Love Will Teach You Persistence

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario − your one stop location for success advice and tips to take your life to the next level. This week, we’ll talk more on persistence.

I figured I’d bring up the old Elvis story again, because it’s good − and most people, when they think of Elvis, discount it.

Elvis was persistent, contrary to what people may say. Sure, his manager, Colonel Parker was good (and sometimes pushed him around). Sure he had a lot of fans, but not originally.

Elvis worked a lot of shows under the Blue Moon Boys title back in ’54 with Scotty Moore on guitar and Bill Black on bass. He kept performing even when people told him he should go back to trucking (his previous career), like the talent producer on the Grand Ole’ Oprey (then the largest country music show in the U.S.). But he kept chugging along with his routines just the same.

Because he loved it. Listen to him live, or even after singing a take in the studio. When you love what you do, you’ll keep doing it. Even when people insult you. Even when you’re not certain you can become great yourself, your love of what you do will pull you through.

That’s the key to persistence guys… love it or lose it − a motto to work by.

See you next week!

Alex H.

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A Lesson from Steve Jobs

Helloo0O Ladies and Gentlemen!

Welcome back to Graceland Ontario! So, we’re going to change the format of the blog a bit, opening it up to success lessons from all over. Sure, Elvis will remain the patron, but it’ll allow you to get some fresh perspectives from other historical and current leaders.

So, today’s post is on coming back.

What do I mean by ‘coming back’? I mean, when someone’s smashed you on the nose and you’re laying face-first on the ground, your saying “screw it, I’m standing back up again”. It’s a matter of persistence. People who keep pushing see results in the end.

Look at Steve Jobs… Apple kicked him out. They weren’t doing so well so they fired him, a founding member, in 1985 thinking it would help. But it didn’t. And by 1997 he was back as interim CEO after several successful years leading NeXT computers and Pixar. By 2000, he was solely considered leader of Apple. People thought Apple was toast… but Jobs’s persistence (along with the rest of the Apple brand) lead to the introduction of the Ipod and practically complete domination of the phone, music player and, later, tablet markets.

Jobs could’ve thrown down his hat after getting fired from Apple. I mean, how would you feel if you lost control of the company you’d worked for years creating. But, unlike most people, he kept pushing, continued building his success elsewhere and then returned to lead his old company to glory. Follow his example, keep pushing even when bad things happen and never give up − if it worked for Steve Jobs it sure as hell can work for you.

Come back next week for more notes on persistence!

Alex H.

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