Perseverance, Do You Have It?

Perseverance is the fuel that drives us toward success, propelling us forward when faced with challenges, setbacks, and failures. It is the quality that distinguishes those who achieve their goals from those who give up at the first sign of difficulty. In this blog post, we will explore three essential elements of perseverance: getting back up, embracing the philosophy of "fail forward fast," and cultivating grit. These concepts will inspire and empower you to overcome obstacles and forge ahead on your journey to success.

Getting Back Up: Life is not without its share of falls and stumbles. What sets resilient individuals apart is their ability to bounce back after experiencing failure or disappointment. When faced with adversity, it's crucial to view setbacks as stepping stones rather than roadblocks. Instead of dwelling on failure, ask yourself what lessons can be learned and how you can use those lessons to improve and move forward. Remember, success is not measured by the number of times you fall, but by how many times you rise again.

Fail Forward Fast: "Failing forward fast" is a mindset that emphasizes the importance of embracing failure as a necessary part of the journey toward success. It encourages us to learn from our mistakes, adapt quickly, and keep moving forward. Rather than being discouraged by failure, view it as an opportunity for growth and learning. Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb, famously said, "I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work." This mindset enabled him to persist through countless failures and ultimately achieve his groundbreaking invention. Embrace failure as a valuable teacher, and let it guide you toward success.

Cultivating Grit: Grit, a term popularized by psychologist Angela Duckworth, refers to the combination of passion, perseverance, and resilience. It is the unwavering commitment to long-term goals, even when faced with obstacles and setbacks. Gritty individuals possess a strong work ethic, tenacity, and the ability to stay focused in the face of adversity. They understand that success is not instantaneous; it is the result of sustained effort and determination. Cultivating grit involves setting clear goals, developing a growth mindset, and building resilience through consistent practice and self-discipline. When you encounter challenges, remind yourself of the bigger picture and stay committed to your vision.

Perseverance is a powerful force that can propel us beyond our limitations and lead us to accomplish extraordinary things. By embodying the qualities of getting back up, failing forward fast, and cultivating grit, you can harness the strength to overcome any obstacle on your path to success. Remember that setbacks are not permanent roadblocks, but rather opportunities for growth and improvement. Stay resilient, keep learning from failures, and maintain unwavering focus on your goals. Embrace the journey of perseverance, and watch as it transforms your life and paves the way for incredible achievements.

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with the best customers and top employees.    How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  How can we land and keep top talent in our organization with the salary wars.  Kevin teaches your sales and leadership teams how to build the key ingredient to be successful with their relationships and take your goals to the next level with high levels of engagement.

Kevin’s website: www.kevinsidebottom.com

Kevin’s email: kevin@kevinsidebottom.com

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Why You Need The Three F's

When I am on stage speaking, I bring the audience in to where I began in sales.  I was working for a 6-foot 5-inch ex-Navy Seal.  He was a successful driven business leader.  He was intense and was always moving forward.  He also flipped my thought process upside down.

Growing up in my blue-collar family it was always pressed to do my best and do it perfect.  I am also a “one” on the Enneagram so I naturally trying to make things better and as close to perfect as possible.  I was devastated when I got into college and my best would however only generate B’s and C’s.  Highschool was easy to obtain A’s, but college was a whole different ball game.

I was failing to get A’s and I was pissed off and angry throughout college.  I graduated with an electrical engineering degree and had a great job right out of college, but I always looked back that I was not perfect in college.  It left a feeling that I was not good enough back then.

In reality no one is totally perfect.  We all have flaws.  No one can do everything perfect the first time either.  What we do is Fail Forward Fast.  Fail Forward Fast is a phrase that navy seal operators use quite often in training.

Navy seals as I was taught by my mentor are okay with set-backs.  Fail Forward Fast works like this.  Apply action -> review -> apply action for a constant loop for improvement of whatever the situation is.  Failure is not about making a mistake; failure is giving up. 

It’s okay to have a set back and learn from it so that when you are attacking the same activity the next time you move through it more efficiently.  The cool part is that the action does not have to be a massive game changer.  It is small incremental adjustments as you go through the loop.  

Another benefit from this small action is that doubt is eliminated through action.  Figuring out the next small step will keep doubt from tackling us from behind and stopping us from moving forward in our process.  How awesome is that!  A small step of action puts doubt on its butt and allows us to move forward.

Do you remember riding a bike without training wheels for the first time?  Most of us as children would fall, get back on the bike and moved a little farther, fall again, get back on the bike and moved farther and farther each time until we were riding the bike without assistance from anyone.  It took a progression and learning how to balance while pedaling and occasionally stopping before running into something.  It is rare for someone to just jump on a bike for the first time and get it perfect. 

I love the Fail Forward Fast because when I am working on a project and the “Have to be perfect” phase pops in my head, and I am able to remind myself that it is okay.  Sometimes I also find out that the desired outcome that I had was not the one I needed to be shooting for.  I am able to pivot towards the better desired outcome instead of coming to the end of the experience and learning that I am nowhere near where I truly need to be.

Fail Forward Fast is essential in all growth and I have applied it to my life so that I can keep going when tough times happen.  Sometimes we just need to focus on one small step at a time to keep moving forward instead of looking at the long path that is ahead of us. 

I hope this blog is helpful to you.  If it is, please leave a comment below of how this or another blog post has helped you!

Have a great week!

“Businesses wonder why it is still hard to be thought of as the brand of choice with customers.  How can our business make more profitable transactions and stay out of the commodity battle with low profits?  I equip your sales team to walk with the customer through the five buying decisions, and in the correct order to generate explosive revenues with greater profits!”

www.kevinsidebottom.com

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https://www.amazon.com/Sales-Process-Uncovered-Success-Influence/dp/0578421518 - Book

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/5AF12 - Sales Process Uncovered Online Training

https://kevinsidebottom.kartra.com/page/68N10 - Trustworthy Online Training