Facebook acquiring Whatsapp is probably old news now, but the story behind this deal can teach a lot about perseverance. Not many people outside the tech circle knew Whatsapp's co-founder Brian Acton before his story became famous.
In 2009, Brian had applied for a job in Facebook, prior to developing his popular messaging app. His tweet after being turned down read 'Facebook turned me down.. looking forward to life's next adventure'. And as we know, Whatsapp was sold for $19 billion to Facebook.
He didn't let such a big rejection get to him. And his work life did a full circle when this deal was sealed.
What is Perseverance?
Perseverance basically means to keep going even when you're hit with an obstacle. But, that's easier said than done. Whether we are trying to lose weight or make it big as a start-up, setbacks can mar our self-confidence.
To persevere despite rejection is not a common trait, but one trait common in all successful people. Be it Brian Acton, Warren Buffett or the legendary Steve Jobs, they have all made a massive comeback solely because of perseverance.
How Can You Practice Perseverance In Order To Be Successful?
How Can You Practice Perseverance In Order To Be Successful?
Brace the Change- So you got turned down by your fourth client this week. That's okay, it really is not the end of the world. Instead of whining about why fate dealt you an unfavorable hand, try to figure out how can you better your situation.
Deliberating on what went wrong will not get you close to what needs to be made right. Just accept what has happened, dust the rejection dirt off your shoulder, and change your game plan.
In fact sometimes obstacles can give you another insight into your plan of action. It could be a learning experience that might prove to be for the best in the long run.
Remember Why You Started- Motivation wear out, but it doesn't run out. There's a sense of exhilaration when you first set a goal but that excitement fades off with time. This is the primary reason so many people forget about their New Year's resolution by the second week of January.
Tap into the motivation that got you started. Just close your eyes and imagine yourself achieving the goal; how would you feel, how would people around you react. Are you seriously going to give up on this vision just because of a bump in the road?
Cultivate a Positive Mindset- Like an envious person seldom has anything nice to say, a negative mindset will never make you concentrate on the silver lining. In fact, it will just make the clouds darker.
Thinking negative thoughts just take too much energy. And a negative attitude seldom leads to success. You will be too busy self-doubting, and eventually give up on your goals. A positive mindset however concentrates on the positive aspects- like the solution instead of the problem. If you are an optimist, it will be a lot easier for you to get right back up after a setback.
One way to change your mindset is to analyze your thoughts. Which of your thoughts are negative and how does it affect your emotions associated with it. For instance if you are thinking 'I can't do it' how do you feel physically? Mostly depressed, right? To change this, you have to replace the negative thoughts with positive ones. Instead of saying 'I can't do this' say 'Yes I can!'.
Giving Up is Not an Option- Convince yourself that you just cannot give up. If you second-guess your goals, chances are you'll find an excuse to give up, and you are going to want to give up post-rejections. Do not let that happen.
Make a promise to yourself that you are going to go through this, or make a commitment in front of your friends and family. Once people get to know about your goals, you'd be more committed because you don't want people to laugh at or belittle you.
And every time you want to give up, just tell yourself you are going to try one last time.
Use Affirmations- An imperative tool to creating a positive mindset is affirmations. For the uninitiated, affirmations are like mantras that you repeat to yourself till you start feeling it in your bones.
Affirmations like 'I'm better than this obstacle/failure', 'This obstacle doesn't change me', or 'I'm going to be successful no matter what', creates a feeling of positivity plus your subconscious mind absorbs these messages and react on it.
Mornings are best for using affirmations. Make it a part of your brushing schedule.
Associate with Progressive People- A man is known by the company he keeps. We are all in some ways influenced by people we spend most of our time with. Try to spend time with people, who are progressing towards success, they have a determined mindset. And it eventually rubs off on you.
Perseverance does not come to you in a stroke. It takes time to build this habit. But once you master the art of perseverance, nothing can stop you from achieving whatever you want.
Hi! My name is Mulyadi Kurnia. I have interest in the health and wellness sector and has created a site dedicated to this sector since 2011. Starting out as stress and anxiety management website, the content of this site has expanded to include other topics in the health and wellness as well as self-improvement topics; I have also created a free e-book "5 Key Tips to be a Happier You", downloadable athttp://www.stopstressandanxiety.cArticle Source Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mulyadi_Kurniahttp://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mulyadi_Kurnia
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