Persistence

Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success – Napoleon Hill

Persistence is defined by the firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action despite difficulty or opposition. It’s undeniably the one factor that overcomes defeat, pushes people to succeed and conquers those so-called unattainable goals. The ability to keep pushing past barriers, struggles, challenges and overcoming the impossible at times, to accomplish what you want, is a worthy and admirable skill. It’s the single trait that allows people to keep moving forward and not take life’s hard blows lying down. I love reflecting on the examples we know well and some not as much. It’s something to strive towards and remind yourself to keep driving forward and getting up every time we fall and fail.  Here’s some fine example of persistence….in no particular order.

1.    Tiger Woods - History was made the other day with Tiger Woods winning the 2019 Masters tournament. He battled a dreadful unhinging of his personal life, a diminishing golf career and physical injuries to come back on top. After his steady demise he battled back to win his first major in eleven years becoming the 2019 Masters champion.

2.       Diana Nyad – At age 64 and on her 5^th attempt Diane Nyad, conquered the swim from Havana, Cuba to Florida. There were some critics and controversies surrounding her unassisted swim following her accomplishment. Still, you can’t ignore the fact that perseverance drove her to complete the swim on her fifth attempt at age 64! Thirty-five years after her first attempt at this feat at age 29 in 1978, it’s nothing but impressive. 

3.       Michael Jordon – “I have failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed.” It wasn’t everything but net for Michael Jordon who failed to make his high school basketball team. Not making the team was devastating but it pushed him to keep working harder and to keep persevering. It’s common knowledge how impressive of a career he had in basketball and by far one of the greatest athletes of our time.

4.       Nelson Mandela – After 27 years in prison, Mandela, did not give up hope or the desire to dismantle apartheid in South Africa. Soon after his release in 1990, he led the efforts to end apartheid. His long and gruelling stint in prison did not deter him from achieving his goal and desire for his nation. He was also befittingly called Madiba, Father of the Nation.

5.       Oprah Winfrey – Born into poverty and surviving a horrific childhood, Oprah persisted and slowly became a pinnacle of success and a magnate in the media. Her never say die attitude and positive thinking still resonates and changes peoples lives daily. Persistence is powerful.

6.       Joanne K Rowling – The author of the Harry Potter series, J K Rowling, was a single mom, who lived on welfare but never gave up her writing. She persisted through hardships, a divorce and depression, writing and mapping out her Harry Potter series wherever and whenever she could. The Harry Potter script was rejected by twelve major publishing houses and a couple years later was picked up by a small publisher who gave Rowling a small advance for the book and published only 1000 copies. The rest as you know is history.

7.       Sylvester Stallone – Trying hard to make a living, Stallone wrote the script for Rocky and wanted to star as the main character. He was rejected and was later offered $350,000 for the rights to the script, with someone else as the lead. He didn’t give in and settled for a much lower price for the script but with him as the star. The famous Rocky would not be the same without the persistence of Stallone.

8.       Alex Honnold – If you haven’t watched Free Solo yet, please do. It highlights the sheer grit, courage and persistence of Alex Honnold. He is the first and only person to free solo El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. His methodical and thoughtful planning along with his persistence of seeing it through despite all the risks involved, helped create one of the greatest athletic feats of our time.

9.       Walt Disney – He failed over and over before he succeeded. Several of his business went bankrupt before, Walt Disney became a mogul in the animation world. He believed in his art form and kept pushing through his failures and challenges. His loving creation Mickey Mouse still entertains and spreads happiness across the world today.

10.   Mahatma Gandhi – Lawyer who then become a political and social activist led the charge of gaining freedom in India. Exposed to racial discrimination in South Africa, Gandhi gradually became a social activist fighting for racial equality and rights in South Africa. Returning to his home country, India, Gandhi became synonymous with freedom and civil rights. His persistent, non-violent, non-cooperation movement helped the eventual independence of India.

Have I left off any other examples of persistence? If so, please do share!

Your Excitement Can Move People to Change!

The only constant and inevitable thing is change. You can be assured that just when things settle down, they will change soon enough. So, don’t get too comfortable!

