When first starting as an entrepreneur I had a somewhat rose tinted view of what it would be like and an expectation that everything would follow a nice, neat linear process.
However, I soon realised that growth is anything but linear. In fact, it became clear that when working towards your goals, there are inevitably going to be obstacles and hurdles that come up along the way and make you question what you’re doing.
After all, entrepreneurship is not easy. If it was, everyone would be doing it.
Those days inevitably arise where you feel like nothing is going your way. Where you question your sanity and wonder if it’s all going to be worth it in the end. When you wonder whether you should just take the safe route and go get a job BUT persistence is the one thing that will determine success or failure.
Even the biggest names and brands in business had to go through tough times or had days where they were tested. And most likely even months and years.
But, when you set your mind to accomplish your dreams, set your focus in that direction and pursue it with passion, purpose and persistence and come back from every challenge with increased resilience and determination, THAT’S when the magic happens.
You don’t have to look far to see the fruits of persistence and they are around us even in our daily lives:
- Coca Cola sold just 25 bottles in their first year but now turnover £170 billion plus.
- Thomas Edison had 11,000 failed attempts before he invented the electric light bulb. His famous quote “I haven’t failed, I’ve just found 10,000 ways that didn’t work” is spine tingling in its persistence.
- JK Rowling was rejected countless times including someone who said she should join a writing class and shouldn’t give up her day job. She’s sold millions of copies in multiple countries and inspired a whole generation of children (and adults).
- James Dyson spent 5 years and 5127 prototypes almost became bankrupt whilst inventing the world’s first bag-less vacuum cleaner. He is now a billionaire and his products changed the industry.
You don’t have to be a James Dyson, Thomas, Edison or a JK Rowling but you can be the version of YOU that doesn’t give up that easily.
That decides to get back up. That decides to refine, improve and go again. That sees all failure as feedback. And that sees persistence as the key to anything worth having.
And whilst, it’s true that growth and entrepreneurship are anything but linear, there are so many irreplaceable learnings that arise from the process that linear just couldn’t deliver.
Where will you channel Edison level persistence today?