Persistence

Of all the things I look for in my staff, persistence is top of the list.

It doesn’t matter how good you are at what you do, how smart you, or talented, if you give up at the first sign of trouble.

Persistence is what makes us keep getting back up each time we get knocked down, and keep on going until we are successful.

Persistence is a skill multiplier.  I have seen people with lessor ability outperform more skilful people, just because of persistence, and there are many tails of people who ultimately had success after many failures or rejections because of their persistence.

One of the best selling authors of all time JK Rowling, she was rejected by a dozen publishers, including biggies like Penguin and HarperCollins.  But she persisted and eventually, a small London publisher decided to publish her, and the rest, as they say, is history.

In sports there are so many tales of persistence seeing people overcome great challenges, such as Liverpool coming from 3 goals down to eventually draw level with AC Milan, before beating them on penalties to win the Champions League Final.

I am not sure if persistence is something you can learn, or whether it’s just something you are born with. I just know I have it, and I know how valuable it is.

If you can develop it, then I would fully recommend it.

Gordon Tredgold

Leadership Principles