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	Monthly Business e-Tips	Vol 2 Issue 7

Persistence Persistence Persistence

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all. – Dale Carnegie

A fundamental characteristic necessary to run a successful business is persistence. There are many times when it is easy to give up. Whether you are tempted to quit on a business slow to take off or an idea that is not quite ready to set the world on fire, stick-to-itiveness is in order. If you believe in something, hang on for dear life. Weathering bumps in the road is par for the course.

Being persistent does not mean being stubborn or ignoring significant issues. It may be necessary to take a different path rather than continue to do the same things the same way. That distinction is important. You can rework what you are trying to accomplish and deal with obstacles in other ways.

Our culture honors persistence. Jack Canfield, author of the Chicken Soup series of books, revealed that his first book was rejected by 114 publishing companies. He found a small publisher and accepted different terms than he first anticipated. He had to adjust his expectations but he did not give up; he persisted. There have been 37 books in the series published so far. Look who is having the last laugh!

After Sylvester Stallone wrote the first Rocky script, it was rejected by all the major studios. Stallone believed so much in his movie he mortgaged his home and borrowed money from family and friends. Even though he had no prior experience, he became the film's producer and director. The movie's message of determination and tenacity mirrored Stallone's struggle to make the film. The Rocky movies made Stallone a respected and successful force in Hollywood.

In your business, there may be many roadblocks to success. Here are some areas where it is smart to stay on track:

• Living your dream. Ignore the naysayers. So many people have been afraid to go after what is most important to them. Don't make that mistake.
• Getting financing. Look at a variety of funding sources such as bank loans, family and friends, venture capitalists and strategic partners. Take advice from people who review your business plan. Alter your message or projections when necessary but keep going.
• Fighting for your beliefs. If you sincerely have faith your product or services can satisfy business or personal needs, test and prove it within your target markets.
• Working for that big sale. Experts say that it takes getting a "no" at least six times before you get to "yes." If you want to acquire that strategic customer, continue trying despite early rejections.
• Hiring the superstar. Keep trying to hire that person who is bound to make a big difference in your organization. Top people are sought after by many companies. Though important, money isn't everything. Often the working environment and small perks can mean a lot. Find out what is important to that hire outside of salary and keep upping the ante.

Persistence will get you what you want. We all get discouraged but picking yourself up and turning your disappointment around is what persistence is all about. Stay focused, reach for the stars and continue moving forward.

Never, never, never, never give up. – Winston Churchill