Tenacity makes up the greater part of excellence in any skill or ability. Without it, potentially brilliant and talented people run the risk of sinking into mediocrity. Just as its important to ensure tenacity and its value is both modelled and supported as children grow; it is equally important for anyone aiming for a higher standard to practice and recognise its significance in every day life.

Tenacity can be defined as the ability to be determined, persistent, resolute and in having a strong purpose.  It is a value which can be supported with embedded beliefs about commitment; particularly with keeping ones word, promises to others and commitment to a project, cause or team. 

Within our society, it has become commonplace for people to alter social or business plans and commitments with little forewarning. Similarly leisure time activities, whilst on the rise as a business model, are past times which few continue past a few sessions.

As a knock on effect, it is becoming increasingly common for children to enrol in classes or teams and to attend only a handful before refusing to go again; either through disinterest or that a new pastime has caught their eye.

No doubt this is frustrating to the parent who will have confirmed the childs commitment and interest before spending considerable amounts of money in uniforms, registration and attendance fees.  It can be just as frustrating after a purchase of a game or play item and the child loses interest completely. 

A large percentage of sports and business people attribute their success not to talent; but to the consistent effort and stamina they put in whilst pursuing their dream. With a dogged steadfastness, they tirelessly, but patiently continued their training, education and practice to perfect what they needed to achieve the best they could be. 

Whilst not everyone could be a ‘Tiger Woods’ in golfing ability, it is undeniable that with hours of practice every day since early childhood and an unshakable belief in ones ability would certainly bring their handicap down to a modest competitive level. 

The secret to success; I have been told, is a minute amount of effort. This was clearly demonstrated to my family a short time ago, and I’d like to use the learnings we achieved to showcase this concept.

My seven year old son was desperate to have a pair of side elasticised leather boots; so when it came time to buy a pair of shoes he could wear with pants or jeans, we took these into consideration. The boots in question fitted well in the store, so were purchased. 

One of lifes lessons started when we went somewhere where it was necessary to put on and remove footwear a number of time during the morning. After a short discussion about practicality of wearing his new boots, I allowed my son to make his own footwear choice; knowing, as a mother does, that this would be a challenging morning and hoped that things would be learnt from these frustrations.

While other participants continued their activities, my son struggled to put boots on. Even with my assistance, we kept failing. We tried different ways of putting his foot in, turning the boot and at the point his foot was about to slip inside, he would give up; stop pushing and would tear his boot off; usually with an anguished shout or plea to join the others barefoot.  

I insisted he continue until he put his boots on; siting his decision to have the boots on in the first place and his responsibility in keeping to his word.

How many times have we ourselves struggled with something, tried every conceivable option; only to give up? 

It was extremely frustrating for me to be part of and to witness my son *nearly* getting his foot into the boot, only to give up micro seconds before success. I could see that with one tiny push and wriggle; his foot would be in place, but regardless of cajoling, threats or encouragement he would pull the boot off and throw it down.

This is the point where 98 percent of potentially brilliant people are. A tiny fraction of the way they have come toward gaining their goal. And then they give up. 

Just as it was impossible for my son to see how close he was to getting his foot into his boot, its often impossible for us to see just how close we are to achieving our goals; only to give up;  in some cases, micro seconds before getting there.

There is a huge lesson here about the power of consistency and tenacity.

Tenacity makes up an enormous amount of the skills required to be excellent or outstanding. Without it, our elite sports people would wallow in bed in the mornings or refuse to push themselves that tiny extra bit.  

Without tenacity, our brilliant scientific discoveries would languish in someones notebook or dreams. Without tenacity we would be living in overpopulated old-world rather than have had our explorers push that little bit more and find new lands.

With a tiny push my son did get his boots on, learning a few valuable lessons along the way.

Forward planning, consequence and tenacity pave the path to excellence. No doubt without this physical lesson, it would be difficult to demonstrate it to him otherwise.