What is better than persistent determination?
It is widely accepted to achieve success we need to Persist. I’d like to consider a similar word. I want our school to be associated with the word TENACITY.
Tenacity is the quality displayed by someone who just won’t quit, who keeps trying until they reach their goal.
Tenacity is partly persistent determination: but it’s more: it’s the ability to keep doing something difficult however challenging.
It requires doggedness and at times, single-mindedness.
Tenacity often also needs a person to demonstrate courage, grit and guts
Both tenacious and persistent persons possess a will that refuses to submit. However, it’s the manner in which they refuse that’s entirely different, with one for me being decidedly more effective at achieving success.
A persistent person will try something again and again in the hopes that it will eventually work. Regardless of how flawed the method, they never amend or vary their approach. They’re content to think that if they continue to try, sooner or later things will pay off.
Yes, their persistence is admirable in their unrelenting approach and often signifies a hard worker. But at the same time, it’s the hallmark of a person who chooses to work harder, not smarter.
Tenacity on the other hand is the mark of the strategic thinker. A tenacious person is never content with their methodology.
They possess the same indomitable will as their persistent counterpart, but the tenacious person chooses to utilise the information and data from their attempts to further improve their methodology.
With each interaction their methodology becomes increasingly more effective. The tenacious work smarter, not harder.
So how do we best utilise tenacity and persistence, what have others taught us? I have identified 5 characteristics that help someone exhibit a tenacious approach.
The Essence of Resilience:
Consider the story of Malala Yousafzai, a young girl who stood up for education and was shot by the Taliban. Her recovery and continued activism exemplify the unyielding spirit that characterizes true tenacity.
The Power of Perseverance:
James Dyson went through 5,126 failed prototypes over 15 years before creating the first bagless vacuum cleaner that revolutionised home cleaning. His journey underscores the power of perseverance in transforming a vision into reality.
The role of Support systems:
The success story of J.K. Rowling, who went from living on state benefits to becoming the world’s first billionaire author, highlights the role of support systems. Her narrative illustrates how encouragement from others can be a catalyst for overcoming personal and professional hurdles.
The Impact of a Positive Mindset:
Viktor Frankl, a Holocaust survivor, demonstrated that even in the most dire circumstances, a positive mindset can be a powerful tool for survival. His experiences remind us that our response to adversity can shape our destiny.
The Influence of Past Experiences:
Oprah Winfrey’s rise from poverty and abuse to become a media mogul and philanthropist shows how past experiences can forge a resilient character, capable of surmounting new challenges with grace and strength
Each of these individuals embodies the unyielding spirit that defines the core of human resilience.
Their stories are not just narratives of survival but beacons of hope, illuminating the path for others who may find themselves in the throes of their own battles.
It is this spirit that transforms obstacles into stepping stones, leading to heights of achievement that once seemed insurmountable.
Through their examples, we learn that the most profound victories are often carved out of the toughest trials.
Beethoven’s deafness, Ray Charles’ blindness and Albert Einstein’s dyslexia didn’t stop them from achieving greatness.
It’s not the outlook that counts, but the uplook.
And remember, what counts is not the number of hours you put, but what you put into the hours.
Parents must also be tenacious in the way they support their children.They must work out the delicate balance of giving your child a helping hand at meltdown stage and also the hand that says get on and sort it out for yourself my child, you try think of a way, you try find a way.
Staff must be tenacious too. When faced with trying to ignite a child who is simply coasting, teachers need to be tenacious enough to keep challenging them and not to give in and doing it for them or helping them.
This is why I do not believe in teachers helping children, I believe in teachers supporting children. One method supports learning, the other method will never raise outcomes or aspirations.
Children, students, pupils: developing a tenacious approach will only happen if you are prepared to learn new things every day.
To learn new things every day you need to accept that you must step out of your comfort zone.
Enjoy the challenge of learning something new, of acquiring new skills, of gaining greater knowledge and the outcome will be a deeper sense of pride and of achievement.
Find the tenacity that is latent in each of you, let it explode into driving you to greater heights.
With only ordinary talent but with extraordinary tenacity, all things are attainable…then there are no ceilings to what you can achieve.