Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.” Anonymous

Inventor Spot
May 8, 2012
Top 50 Legendary Success Quotes
by Spencer Lanoue
(...)
26. “Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.” Anonymous

Twitter
Marcelo Borges
‏@mbcruz1977
“Successful #entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.” Anonymous
8:05 AM - 10 May 2012

Twitter
Valta Management
‏@ValtaManagement
@EntMagazine @Inc “Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.” Anonymous #GoodQuote
4:48 PM - 10 May 2012

The Huffington Post
Lolly Daskal (Leadership Global Consultant and Coach)
100 Motivational Quotes That Will Inspire You to Be Successful
Posted: 01/01/2014 9:57 pm EST Updated: 09/03/2014 11:59 am EDT
(...)
12. Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy. ~Anonymous

UIC Business
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 by Mariya Amiwala
22 Favorite Quotes To Inspire
(...)
17. “Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.” –Anonymous

Everyday Power Blog
50 Famous Quotes About Success You Must Stop and Read
Inspirational Quotes by Jeffrey I. Moore - Jul 1, 2014
(...)
Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy. ―Anonymous

Being Investor
100 Inspirational Quotes that will inspire you to be Successful
By BeingInvestor on November 6, 2014
(...)
15. Successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy. ~Anonymous

Planet of Success
The 75 Most Motivational Quotes Ever Spoken
BY STEVE MUELLER LAST EDIT: OCTOBER 16TH, 2015
(...)
78. More often than not, successful entrepreneurs are givers and not takers of positive energy.
Olaf Isachsen