#3: Perseverance, Tenacity and Determination

Perseverance, tenacity and determination are essential qualities if you’re considering starting up your own business.

I thought I’d share a couple of stories with you. You can find more like these in From Crew to Captain but they give you the gist of just how important it is to persevere when starting up your own business.

I am a big fan of golf, and I remember hearing a story which concerns Gary Player. Gary Player was at his peak the same time as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. They were the big three at the time and they won many of the main trophies between them. Gary won one particular tournament and in the post tournament interview with the media one of the journalists was brave enough to say to him “do you think lady luck was on your side today?”. The answer, reportedly, was: “It is a really funny thing but the more I practice the luckier I get”. I generally believe it is true – the more you work at something, the luckier you get and things break for you, so perseverance and tenacity are really important.

Pablo Casals was arguably the greatest concert cellist the world had ever seen and I remember hearing him being interviewed in the 1970’s. He was asked: “you are in your 80’s and you are acknowledged as the world’s greatest concert cellist, but rumour has it you still practice for 8 hours a day; why do you put yourself through this?”. His answer: “I keep getting better”. What an unbelievable attitude from somebody in their 80’s who has not got to prove anything to anyone. I see people out there, day in day out, who have that kind of drive. People who have that level of determination, provided they have an idea that makes sense, are going to make things happen.

There are more stories and personal testimonies in From Crew to Captain .