Tenacity

by Reed Nyffeler

On a recent trip, I purchased a magazine about what it takes to be successful in business. The topic for the quarter in this magazine was "Tenacity." As I read the stories, I thought about this word. I agree that it is the perfect superlative to describe what it takes to be successful in business and in life.

Invariably, as I talk with business owners, watch the show CNBC Titans, or do business research, I see that every single business person has had or is approaching a potential pitfall, roadblock, or unpaved terrain. When they reach the threshold of this decision, this is where they have only one resource they must "decide" to use. This is their tenacity.

Tenacity is never giving up. It means pushing through when you are too tired, think you are overmatched or don't think you can muster the physical, mental or emotional strength to put one more foot in front of the other. Tenacity is what wakes you up in the morning after a late night of patrols to go out and face the next day with a fresh and energetic face. Tenacity is what picks you up after a major set-back.

One of my few leisure activities is watching adventure reality television. Currently, there is a reality show called "Expedition Impossible" where teams of three people complete difficult adventure tasks. They are then eliminated one by one as they finish last in each segment.

One of the teams has a man that is completely blind. This man has two others on his team that help him to complete every single task. This man, "Eric," has climbed Mount Everest and along the way fought every personal battle with extreme tenacity.

On a recent episode, the teams were forced to jump off of a 30 foot waterfall into a river and then hop into a one-person kayak and go down the rapids for four miles. As I watched the show, I saw cops, firefighters and even fishermen struggling to complete this task. Yet here is a tenacious blind man jumping into a river, off of a cliff, and paddling down the raging rapids with his feet out on either side of his kayak to catch any rock before his head does.

I am simply amazed at the tenacity that this guy has. He made up his mind that regardless of the obstacle seen or unseen (in his case) it does not matter. He is going to give it all that he has got and then some. He battles very rocky and slippery terrain to finish in the top nearly every leg. He pulls his weight and does not back down from any challenge presented before him.

If we look at ourselves and our businesses and approach them with the same tenacity, the results of our effort will be more than we ever would have imagined. Wake up each morning with the tenacity it takes to make yourself the success you are destined to be.

Reed Nyffeler
CEO
Signal 88 Security

Learn more about Signal 88 at topfranchises.franchisebusinessreview.com.
 

Log in to leave a comment. If you're not an FBR member yet, click here.
Email:
Password:
	Keep me logged in
Comment:

You must register to post a comment. Registration is quick & easy. If you are already an FBR member, click here.
First Name:
Last Name:
Email:
Password:
Confirm Password:
Receive updates, notifications and special offers from Franchise Business Review
Comment:
Verification:	[ New Image ]