The Power & Value of Determination

Welcome to the ninety-first edition of “In-Touch”. As always, I would love to continue the conversation so please hit reply and let me know what you think.

Story of the Week: "The Power & Value of Determination"

I was recently asked by a major company to provide a brief summary of my career to date and, while it sometimes seems as if it was only yesterday that I took the life-changing decision to become a trainer, speaker and author, I was surprised to discover that it was actually 25 years ago!

Almost every successful person that I admire has admitted that, at some point in their life and career, they were forced to deal with a challenge of some kind – anything from having to endure a serious illness to persevering despite receiving hundreds of rejection letters. In my case, the major problem was the local market, which was not ready for what other, more progressive nations – especially the USA – considered as essential components of good business practice (e.g. keynote addresses, educational management retreats, workshops, seminars, etc.).

My hopes rested on the lesson gleaned from the well-known (and funny) story about the two shoe salesmen who visited a distant country, where they were surprised to discover that all the people there walked around in their bare feet. One of them called his manager at the company’s headquarters and told him that there was no possibility of making any sales there since no-one wore shoes. The other called the same manager to report that there was a huge sales opportunity for precisely the same reason: no-one wore shoes!

So, in “barefoot” Cyprus, I saw my opportunity and seized it. With no other serious challenge on the horizon, I knew that it would all be about perseverance and resilience if I was to realize my dream of having a career beyond the borders of my small island. I therefore spent thousands of hours reading and studying. Inside the pages of many remarkable and value-packed books, I found future mentors like Jeffrey Gitomer, Brian Tracy, Chet Holmes, Jim Rohn and many others. Since there was no Internet in Cyprus until 1995 and, at the time (1999), no YouTube, my only in-person mentor and teacher was my late father, Rolando, whose invaluable wisdom and influence were equally significant.

Eventually, online education – in its broadest sense – gave me access to a huge pool of inspired and inspiring writers and speakers, whose tactics and styles I could learn from and attempt to emulate. Networking rooms proved to be of crucial value and I saw for myself how ideas multiply when exchanged and people become even more formidable when they truly connect. Some of the professional connections that I made at the start of the millennium have now lasted for over two decades.

I finally reached the stage where I had written two best-selling books of my own and, slowly but surely, I began to make huge progress in the local business arena, which gradually led to invitations from abroad.

My journey started in 1999 and, despite some lows as well as highs, it had been an amazing one. As I celebrate 25 years in business, I always keep in mind one particular saying, which has its roots in the theatrical world: “You are only as good as your last performance.” This keeps me alert, ensures that I take nothing for granted, and drives me to work consistently to the highest levels of my ability. As I enter the second 25-year-period of my career, I have never been more certain about the power and the value of determination. If you if you truly believe in something, don't stop until you've made it a reality.

Words of Wisdom

“Success is achieved by ordinary people with extraordinary determination." Zig Ziglar

A Question to Ponder, dear friend.

Have you had to use all your powers of determination and perseverance to succeed in your chosen field?