Business isn’t easy, and hard work is one of the most valuable skills you can have in this industry. But that’s not all you need. You also need a huge dose of perseverance to keep you going when the egg keeps on flying in your face and everything you do seems to fail – because that sucks, and is powerful kryptonite when it comes to your resilience, determination, and ability to just keep going.
In other words, that’s when you really need to pull up on those wells of perseverance to keep going no matter what. Of course, that’s easier said than done – but it’s also why this ingredient is one of the most critical flavorings in the soup of business.
Simply put, you need the ability to overcome challenges and keep on moving. Setbacks are a part and parcel of this industry, and you need to be able to rise to meet the challenge. The good news is that this isn’t something that you are necessarily born with, and it is a trait that you can learn with practice.
My view is that it is best to build on your perseverance with constant practice, so that when you truly need it, you can call on it. This won’t just make your journey to the top easier, it’ll also help you to weather all the storms that the world has to throw at you a whole lot better.
First off, just practice for ten minutes every day. You might not think you have anything particularly challenging right now, but take a task that you need to get done, and you’re kinda “meh” about. You know, that one. Pick that one. Now, you’re going to commit to work on that every day for at least 10 minutes until its done.
You can take a break once a week – it’s good for the soul – but you must get back on the horse after. The point of this is that you’re taking a necessary task that you don’t like, and you’re moving forward with it every day. You’re building up your perseverance when it comes to tackling stuff that you’d rather just leave in the to-do pile. Plus, when you’ve done it, it will feel good. You know that, too! Work towards that good feeling.
This brings us to the second point – developing your dream. Before you take on any project and get the goals outlines, imagine how awesome you’re going to feel when its done. Just imagine the jubilation, the success, the price, the feeling of gratification and fulfillment. Go through each stage of the pain to get there and visualize your feelings then, and then radiate with that feeling of achievement. This step is all about giving you the broader feelings associated with the project from start to completion.
Finally, be optimistic and work on cultivating it. Optimists tend to fare better, simply because they move forward even when life gives them a triple whammy of things to throw most of us into abject despair.
The key to your perseverance lies in your ability to give yourself these mental pep-talks and enjoy a more optimistic frame of mind no matter what – and also keeps you moving towards your goals. That’s all perseverance is, and it can be yours if you keep practicing it. Fake it till you make it? Sure, but this is one skill that can’t be undervalued!