Leadership Principle #19 – The Real Recipe for Success: Perseverance
Life is a journey, not a destination. This is a phrase that we’ve heard before, and this also applies to success. Success is a lifelong journey, not one single endpoint or destination, and - spoiler alert – no one promised this path would be easy. The road is inherently filled with landmines and challenges, and you are going to hit some big bumps along the way. It’s tempting to believe that if you have the right skills, intelligence or talent that you can avoid the roadblocks and sail smoothly along the path to success. I’m here to tell you that things don’t work that way, and if your goals/dreams are big enough, you will face challenges that are bigger and harder than you ever expected.
So if skills, intelligence, raw talent or even the right strategy can’t protect you from career pitfalls, what then is the one key ingredient that determines if you fail or succeed? Quite simply, perseverance, or the ability to get back on your feet after taking a hit is the single most important ingredient for long-term success. Not only does your ability to get back up after you have been repeatedly knocked down allow you to keep making progress towards your goals, it also speaks volumes about your character, strength and courage as a leader.
Once you understand that you will hit obstacles, you can start to anticipate them which helps you deal with disappointment. This is an important mindset shift because if you are expecting roadblocks you won’t be blind-sided by the obstacles and the inevitable feelings of discouragement. By anticipating challenges, the roadblocks won’t stop you in your tracks or cause you to lose hope and give up. This isn’t about being the smartest – this is about persevering. Many times, the winner isn’t the best at any given activity, but they are simply the only one who refused to give up. Perseverance is the superpower that allows you to view a challenge as just another bump in the road and keeping moving.
Even with the best mindset, challenges along the path to success can drain your energy if you don’t keep all elements of your life in balance, including your career, health, activity, faith, family, and friend commitments. This journey is a marathon, not a sprint, so you need to manage all aspects of your life in order to be the best leader you can be. Prioritizing a balanced life built upon a solid foundation will help you in times of real crisis.
Don’t expect this journey to be easy because it won’t be. And that’s OK. But the journey doesn’t have to be constantly exhausting or demoralizing. And you don’t have to do it alone. The right mindset and support system will help you meet those challenges head-on so you can pick yourself up and keep going, time after time. I speak from experience when I say that perseverance will be the real key to long-term success in your career.
I encourage my clients to look at their own support system and ask who is helping them, holding them accountable and even giving a kick in the pants when it’s needed? If you need a CEO coach in your corner, helping you to anticipate and handle challenges, contact me today for a conversation.