Persistence is Key to Building a Business
Entrepreneurship is a tough road, and too often very talented people end up discouraged when failure inevitably knocks at their door. If you’re just now getting started on your path to entrepreneurship, do yourself a favor and come to terms with the idea that things won’t always go perfectly. That’s not to say you should live in fear of the future, but rather with an awareness that it will come. When failure does come your way, there is one thing that will help you to continue moving forward: persistence. Like many other skills, persistence is a muscle that you build over time and with experience, here are some tips that will help.
Question your “no’s”
Whether you’re an entrepreneur or not, getting used to hearing the word no is simply an inevitability in this life. As a kid you hear “no you may not play with that,” which turns into “no you may not go out on a school night” in your teen years, and eventually turns into “no, you can’t have that job” or that house, or take that trip, you can fill in the blanks for yourself. And while there are some unavoidable “no’s,” they’re not all your destiny. An important skill to learn when becoming an entrepreneur is to constantly question your “nos.” Every great invention or advancement in technology was started by someone who once heard “no.” So next time someone tells you that what you want isn’t possible, listen to them with a critical ear. Is this the right moment to exercise persistence?
Surround yourself with positivity
The skill of persistence is developed over time, and like any other skill, the more you do it the easier it is. But getting started is sometimes the hard part. To be honest, I think some people come by it naturally, but that isn't the case for everyone. One way to boost your persistence quota is to surround yourself with positive people who believe in you and your dreams. We tend to mirror the people we spend a majority of our time with, so if you want to be positive, confident, and motivated you should surround yourself with people who exude those qualities.
Set yourself up for success
The act of persistence takes energy and preparation. Without a plan “B” you’ll fall flat each time something doesn't workout in your favor. Take care of yourself. Eat foods that nourish your body, stay hydrated, exercise regularly, and get enough sleep. Be prepared and energized to take the next best step when plan “A” falls through. At the end of the day, persistence is worthless if not paired with preparation.
No one wants to think about failure, but it is inevitable when you are building a business. Something, probably many things, will eventually go wrong and require you to push beyond what you thought you could do to ensure your dream moves forward. Persistence is a skill that is built and honed over time, and persistence combined with passion, preparation, and a good idea are the building blocks to a successful business. Do you need support as you build upon your dreams? Give us a call!
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