Have you ever wondered what was better: Patience or Persistence?

If you look in the dictionary, you'll see that one of the definitions for "persistence" is the "firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition..."

For a business owner, "Persistence" can be worn like a badge of honor. When you're persistent, you're sort of extending the myth of the rugged explorer, navigating unchartered waters, to prove to everyone that the world is not flat and that something better is waiting just beyond the horizon.

However, another great mind, Napoleon Hill, also talked about persistence...but a little differently. He said, "The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail..."

And, James Wedmore says this when talking about How to have Online Success: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP7xkLPqv6I

There is nothing wrong with embracing your ideals; however, the danger is that by taking that stand ONLY out of persistence...you could be missing out on something even more important.

Look at that definition of Persistence again. "...the firm or obstinate continuance..." What do you think of a person who is "obstinate?" The words associated with someone who is obstinate are: stubborn, bullheaded; inflexible, unyielding and perverse. Think about that for a minute.

What type of leader would you describe as obstinate...unyielding...inflexible?

So...is it possible that being "persistence" or "obstinate" could actually get in your way?

After all, I'm sure that there were plenty of folks who were obstinate about the future success of the automobile, desperately clinging to the manufacture and sale of buggy whips. Where will persistence get you if you fail to see the bigger picture?

Now ask yourself: Does building a business really need to be this hard? Is persistence the only path to success?

Is there a better way? Is there a way not so littered with ego? Maybe you need to step back, take a breath, and view the landscape one more time. Do you see a different path? A better path?

What do you need to do this? Patience

It takes practice (or persistence) to become Patient! Patience is the "capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset..."

Moving toward success in your business with Patience allows you to go into a "zen" rhythm. Some people have no tolerance for patience. They feel that by being patient, they are being passive, and the result will be that they get taken advantage of, or they will miss out on an opportunity.

Moving toward success in your business with Patience allows you to go into a "zen" rhythm. Is patience the same as being passive?

Nothing could be further from the truth!

In fact, being patient as you build your business, even building your relationships, takes an enormous amount of confidence and faith. You have to know beyond all doubt that your product and your service are needed by the market. Your value will result in your success...when you are patient and take full advantage of opportunities that come your way.

Trust me...I have some experience with this. That confidence you need can be tough to hang onto. Especially when "life" pulls the rug out from under you.

I've been there!

But even when that challenge presents itself; even when it seems to be taking an eternity to get where you're going; if you go through the steps of the process with patience you can enjoy the journey, and get the most value from the challenges you face.

Ask yourself: If you knew that you couldn't fail; that your success was inevitable...what would you do right now?

Would you focus more on the core business rather than waste your time on busy work? Would you hire that VA that up until now you have not have the money to hire? Would you finally write that book, create that training, or start giving those classes?

There are always a thousand reasons why we "can't" do something; reasons why it won't work. And most often, we fool ourselves into thinking that "something" that is holding us back from success is external: not enough education, a bad economy, not enough time.

Be patient...with yourself and with your business.

Set your goals; form good habits to get to those goals, and enjoy every step along your journey!

For more on How to be successful in business, check this video out: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vP7xkLPqv6I