As I began my journey into entrepreneurship and personal development I found it amazing the amount of information and people locally that I could turn to for advice and mentorship.

There was only one problem, these individuals were even busier than the role models I emulated online. That meant only one thing, it was time for me to hound them. I knew if I ever wanted to reach the levels of success they found, I had to get connected one way or another.

Here are four reasons I found being persistent has lead to my personal and professional success:

1. Successful people are always busy, respect their time

Successful people are always busy and thus it’s difficult to reach them for the things that you want. After all you’re asking for their valuable time to give you insights into your personal challenges and endeavors. Do not expect a speedy return to your phone calls or emails.

However, never take this personally as any indicator of your character. The key is to remember their lack of getting back with you is not personal. It is merely an opportunity for you to test your skills of perseverance. Keep sending the emails and call again (in a reasonable amount of time) and you will be surprised how many successful people appreciate your drive and find the time to meet with you.

2. Stay hungry and stay foolish

I’d like to adapt this one by combining Steve Jobs’s Harvard speech and Les Brown’s presentation.

The answer to your question is never a no until you hear the no. The fortune is in the follow up. Far too often in entrepreneurship or life in general we ask a question once, get a half straight answer, assume that meant no, go home and pout about it, and then never follow up.

That is far from the most effective method you could take. Next time try what Les Brown had done to reach his goal of becoming a radio show host. Les Brown in his presentation “Stay Hungry” shared the story of how he wanted to be a radio host. Les would call the radio producer each day and say “Hello Sir, this is mr Les Brown. Are you hiring?

When the producer told him no, he called back the very next day, again asking the same question. The producer answered the phone and said “I told you we are not hiring. Didn’t I talk to you the other day.” Les replied. “Yes sir you did, but I wasn’t sure if anyone got fired or died sir.” Eventually the manager got so upset with Les calling each day he invited him in to become his assistant. Les went on to fill in for the radio show host a few months later.

Make it a point to stay hungry and foolish to reach the dreams you have set for yourself. You never know who might just take you up on your request.

“I’m hungry for knowledge. The whole thing is to learn every day, to get brighter and brighter. That’s what this world is about. You look at someone like Gandhi, and he glowed. Martin Luther King glowed. Muhammad Ali glows. I think that’s from being bright all the time, and trying to be brighter.” – Jay-Z

3. No merely means next

In Jack Canfield’s amazing book The Success Principles, he shared with us a little known acronym known as swswswsw. What is that you ask? It soon became one of the most powerful tools I have come to use in my coaching practice as well as my other businesses.

The acronym for swswswsw is Some will. Some won’t. So what. Someone’s waiting. As a speaker and transformation coach one tip that I learned is that we have to be relentless, inspiring, and persistent in the work that we do to find clients we are meant to serve.

We will get knocked down, have doors slammed in our faces and phones hung up on us. In that moment we must push forward and understand that we are meant to serve a particular individual. For now simply know there is the ideal client out there waiting for you and your words. It’s your responsibility to continue pounding the pavement meeting new people until you connect with the ones you’re truly meant to serve.

4. Success comes to those who are persistent

Husbands, fathers, and creative entrepreneurs, It is our mission to continue living each day of our journey striving for greatness and working to become the husbands and fathers God created us to be.

On the way we will find those moments where we feel low. The times in our lives where want to quit. Want to give up. It is in those moments that greatness is being crafted. Look to history, study and understand success comes to those who were persistent. Those who do not falter. Those who do not quit.

“Energy and persistence conquer all things.” – Benjamin Franklin

For those of you hearing these words. Remember to always continue to seek the answers and the wisdom that is waiting to be shared by others in your community. As you traverse the dream of life understand there are a million questions you will have. Know today that there’ll be thousands of people that hold the answers you seek.

It is your job to continue to push and be persistent to connect and engage with those who hold the keys for your journey

Below I have provided the Les Brown “Gotta be hungry” speech from Les Brown’s Youtube Channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-V8dg0BkAQ

Are you persistent? Please leave your thoughts in the comment section below!