“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, “What are you doing for others?”

– Martin Luther King, Jr.

Quotes from history offer immeasurable inspirational leadership advice. Great leaders and activists from history highlight what our country and world has been through and remind us how we can change it.

Martin Luther King, Jr. was a strong leader during the Civil Rights Movement. He is known for using nonviolent civil disobedience when trying to fight for his own rights and the rights of others. King led the Montgomery Bus Boycott in 1955 and helped found the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. His nonviolent protests stretched throughout the southern part of the US, most notable being the March on Washington where King delivered his “Dream” for everyone to hear.

King’s “I Have a Dream Speech” is one of the most famous speeches in American history. He refers to inspirational leadership from the past – Abraham Lincoln and Thomas Jefferson – in an attempt to fight for civil rights. His dream also refers to a time when “this nation will rise up and live up to its creed, ‘We hold these truths to be self evident: that all men are created equal.”

Whether it be in the workplace or not, Martin Luther King, Jr. is a leader that continues to inspire America today. Martin Luther King Day is a day to reflect on the past and remember how much our country has grown, how we can created change and inspire the future. King wants us to look out for our neighbors and think about how we can help each other. It is a day for equality and motivation and reminds us how powerful we all can be.

What is your dream? What examples of inspirational leadership keep you motivated?

Let us know what you dream about for your company? Check back for more team building quotes each week and let us know which ones motivate you to excellence.