Determination

I'm sure thousands of businesses that statistically should have failed are successful today because of the determination of their owners.

• In the first 3 years in the auto business, Henry Ford went bankrupt twice.
• Coca-cola sold 400 Cokes in its first year.
• Apple Computer was rejected by Hewlett-Packard and Atari.

I remember I once conversed with a friend (who was in marketing) how many calls he would make to a prospect before giving up. He told me: "It depends on which one of us dies first."

Determination is what keeps us hammering away. As Vince Lombardi said, "It's not whether you get knocked down. It's whether you get up again."

Look at Mother Teresa. The tiny nun brought world attention to the plight of the poor through her quiet determination.

Just because the going gets tough, it doesn't mean you should throw in the towel. Be like a postage stamp. Stick to it until you get there.