Kamyar Adl / Foter / CC BY

Let It Snow!

It is 1976 in Dublin, California.  The Big Snow.  I’m walking home from Murray Elementary School.  Snow on the ground.  Several inches.  Which for Dublin and Northern California in general (other than in the upper hills) is unheard of.

So as I’m walking home across the field, and decide to roll up a snowball.  It is pea size as I start.  I keep rolling it.  Over and over along the ground.

Soon it is the size of a softball.  Rolling and rolling.  Now halfway across the field.  Getting bigger and bigger.

Now as big as a bowling ball.  Almost to the street outside the school property.  Now half as tall as me.  Hardly able to push the ball over.  Snowman size.  Success!

So what does this have to do with you?

Today’s post is about business success…or any success…

…and the power of persistence.

Like my little snowball becoming a giant one, business and personal success both happen when you take ongoing and persistent action UNTIL you SUCCEED.

I was reminded of that recently by a few things that demonstrated this principle.

“Donald Trump Phenomenon”

Everyone thought Donald Trump’s presidential prospects were a flash-in-the-pan.  But he kept pressing forward.  Selling a grand vision, “Make America Great Again”, fighting back against establishment orthodoxy, and using language that disenfranchised voters love.  And now with his accepting “The Pledge” to support the eventual Republican Nominee, he has become a viable and formidable candidate.

He could have easily bowed out under the pressure. But his “just-win” attitude and persistence, honed through thousands of negotiations (with developers, public officials, unions, lenders, etc.) and financial hardship, provided him the internal evidence that persistence pays off.

New Business Launch Success

Another situation was a client of mine who has recently launched a new business and has just seen crazy exciting growth in a short period of time.

Now this isn’t all about what has just been happening.  But it is also about the groundwork laid over decades of relationship-building and overcoming both business and personal challenges that could have easily derailed this success.

And persistence and continually pushing towards the vision of what could be created made it possible to see that level of success today.

Struggling Artist Breaks Through

And there was the artist.  Overcoming doubts and personal demons.  And through it all continuing to write, paint, and push through the obstacles in the way.  And like magic, after years of hard work and persistence, the art work is now being recognized and purchased – something that was never even thought possible at the beginning.  When it was just an idea and a form of therapy.

But through the power of persistence, has become reality.

More than a Job – Passionate Persistence

Another friend has a vision for a department that is a true passion for her.  And yet there are roadblocks in the way that have prevented her from moving that vision forward.

But through persistence, some of the obstacles have been cleared.  And she can once again push forward with her pursuit of that vision.

And with that, her energy and personal power (of pursuing and plan with purpose and persistence) have shot through the roof.

Will she reach her goal?  Only time will tell.  But I have no doubt she will achieve her vision.  Whether it is as it is currently thought or in another form.

My 50th Blog Post

And even in my work here on this blog.  This is my 50th blog post.  I never would have guessed that I’d be writing #50 when I first started.  I had done a blog years ago and only reached about half that number before personal challenges derailed things.

But what I learned in writing that first blog.  And the business building and marketing lessons learned and tested since.  Have made this blog a joy to write and I’m excited to see where it goes next.

In addition, building a business that is tied to many of the principles, lessons, and ideas reflected here has helped provide the meaning and practical application to overcome the periods where it might be a struggle to write the next post.

What Vision Are You Pursuing?

So what are you pursuing in your own personal or business journey?  What challenges are you now facing that seem like Mt. Everest but could be tackled and overcome one step at a time?

What’s your personal snowball in the making?