Keeping Your (Hawk)Eyes on the Prize

Keeping Your (Hawk)Eyes on the Prize

I'm often asked: "How do you endure the relentless challenges, the setbacks, and the uncertainties that span years?"

To be candid, there have been moments when turning back wasn't an option. The consequences of retreat would be so dire that pulling consecutive all-nighters seemed trivial in comparison.

I've never been daunted by the lows. In fact, I always believed that the deeper the trough, the loftier the subsequent peak.

However, what occasionally tested my mettle were the plateaus — those periods devoid of immediate crises. Times when, despite persistent effort, progress seemed imperceptible, like pushing against an immovable object.

Such phases are arguably the hardest for entrepreneurs, myself included. How do you convince yourself that after the 50th, or even the 100th setback, the 101st effort might be the turning point? Why not capitulate, accepting a job offer that promises a salary four times larger?

It's because I constantly remind myself: surrendering is the only guaranteed route to failure. There's no shortage of uplifting tales about individuals who relentlessly pursued their dreams until they triumphed. Those stories fortify my resolve, urging me to press on.

Take Anthony Bourdain for example:

Before the world knew him, Anthony Bourdain was just another chef in New York City, simmering with untold tales. He penned a raw, revealing essay, "Don't Eat Before Reading This," laying bare the underbelly of the culinary world. Many overlooked his voice, until " The New Yorker Magazine Inc. " took a chance, publishing his audacious words in 1999. Suddenly, publishers who once seemed indifferent were hungry for more. The result? "Kitchen Confidential: Adventures in the Culinary Underbelly," a memoir that sizzled its way to best-seller lists. But success wasn't handed to Bourdain; it was hard-fought. His earlier novel had gone unnoticed. Yet, Bourdain's story teaches us: even in the face of obscurity, one's unique voice, when persistent, can ignite the world.?

Or take Tim Leatherman:

In a broken-down car in Europe, a young American, Tim Leatherman, felt the sting of frustration. Every fix required tools he didn't have, sparking an idea. Back home, he toiled for eight years, facing rejections and skepticism, forging what he believed the world needed. His invention? A multi-tool, combining pliers with a Swiss army knife. But the journey to innovation wasn't smooth. Manufacturers and investors scoffed, dismissing his creation. Yet, Leatherman's resilience prevailed. Today, the Leatherman tool is iconic, proving that with passion and perseverance, one can transform a simple idea into an indispensable legacy.

So when I struggle, I just remind myself that I'm not alone and that consistency is simply what it takes!