No matter how skilled you are at selling,
there will be days weeks, even months when things don’t go your way.
Prospects ghost you.
Deals fall apart.
Quotas loom like storm clouds.
It’s easy to spiral:
“I should’ve closed that.”
“Why can’t I make this work?”
“I must be doing something wrong.”
But here’s the trap:
When we obsess over things outside our control
buyer budgets, market timing, decision politics,
we wear down our spirit.
We turn setbacks into self blame.
And that only deepens the gloom.
The way through?
Acceptance.
Accept what you can’t control:
Other people’s choices.
Their urgency.
Their readiness.
And then refocus on what you can control:
The clarity of your message
The precision of your targeting
The curiosity you put into every conversation
Your resilience to keep showing up
Detach from outcomes.
Root yourself in the work.
That’s where your power lives.
And ironically?
That’s often when the results start flowing.
Breaking stereotypes wasn’t easy. A banker once told me, ‘It’s better to be a shark in a pond than a fish in an ocean.’ That mindset shaped me.
Some stories inspire us to aim higher and keep going. Anuja Bhekane’s journey is one that truly moves me - a story where she didn’t have a head start in life, yet today, she leads a team of 100.
Here is Anuja’s story in her own words to inspire you to lead with courage and confidence.
“I didn’t have a prestigious degree or a built-in career roadmap. Coming from a family of agriculture and farming, I had no exposure to the corporate world, no roadmap to success. Yet, I refused to let that define me.
At 20, I began my career in the capital markets industry, a field traditionally dominated by men. My clients were CXOs of major banks, and through my interactions with them, I realized something profound: financial success wasn’t limited to business owners. Even salaried professionals could achieve wealth and independence.
Over the past decade, I’ve been the only female Zonal Head in my field, earning credibility through performance - not gender. And while I’ve never played the “I’m a woman” card, let’s be real - challenges exist. Balancing work and family, ensuring my personal responsibilities never became an organization’s problem, and still delivering at the highest level - that was the biggest challenge I overcame.
There were days I felt stretched between two worlds - one at work, one at home - but I never let either become an excuse. Three months after maternity leave, I was back at work - not to prove anything, but because my passion for what I do never took a break. Some days, success comes easy; other days, failure humbles you. The key is to turn setbacks into learning experiences. Staying grounded, being modest - that’s what sustains success in the long run.
Even today, my aspiration remains the same. When I first met a CEO as a 20-year-old, I told myself that one day, I would be on that side of the table. That goal still drives me.”
In tech, leadership, or life — nothing great works on the first attempt. Or the second. Would you agree?
But persistence + discipline + repetition... That’s the real cheat code.
And funnily enough, the best reminder didn’t come from Silicon Valley or some innovation summit…
It came from a teenager in Wuhan mastering a centuries-old performance art. He’s performing dingwan, a traditional bowl-balancing act that feels like a real-life physics engine stress test — stacked ceramic bowls, flipped mid-air, all while standing on a moving beam.
On the first attempt? He fails. The crowd holds its breath.
On the second? Perfect execution.
Bowls stacked. Balance flawless. Crowd cheering like he just pushed a production fix that saved the entire company. And that’s the lesson we constantly forget in tech:
➡️ Your first prototype will fail.
➡️ Your first pitch won’t land.
➡️ Your first leadership attempt might wobble.
But the second, third, and tenth..
That’s where mastery is built. That’s where resilience forms. That’s where leaders are forged. If a teenager can keep a calm mind while balancing ceramic bowls on a moving beam…
we can certainly stay steady through market turbulence, or a tough sprint review. Old skills. New generation.
Old wisdom. New industries.
Persistence wins — in performance, in leadership, and in technology.
Keep going. Winners aren’t the ones who get it right first.
They’re the ones who don’t stop until they do.
#Leadership via @chinainside #TechLeadership#Innovation#Persistence#Discipline#NextGenTalent#GrowthMindset#Resilience#EngineeringCulture#MindsetMatters#FutureOfWork#Inspiration#HighPerformance
There is a reason sustained success feels rare.
