The Power of Determination: How Perseverance Can Help You Achieve Success

As a salesperson, you know that rejection is an inevitable part of the game. But how do you keep pushing forward when the odds seem stacked against you? The answer lies in perseverance.

Perseverance is the ability to persist in the face of opposition or discouragement, and it is one of the foundational attributes of sales effectiveness. Selling is putting one foot in front of the other until you reach your goal.

In this article, we will explore the significance of perseverance in sales and how it works with other key attributes. We will also provide tips on how to persevere when the going gets tough.

What Does Perseverance Mean?

Perseverance is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult." In sales, perseverance means not giving up in the face of rejection. It means staying determined and being okay with not closing every sale. Successful salespeople don't even think of the word "No" as rejection.

The Importance of Endurance and Self-Discipline

Self-discipline is the foundation of perseverance. If you have a disciplined practice and are adept at holding yourself accountable, you have the ability to keep trying even when things aren't working. Persistence in sales means showing up on time every day, and working on how you can make changes to your practice and schedule to improve your sales performance.

Staying the Course and Maintaining Optimism

Optimism enables you to continue to try without being discouraged. The goals that you have set for yourself are greater than any obstacles and provide the motivation to persevere. Maintaining a positive mental attitude about being a professional salesperson will help you stay dedicated to your work even when times get tough. Keep your long-term goals in mind at all times.

Winning and Competitiveness

Engaging in the spirit of competition enables you to continue to fight and win in a tough contest. If you learn all you can about your competition and stay aware of what they are doing at all times, you will always be able to discuss why what you are offering is better. Occasionally, you are the sales rep that loses the contest. When this is true, review your sales approach and measure your sales effectiveness.

An L is either a loss or a lesson, depending on your sales mindset.

Keep Driving and Taking Initiative

Having initiative means constantly being on the lookout for new opportunities and pursuing them actively instead of waiting for them to fall into your lap. You limit your chances of success by waiting. You also lengthen your sales cycle. The real sales cycle starts when you have your first meeting.

Standing Firm and Resourcefulness

In contrast to mediocre salespeople who believe they have done everything they can, highly effective salespeople exhaust one resource and immediately search for another. Resourcefulness allows you to persevere until you finally find a way to succeed or until you make one. Flood your mind with positive input that helps you stay motivated and counteract negative experiences.

How to Persevere in Sales

Success in sales requires perseverance, plain and simple. Perseverance and determination allow the salesperson to hear the word "no" and to continue to pursue their objective undeterred. It allows the salesperson to keep calling.

Perseverance allows salespeople to continue to pursue their dream clients for years. This is even when there is no indication that the prospect will give them an opportunity.

When Persistence is Missing

When the ability to persevere is missing, the salesperson accepts "no" as a final answer. It might seem smart, but it's not.The most valuable customers always belong to your competitor. And they always start by saying no. You have to learn to expect it as your initial answer.

Perseverance is an essential attribute of successful salespeople. It provides the salesperson with immunity to the word "no." Perseverance allows the professional salesperson to persist in their efforts to acquire new clients and to succeed in delivering the outcomes they have promised.

So, ask yourself: do you easily give up when faced with rejection? Do you fail to pursue the difficult but most desirable prospects? Are you trying to find an easier path instead of the path you really want to take? By embracing perseverance, you can become a salesperson who never gives up

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan “press on” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States