To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often – Winston Churchill

The last project I completed involved an implementation of a brand-new investment product and a new Customer Relationship Management system. The word around the water cooler was that it was the “project from hell”. There were times mid-project that I too believed it. Murphy certainly poked his head not once, not twice but several times during the 3+ year span of the project. It was essentially a strategic initiative (somehow initiative sounds too light of a word) that summed all the changes that the company had ever gone through and delivered it in one giant swoosh. A new system, new product, new processes, new ways of doing business, new rules and regulations, new project methodology, new project teams and members, some of them lived across the pond...…literally, and did I add, business transformational! There were some bumps along the way. With all of the ups, downs and turnarounds, the new product was eventually delivered, the system was launched, and the people lived! I was the Project Manager of the “Change” stream, which most saw as a chore, an afterthought or a “nice to have”. WHAAATTT!!   

The only way to make sense out of change is to plunge into it, move with it, and join the dance – Alan Watts

People did start to dance eventually. They danced and even sang to the rhythm of change, some holding hands even to the finish line! The venue, the music, the dance steps people followed, were carefully thought out and executed. It started early and was repeated often. The music changed, the steps including the players changed, but, there was always music, there was always a dance and a conductor to lead the group.

To lead significant change, the kind that’s business transformational, one can list several “MUST Dos”. There are books upon books written on how to get people from here to there and in no means am I suggesting my outline of steps below is it or better than what’s out there! Absolutely not!! They were what I observed and felt that worked for me when leading change. I write it in hopes that it will perhaps help you lead change. So, here’s my short list of MUST Dos;

1.

    1. 1111

1.    What will change look like, a.k.a your vision?

 

What will change look like, a.k.a your vision?

I need to envision the beach and the hotel before I even consider taking a vacation there. I am not the backpacker type. I do enjoy my creature comforts and as such, need to envision what it will look like before inertia begins. Added to that, I usually travel with my family and there’s no way of convincing them to come along unless I really believe it. You do have to know what change will look like, what your vision is, so you can paint a picture for your team. Giving them a picture allows them the benefit of envisioning it too.

Create a need and urgency for change!

It would be impossible to move people forward willingly and successfully without defining the why. Unfortunately shoving them forward is NOT an option!! Explain the need and urgency for change and people almost always will follow. Some will even step up and be your change agents who will help you in leading change. There may be several reasons for change; however, staying ALIVE most often is the reason for great and massive change. Make sure you explain that, and it’s clearly understood. Do that successfully, and you will have an eager group ready to help you lead the change.

Get people on board

You need people. You need people on board with you on the train to change. Look for those change agents. They are your hidden gems in getting everyone else excited about change. Most people don’t like change. But you will find a few who don’t like the status quo. They are the ones who thrive on change and chaos. Bring them on board with you first and it will be easier to move everyone else along. Your attitude about change is HUGE. As a change leader, you set the tone for people to follow. If you are hesitant, then no one else will really buy your need for change. Get excited and inspire people into action.

Plan, Do, Check and Act

This is usually applied to quality, but also works when leading change. You must plan how you will execute the transformational change needed. You then execute the change. You check along the way to see if it worked, and then you act on what worked and what didn’t. Do it frequently throughout the process. Change is constant and so is the process of change.

Communicate! Communicate! Communicate!

Do it early and do it often. Be direct! You don’t want your message diluted or misconstrued. Use a variety of methods, media and forums to communicate. Communication is not necessarily a memo, email or presentation. Be creative with your communication. Have events, games, town-halls leading up to change. Keep it exciting. Keep them wanting more.  

 “Be the change that you wish to see in the world.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

Leading change is not easy. You need to live it, believe it, and breathe it, day in and day out. You will need to be a fearless, skilled and strong driver wearing a coat of Teflon. People will need to see the change in you and want to be a part of that change. Your attitude is EVERYTHING!

“Here's to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes. The ones who see things differently. They're not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them. About the only thing you can't do is ignore them. Because they change things. They push the human race forward. And while some may see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.” – Steve Jobs

The quote was inspired by Marianne Williamson’s poem; Our Deepest Fear. Thanks David Hain for the history lesson! If you haven’t read the poem yet, I strongly encourage you to read it.

So, what are your thoughts on leading change? What change leadership methods worked for you? What didn’t? Would love to hear your thoughts and ideas……