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Earl Nightingale, in the world-famous motivational tape, "The Strangest Secret," defines success as the "progressive realization of a worthy ideal." Using that definition, success then, especially for any business owner or entrepreneur, may depend upon whatever ideal a person holds dear. Beyond that, it may be measured by the reaching of goals set on a daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly or annually basis. You must get a clear picture of success in your head, otherwise how will you know when you get there? Nearly every day, I see a man who appears to be homeless on the corner of the intersection of a major freeway in Humble, Texas who we can classify as "successful," mainly because his marketing success causes him to thrive at getting (progressive realization) a good number of "donations" (his worthy goal)on a daily basis. Normally, I would never equate being homeless with being successful, although I know many good people who due to circumstances beyond their control, found themselves in that situation. However, we can not deny that this particular homeless man's marketing methods and tactics work for him. In an earlier article, we established that by looking the part, this "entrepreneur," followed the first tenet of success for any business owner. Very few people, if any, would give to a supposedly homeless man, decked out in the latest fashions complete with cell phone and accessories. But, without further investigation, he personified the old saying, "If it looks like a duck, quack likes a duck and walks like a duck; it must be a duck." The second principle of his success shows that in spite of adversity, he projected great tenacity; no matter the time of day -- early morning, midday or late evening, you will find him plying his trade -- begging by the roadside. In fact, on many days, even in inclement weather, you could find him, much to the jeers of some passing motorists and competitors who wanted in on his turf. In other words and with due respect to the inscription found on some U.S. Post Offices: "Neither snow nor rain nor heat nor gloom of night stays this homeless man from the swift completion of his appointed location." In their day to day goals, many business owners wish that they would do so well. Merriam Webster states that tenacity means being "persistent in maintaining or adhering to something valued or habitual." Tenacity for business owners simply measures the persistency in your day to day work habits, goals and objectives. Tenacity equals going for it -- in spite of your surroundings and situation. The fact that the homeless man focuses entirely on money causes me a problem because it compares with some people I know who go into business with making money as the sole purpose. A capitalistic society encourages making money, but most professionals go into business to make a difference, to contribute to society, to help their clients, or to make the world a better place. To do so calls for real tenacity. Tenacity means we focus on action with the end in mind. We don't just go through the motions. There's something higher that keeps us going, even when we don't want to go. One of my friends, a successful businessman in Houston, tells the story of him getting in trouble with the tax man. My friend basically squandered $90,000 and the tax official assigned to his case, threatened to close his business down. He didn't possess the money to pay the bill, but knew certain high-paying projects, when completed would be enough to pay off the bill in full by the deadline. My friend came in early, stayed late, and often slept on the couch in the reception area of his office. In just a couple of weeks, he wrote a check for the full amount of the taxes owed. When asked to describe how my friend could accomplish do so much in such a short time, his wife gave a one-word sentence. Tenacity.
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