Persevering in Business

You should never be short-sighted when it comes to business; you need a long-term approach to growing it.  While your weekly goals are important, it’s also key to recognize that persevering today will pay off down the road.  Having that kind of outlook is a quality others in your industry will recognize, appreciate and admire.  It even builds trust.  Perseverance is powerful.  “It’s more than steady follow-up, it is also belief in yourself and the product or service you provide.”  So how to preserve in business?

Project a positive outcome.  If success was easy to attain, everyone would have it but it’s not – you have to keep moving forward through the challenges and tough times and I can guarantee you that you will face them as you start a new venture.  Your efforts matter.  “Often smart, talented, hard-working people give up too soon and embrace failure, while not so talented or hardworking people have become successful simply because they kept going.”  There’s a difference between these two groups:  the first lacks patience and commitment while the second believe in themselves and their potential.  They understand that dreams don’t just come true overnight.  You have to work hard to achieve them.  If you keep working, you’ll eventually reach your goal.

Ask and then ask again.  Sometimes perseverance means doing what you need to do to get what you want even when other people are telling you that you can’t have it.  If a client or customer says no to you, try again.  Follow up and follow through.  Don’t give up on them.  Give them a second chance to see why they should indeed take a chance on you.  That is the true definition of perseverance.

Follow up when you say you will or in essence, follow up on time.  If you say you’re going to do something on a certain day at a certain time, do it!  People appreciate perseverance and it makes them feel important and makes you appear to be responsible and in control of your own destiny.  By following through on your promises, you make a long lasting impression that breeds trust and gives your clients and customers a sense that they can depend on you.

Consider all different approaches.  If you feel you are not making progress one way, try it a different way.  For example, if you’re trying to book an appointment with someone and they keep shrugging you off, try inviting them to something else like a lecture you’re giving or send them news-worthy information so that they’ll keep you fresh in their minds.

Give extra attention.  Clients and customers love to know that they come first.  Send them an email or card once in a while.  Invite them to networking events.  Persevere by showing them you want their business at any cost.

Don’t be discouraged by setbacks.  Don’t sit around and dwell on what didn’t happen; go out and make something new happen.  “An object in motion stays in motion and an object at rest stays at rest.”  If you spend all your time thinking about what you could have done differently, then you are just wasting your time.  Think about ways to do things differently.  Isn’t that what perseverance is all about?

“Remember that [your] agenda is not everyone else’s priority.”  Clients and customers might not be as responsive as you’d like or return phone calls or emails right away.  Sometimes they need time to make decisions and give them that time but don’t give up on them.  If you’re persistent, though, in the end, you’ll get their attention, their respect and eventually they’re business.  “The power of perseverance will make you as successful as [you] want to be!”

Here are some articles you might want to check out about persevering in business:

“How to Build Perseverance in Business”: http://www.ehow.com/how_12098213_build-perseverance-business.html

“Persevere If You Want to Succeed in Business”: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/edmunds/2011-05-11-perseverance_n.htm

“Harness the Power of Perseverance to Unlock the Door to Success”: http://www.resiliencyfirst.com/2012/09/04/harness-the-power-of-perseverance-to-unlock-the-door-to-success/

“Entrepreneurs Persevere: There are No Overnight Successes”: http://under30ceo.com/entrepreneurs-persevere-there-are-no-overnight-successes/

Until next time…