Manuel is definitely the office clown. Manuel is gifted with the ability to make anyone laugh so hard that tears begin to fall down his/her cheeks. Manuel can make you roll on your stomach faster than you can say schizophrenic.

But whereas Manuel is known for his horsing around, he is much more sought after for his being a great motivator. What is his secret for motivating others and himself? His collection of joke motivational posters. Yep, joke motivational posters practically cover every inch of his room. He even made them into bookmarks as giveaways to friends. Here are a few of the phrases on Manuel’s joke motivational posters:

• Relationships: Sure there are plenty of other fish in the sea. But you’re not anywhere near the sea. You’re in the desert. Alone.

• Cloning: Because you’re socially awkward.

• Wishes: When you wish upon a star your dreams can come true. Unless it’s really a meteorite hurtling to Earth that will destroy all life. Then you’re pretty much hosed no matter what you wish for. Unless its death by meteor.

• Remember that you are unique. Just like everybody else.

• Underachievement: The tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawn mower.

• Incompetence: When you earnestly believe you can compensate for a lack of skill by doubling your efforts, there’s no end to what you can’t do.

• Potential: Not everyone gets to be an astronaut when they grow up.

• Adversity: That which doesn’t kill me postpones the inevitable.

• Perseverance: Do or do not. There is no try.

• Success: Sometimes being full of hot air is all you really need.

• Achievement: You can do anything you set your mind to when you have vision, determination, and an endless supply of expendable labor.

• Irresponsibility: No single raindrop believes it is to be blamed for the flood.

• Blame: The secret to success is knowing who to blame for your failures.

• Change: When the winds of change blow hard enough, the most trivial of things can turn into deadly projectiles.

• Cluelessness: There are no stupid questions. But there are a lot of inquisitive idiots.

• Compromise: Let’s agree to respect each other’s views, no matter how wrong yours may be.

• Despair: It’s always darkest just before it goes pitch black.

• Dysfunction: The only consistent feature of all your dissatisfying relationships is you.

• Indifference: It takes 43 muscles to frown and 17 to smile, but it doesn’t take any to just sit there with a dumb look on your face.

• Limitations: Until you spread your wings, you’ll have no idea how far you can walk.

• Church: Where to turn when Google can’t answer your questions.

• Church of God: There are some questions that can’t be answered by Google.

There you have it—a few examples of joke motivational posters, because getting motivated can be as simple as getting a good laugh much like being inspired by motivational quotes.

As part of her discussion on motivation in her social psychology class, Ms. Walters asked each of her students to write down their favorite motivation quotes on a large cardboard. The students then propped the motivation quote posters on the board and were asked to jot down at least ten of the motivation quotes on a small sheet of paper to be handed out to their loved ones. Here is what one students picks were:

• When you know what you want, and you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way to get it. –Jim Rohn

• I do not try to dance better than anyone else. I only try to dance better than myself. –Mikhail Baryshnikov

• Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among the stars. –Brian Littrell

• Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. –Winston Churchill

• You can’t cross the sea merely by standing and staring at the water. –Rabindranath Tagore

• Failure is not an option.

• If you don’t go after what you want, you’ll never have it. If you don’t ask, the answer is always no. If you don’t step forward, you’re always in the same place. –Nora Roberts

• Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail. –Ralph Waldo Emerson

• To hell with circumstances, I create opportunities. –Bruce Lee

• Do not wait to strike till the iron is hot; but make it hot by striking. –William B. Sprague

Though only a few examples of motivation quotes, these words when inculcated in the heart and mind, and lived with passion and conviction, can undoubtedly get us far. But remember that motivational quotes are just tools to move us to action. And just like a hammer, our choice to use it properly to achieve our goals will make all the difference. For without action, there is no accomplishment.

Which are some of your favorite inspirational quotes?