Picture this…
You've got an idea that could change the world.
It's brilliant, revolutionary, and has the potential to possibly make MILLIONS.
So you quit your day job, pour your life savings into your new venture, and dive headfirst into the Entrepreneurial journey.
But as soon as you start, you're hit with an obstacle.
Maybe it's a lack of funding, a skeptical investor, or a better-positioned competitor…
Or maybe it's your own self-doubt creeping in, telling you that you're not good enough, smart enough, or experienced enough to make it in the cutthroat world of being an Entrepreneur.
What do you do?
Do you throw in the towel and give up on your dreams?
Or do you dig deep, find your inner strength, and push through the adversity with persistence, grit, and determination?
If you chose the latter, then you and I are on the same page —We both agree that persistence is the #1 KEY to becoming a successful Entrepreneur.
But not just any kind of persistence… We're not talking about being pushy or aggressive. We're talking about the “in your face, but nice” type of persistence.
The kind that says, "I'm not going anywhere until I get what I want, but I'm going to do it with grace and charm."
So why is persistence so important?
I’m sure you’ve heard about the story of the tortoise and the hare. The hare was fast and confident, while the tortoise was slow and steady.
But who won the race?
The tortoise, of course… 🐢 Why?
Because he didn't give up.
He kept moving forward, even when it seemed like he had no chance of winning…That's the power of being persistent and determined.
And in the wild world of Entrepreneurship, there are countless examples of people who never gave up (even when the odds seemed stacked against them).
Take Sara Blakely, for example. She's the founder of Spanx: A billion-dollar company that makes shapewear for women.
But before she became a billionaire, she faced HUNDREDS of rejections and setbacks. (She even wrote a mock patent application for her idea and sent it to the US Patent Office, just to prove to herself that she was serious about her business!)
Fast forward to today and she's a role model for women Entrepreneurs across the globe.
Another great example is Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks and a Shark on CNBC’s hit TV show: Shark Tank.
He grew up in a working-class family and started his first business at the age of 12 selling garbage bags door-to-door.
And after trial and tribulation, he went on to become a multi-billionaire through a combination of hard work, hustle, and most importantly…Being persistent.
And then there’s me: David Asarnow.
Now I may not be a billionaire (yet!), but I've certainly learned the value of persistence in my own Entrepreneurial journey.
One story that comes to mind is when I was trying to secure a $1.7 million deal with Bill Ruggles, who was the Head of Purchasing and Procurement for Sheetz —A regional convenience store chain.
Bill and I met at the National Restaurant Association Show in Chicago. We immediately hit it off and built a relationship, but there was one problem:
He was under contract. So unfortunately, my hands were tied (at least for the time being…)
But that didn’t make me give up on the opportunity. I kept working on it, patiently waiting for the contract to expire so that I could bid on the business.
And when the opportunity finally came, I poured my heart and soul into the proposal and submitted a bid.
However, my excitement was short-lived as Bill was quick to scold me for apparently having the WORST bid among the five he received.
“Whaaat?!?” I exclaimed.
“The worst bid? I just poured my heart and soul into that proposal…There’s no way mine was the weakest.” I thought to myself.
Despite the setback, I refused to give up and asked Bill for another chance, promising to do better.
He initially refused, but I persisted, which eventually convinced him to give me another shot to at least meet with me in person.
So I flew to Altoona, PA the next day, rehearsing my pitch the entire flight. And the next morning I went straight to the Sheetz HQ and sat in the lobby, waiting for Bill to walk up to me.
But 30 minutes came and went, and there was no sign of Bill.
I started to wonder how long Bill would make me wait…One hour became two, and two hours became five. But I stayed put, refusing to give up.
Finally, a lady walked in and said: "Mr. Ruggles will see you now."
We walked into a conference room and spent hours going through the numbers, trying to remind him of his motivators for change outside of price.
Once I got confirmation, I got him to agree to a final shot and presented a new proposal. And at the end of the day, (and after several rounds of heavy negotiations), I FINALLY landed the contract with Sheetz!
It took nearly two years of persistence (and pulling a rabbit out of the hat even when the client said “NO”), but it was well worth it.
My company became a trusted vendor for the chain, and my relationship with Bill was recemented.
That one shot turned into a multi-year (and multi-million dollar) contract that was instrumental in the growth of the business.
Not only that, but it was the final piece to the puzzle in growing to $45 million in annual revenue for this division over 5 years.
And most importantly, it all happened because I refused to give up. I chose to be resourceful…Even when the odds were stacked against me.
So if you're facing a challenge or setback in your own Entrepreneurial journey, remember that persistence, determination (and being resourceful) is the key to overcoming it.
But it's not just about being pushy or aggressive. It's about being “in-your-face nice,” showing that you care about your client's success and are willing to go above and beyond to help them achieve it.
Keep pushing forward, keep believing in yourself, and never give up on your dreams. And remember, you have the power to create the life you want.
All it takes is focus and persistence.
To your success,
David
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