Monthly Archives: February 2011

Tenacity – A Rule of Engagement

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Tenacity – A Rule of Engagement

As I watched Andy Murray and Novak Djokovic play for the title of the Australian Opens 2011. One thing that struck me about both men was the ability to keep their eyes on the ball (literarily) amongst all the pressure.  I watched how they played with such ferociousness, there was a goal and no-one was letting it out of their sight. Sadly there can only be one winner!

It made me think about myself and I questioned if I am pushing enough for the goals I want to accomplish in life. I asked myself am I tenacious enough to make things happen for me?

Whether we are self-employed, employed or doing whatever we do, if we want to succeed in life, one thing we need is TENACITY. 

Synonyms of TENACITY: Obstinacy, Resolve, Firmness, Persistence, Insistence, Doggedness, Drive or Stubbornness.

10 Reasons why you need Tenacity:

  1. Tenacity is what wakes you up in the morning and challenges you to accomplish more than you did yesterday.
  2. Tenacity is what keeps you going when things around you say “You Can’t, You Can’t”
  3. Tenacity is what gives you the confidence to sell your vision to others and make them believe you have something worthwhile to offer.
  4. Tenacity is what keeps you holding on to your dreams when circumstances and situations want you draw you back.
  5. Tenacity is what helps you look at things from another perspective when your previous idea did not work out.
  6. Tenacity is what allows you to imbibe constructive criticism and not see it as a tool to bring you down.
  7. Tenacity mixed with integrity makes you open to alliance, assistance and whatever will help you accomplish your goal.
  8. Tenacity makes you carry out adequate research, cross-check your facts and seek advice from those who are able and qualified to assist you.
  9. Tenacity is the force that propels your dreams, your ideas, your concept or your vision.
  10. Tenacity can lift you out of mediocrity and put you where you want to be in life.

I tend to look at things more from a business perspective and I know for every business idea there will be obstacles to overcome.  Once you can establish that your concept is a viable idea and not some wishful thinking, give it everything you’ve got to make it work. 

The people that excel in life never give up after the first hurdle; they just keep going, evaluating and evolving along the way.

Check out www.businessideabooster.com and www.businessfirststeps.co.uk for more information and tools to help you with your business idea.

I wish you great success. 

Temi.

 

My Business in a Parking Space

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Identify the Markings

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        About a week ago, I found myself in the parking lot of one of the main supermarkets.  I needed a few groceries and just wanted to dash in and out with minimal fuss.  I decided to park my car next to a Taxi.  Normally I will use the car park markings as my guide as I do not like to obstruct another person’s parking space.  But this time in my haste I decided to use the Taxi next to my car as my parking guide.  I ensured my car was parked parallel to the Taxi.  Our front was well aligned with each other, so was our mirrors and everything else.  Feeling satisfied I got out of the car and burst out laughing.                                

 

Errors all in a Row

Why was I laughing so much in a parking lot all by myself?  I bet a few people who saw me thought it was a bit early in the day to be that high! Anyway I discovered that the Taxi was overlapping the parking space behind it by a large margin, leaving an even larger margin away from the front markings. I also realised that 5 other drivers (that includes me!) had parked their cars exactly the same way. The car on the other side of the taxi must have used the taxi as a guide and the next car and the next car… What a sight it was!

Upgrade My Parking Skills

As I walked into the supermarket, I thought to myself – this is the way a lot of us operate in life and in business.  We use others as a guide as to how things should be done.  Even though sometimes the competitor/person might have got it wrong from the start, we still follow suit  – consciously or unconsciously.  I know competitor analysis has its place but as long as we continue to conform to the norm, results will always be average. 

Being a pacesetter takes a lot of hard work and dedication.  If I had taken time to use the car park markings as I normally do, then how and where the Taxi was parked will make no difference to me.  I would have done my own thing, my own way and probably get different results. This same rule applies in business and life, where I choose to park my career or business e.g. market my products or services, determine my clients, choose a career should be based on MY OWN OBJECTIVES AND GOALS. 

Individual Race and Individual Goals

We all set out with business/life goals but sometimes we get side-tracked by what others are doing and before we know it, we get carried away with the norm – we become one of them!

There is a saying in Yoruba – a Nigerian language that states “you can’t work by looking at someone else’s watch”.   When money stops being the motivation for what we do, something more precious sets in – the need to be different and make an impact. 

Whatever type of business/profession you engage in – be it an IT consultant, fashion designer, childcare provider, nail technician, car dealer, estate agent etc – can you dare Stand Up and Be Different?

My motto for now is – Identify my unique selling point, know my market, let my service stand out and BE DIFFERENT!

Photos courtesy of sxc.hu – Freyda, Lusi & Matox