“Always ride out as if meeting your nemesis”

I have it engraved on a dog tag around my neck. It’s a poncey way of saying ‘always make sure your hair looks boss in case you run into a bitch/ex-boyfriend’.

“Follow your heart”

It can be hard to hear the whispers of the universe with so many opinions floating around you.

“Do not seek happiness in the place where you lost it”

Sometimes I spend more time trying to win over those who don’t like me than appreciating those who do.

“Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional’’

This is from Haruki Murakami. You can control whether you dive into anguish or accept the pain.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better”

This Maya Angelou quote means a lot to me. There is no point comparing yourself to others, nor beating yourself up over mistakes. You can only do what is best for you with the tools you have.

“The extra mile is all between your ears”

My coach gave me a T-shirt with this on and it struck a chord with me. Having your head in the right place makes all the difference.

“To shine, be yourself and follow your own intuition”

This was inspired by a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote. Trying to second guess success will never work. What works is forging a path that you believe in.

“Trust your gut instinct”

If I have ever had doubts about something my gut told me not to do, 99% of the time it was spot on. Also, “Success is no accident”. I worked hard to get where I am. - Nic (right)

“It’s not enough to be pretty. You need to be more than that”

This advice from my mum changed my life. My mum was encouraging me not to trade on looks. Since then, I’ve always been open to learning new skills. - Sam (left)

“Everyone is doing the best they can with the information they have at the time”

No-one wakes up and thinks, ‘I’m going to be a real plonker today!’ Everyone is doing their best – and we’re all a work in progress.

“Keep your head up”

Someone once told me to be proud of myself and that under-confidence was a waste of time, when we’re all on the path of discovery.

‘‘Keep on keeping on”

I owe a great deal to Miss Florence D Firth who taught me speech and drama. At the end of each lesson she’d say this. If you’re upset or not feeling well, it’s the only mantra to live by!

“Man cannot discover new oceans unless he first has the courage to lose sight of the shore”

This is a quote by André Gide and I think of it as I’m building Jo Loves.

“Have courage and be kind”

I have this Cinderella quote framed on my wall. I love how simple yet important it is. It’s a daily reminder to work hard, make brave choices, and be kind and understanding to people I meet.

“To find the respect of others, you need to respect yourself”

Respect does not come as a gift, it has to be earned. Don’t let others decide for you, become the owner of your decisions and take responsibility for them.

“We are food”

Our bodies are made up of the food we eat. If we kept this in mind, the world would be a very different place.

“Haters gonna hate”

It’s not very original, but wholly applicable to exposing your persona online and being open to abuse.

“Carpe diem”

My athletics coach told me to seize the day when I was 13 and when I look back at my route into rowing that is definitely what I did. It’s great advice no matter what you do.

“It’s a chapter for the book”

When things don’t go to plan, I think of it as a chapter in my book, it’s a moment that made me who I am. - Laura (left)

“Everything’s better after a good night’s sleep”

Switching off at night is a secret weapon. In the morning, you’re in a more positive headspace. - Alice (right)

“Trust your instincts”

When you trust yourself, you know that if you were in the same situation again you’d do the same thing, so you can be more at peace with the outcome. Back yourself.

“Don’t worry about things you can’t control”

I can’t control how fast others ride. All I can affect is how fast I ride. And with my alopecia, I can’t control if my hair grows, so I focus on wigs and make-up instead.

“People only treat you the way you allow them to”

In my youth I didn’t want to rock the boat and be disliked. Now I realise this doesn’t serve you well. It takes courage to stand up for what you believe.

“Never argue with an idiot, otherwise people won’t know which one of you is the idiot”

Unreasonable people cannot be reasoned with. And by engaging with an idiot, you have no hope of resolution, so don’t bother. Trust me, it’s the best.

“All the world’s a stage”

I find this quote from Shakespeare a good antidote to impostor syndrome, and think of it every time I do a speaking event.