Persistence Beats Timing. Execution Beats Luck. Not Immediately But Eventually.

We often place a lot of faith in the phrase "timing is everything" and "luck will be on our side.", when chasing success. We all use it as a guiding principle in the world of personal and professional growth, "persistence beats timing, execution beats luck" serves as a beacon for those navigating the uncertain and turbulent seas of life.

At its core, persistence is tenacious adherence to a goal.

It's not dissimilar from the way that a river persists, even when going downhill, to reach the end of its course. In research and literature, persistence is being studied as a key factor of success and academic books such as Angela Duckworth's “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” show that people who go through with their objectives, through thick and thin, end up with greater achievements than people who are counting on their innate talent or a stroke of luck.

Desire is a contract that you make with yourself to be unhappy until you get what you want. Be happy now!

Statistics also support this philosophy, as one Harvard Business Review study revealed that firms with a relentless attitude of growth tend to get thirty percent more done than those who do not believe in the strength of their team and therefore are less willing to push forward. This is because in teamwork, we should be fostering an environment that sees commitment to long-term goals, rather than surrendering in the face of immediate problems.

One historical example of an unwavering commitment to brand growth and expansion, led to the massive coffee chain Starbucks. When Howard Schultz went to investors with his vision of a more extensive brand, he was turned away. A lot of times, no less, but that didn't shake his faith in the appeal of a welcoming coffeehouse culture and an even stronger willingness to throw himself at his challenge, has made Starbucks a brand with thousands of locations in over sixty countries. When it comes to executing change, 70% of initiatives fail, according to a McKinsey report in 2020. A sad reminder that even the most brilliant ideas need to be executed well to be successful and that luck is no guarantee.

Coming up with a rock-solid plan is basically the foundation for any successful execution, and it’s no coincidence that companies with a clear roadmap and prioritisation have been able to turn innovative ideas into reality. The story of Airbnb, founded by Brian Chesky and Joe Gebbia, is a testament to the potential of comprehensive planning as the two founders continually revised their idea for the rental market and built a thriving business from a humble beginning, with space rental services for a San Francisco convention, to an international phenomenon.

Ken in Central Park NYC Coolin As Usual.

Mindset and adaptability are also two highly important factors in success, and according to Carol Dweck, abilities can be developed in order to be more persistent. She proposed that “growth mindset” promotes the thought patterns on being capable as coming from inner fortitude, and seeing challenges as ways to improve, sending us back to the task at hand with renewed energy. Well-known examples of companies that adapted in a shifting market to succeed include Netflix who made the daring shift from DVD rentals to streaming services.

The “not now, eventually” attitude is often associated with the concept of delayed gratification, and as studies, most famously the Marshmallow Experiment, have shown, the ability to wait for the best reward is an indicator of success. In terms of achieving life outcomes, self-control is key and a willingness to delay short-term gains for larger rewards, or to exercise in the present for a better future, has proven to be a successful strategy.

In a rapidly changing world that is often at the mercy of chance, recognition of the power of persistence is paramount to securing the future. Historical figures and contemporary businesses, often seem to be guided as much by accident as by design, and are at times hampered by unexpected chills and delays, and yet. Foster a resiliency and an focus on the down-to-earth realities of execution have enabled them navigate their pathways to well-known, abiding achievements.

Ken DeMarco 💕

The argument, well-known to scholars that timing and luck are basically just minor players in the game of success is backed up by various investigations that, as long as one perseveres and does the hard work, can turn their life and their business around in a very positive direction.

1. Bernstein, E. (2021) gave us "The Power of Persistence" in Harvard Business Review. Duckworth, A. in his book *Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance*, back in '16, showed that passion and tenacity can go a lot of the way towards fixing the picture. Dweck, C., in his seminal work *Mindset: The New Psychology of Success* back in '06, is still giving us the lowdown on how our mindsets affect our success. McKinsey’s “The Importance of Execution in Change Management” in ‘20 is more recent. Finally, Mischel, W., Shoda, Y. and Peake, P.K’s “The Nature of Children’s Delay of Gratification” back in '89. A 16 year follow-up, was one of the first in-depth looks at the power of delaying short-term desires for long-term satisfaction.