Prepare to Fail: Why Perseverance in Business is Important

The definition on what it means to be successful will vary depending on who you ask; however, their means to get there will likely be similar. If you are starting a business or a new venture, regardless of how much preparation you make, there will be times that you face obstacles that appear too big to hurdle. There will also be times that you fall short on your goals. We’re only human, that’s totally normal. What defines you aren’t the issues you face but how you respond to them. As Winston Churchill once said:

“The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity / The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.”

Different words to a similar effect were also spoken by Muhammad Ali, who was quoted saying:

“I hated every minute of training, but I said to myself, ‘Don’t quit, suffer now, and live the rest of your life as a champion’”.

The common theme between these attitudes is perseverance, which has subsequently been adopted as the mantra for the business world. Success is not a straight line, it’s a muddied road with multiple routes and directions open to interpretation. These roads do lead to success but getting there is on the person travelling, who needs to be able to persevere on their journey.

What is Perseverance?

Specifically, it is defined as:

“Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.”

It is the foundation upon which success stories are built. One of the best things about it too is that anyone, so long as their will is strong enough, is able to achieve it.

It doesn’t matter how good your idea is, how talented you are and what your goal is, the chances of reaching your full potential depends entirely on how much you are willing to persist whilst pursuing it. If you truly want something but quit in the process of trying to achieve it, you will never fully know if it would have worked for you or not.

If you wish to champion perseverance, you will need to meet every obstacle that you’re faced with head on, no matter how daunting a notion that may be.

Tips For Perseverance

As previously stated, perseverance is not something that requires a degree or any kind of higher education. This can be construed as both a negative and positive depending on your perception. It is a positive in that anyone can do it. It is a negative in that there is no starting point when it comes to mastering it. As such, below are some top tips to get you on your way to harnessing perseverance in order to be successful.

- Clarify what your goals are

Based on your purpose, needs, ability, vision and business, specify what you want to achieve so that your time can be dedicated focusing on that.

- Intend on achieving your goal

It’s not enough to simply understand what your goals are but you need to know how you are going to achieve them. Map out marketing strategies, contacts you’d like to make, projections, all of this will be critical in securing your success.

- Don’t be afraid to ask for help

An attribute of some of the most successful people is that they know when to ask for help. This assistance can come from many people, be it colleagues, investors or business advisors, either way, their experience when applied to your situation will be valuable advice.

- Be sure to maintain optimism

Don’t look at every obstacle as an obstacle. See it as an opportunity either to prove yourself or learn from it. Also, keep a diary of good experiences to reflect on when you’re having a bad day.

- Acknowledge your accomplishments

By taking note of things that go well and remembering them, you won’t be as deterred when you do something wrong. Good experiences are key to perseverance.

- Care for your mind, body and spirit

Take up mindfulness in order to reduce stress and anxiety. A period of self-reflection will allow you to look through any looming obstacles that may be on the horizon and eventually push through them.

Conclusion

Perseverance is one of the most crucial components when it comes to success; however, knowing you should never give up and never giving up are too different things and putting it into practice comes easier for some than others. The most important thing is to focus on yourself, take your time with things and if something goes wrong then don’t worry about it, just evaluate what has happened, learn from it and go again. And repeat.