It requires something most people underestimate: disciplined repetition.
Small disciplined actions compound into undeniable outcomes.
The extra preparation before a meeting.
The commitment to improve one skill consistently.
The decision to follow through when enthusiasm fades.
The habit of showing up even when recognition is absent.
None of these actions feel extraordinary in isolation.
In fact, they often feel mundane.
But over time, they build depth and they create trust and trust, compounded long enough, turns into opportunity.
What many describe as “momentum” is usually the visible phase of long-term discipline.
There is no shortcut around consistency. There is only the choice to maintain standards when they no longer feel exciting.
The professionals who separate themselves are rarely doing dramatic things.
They are doing the right small things repeatedly, deliberately, and patiently.
Compounding does not demand intensity.
It demands endurance.
#Leadership#ProfessionalGrowth#CareerStrategy#Consistency#LongTermSuccess
Founder and CEO of Transcend, a global community of transformational leaders | CEO & exec team advisor | Leadership retreat facilitator | Co-author of Leadership Thresholds, out 19 Nov | Association of Coaching fellow
“If I move too slowly, I could loose momentum. If I move too quickly, I could make mistakes.”
This is a sentiment I’ve heard from more than one CEO in coaching sessions. And it captures one of the hardest disciplines in leadership: strategic patience.
We live in a world that prizes speed—quarterly results, instant feedback, immediate impact. The pressure to act quickly, to “do something,” can feel overwhelming. Yet, the most effective leaders often know that the real power lies not in speed, but in timing.
Strategic patience is not inaction. It is the discipline of holding steady, resisting the temptation for premature moves, and waiting for the moment when action will have its greatest effect. It is the art of slowing down in order to go faster and have more impact later.
Through my work with CEOs, here are some lessons I’ve observed:
1. Timing is strategy.
A brilliant idea launched too early can fail just as easily as a weak idea. Strategic patience is about sensing when the market, the culture, or the organization is ready.
2. The long game matters more than quick wins.
Leaders face enormous pressure for immediate results, but sustainable value comes from playing the long game. Patience allows a leader to invest in compounding growth rather than chasing applause.
3. Slowing down creates speed later.
Taking time to align teams, clarify purpose, and build trust may feel slow at first—but it leads to faster execution and fewer setbacks in the long run.
4. Emotional steadiness is a strategy.
Strategic patience requires leaders to manage their own anxiety, investor demands, and team restlessness. Calm leadership creates confidence, especially in uncertain times.
5. Some things can’t be rushed.
Culture change, leadership transitions, and trust-building don’t happen overnight. The leader’s role is to create the right conditions and then let things unfold.
6. Patience is not procrastination.
There’s a fine line between waiting wisely and avoiding tough calls. The most self-aware CEOs learn to distinguish between the two.
7. Patience builds resilience.
The more a leader practices holding steady through uncertainty, the more confidence they build in themselves—and in their teams.
At its heart, strategic patience is about trust & wisdom.
It’s easy to mistake patience for passivity. But in truth, it is an active form of leadership. It demands courage—the courage to hold the line when others push for haste, the courage to let go of control, and the courage to believe in the long-term vision even when the short-term is noisy.
In CEO coaching, I often see leaders discover that their biggest breakthroughs come not from doing more, but from learning when not to act. Strategic patience, practiced well, becomes a quiet but powerful advantage.
Where in your leadership are you being invited to practice patience—not as a delay, but as a strategy?
Because sometimes, the boldest move a leader can make is to wait.
What if patience was a competitive edge?
I know it goes against the grain, but I think patience might be what separates startups that shouldn't exist from the rest.
It's too easy to pivot every week or burn $ in random experiments to try different audiences.
Every time I meet a founder like that, I'm wondering:
"Who are you really?"
"What do you believe?"
"What do you stand for?"
As always there are nuances, but I believe patience can be an edge for Junus and I as we build Glorious.
Patience isn’t about waiting. It’s about strategic endurance - we must stand for something, we must be consistent, and we need to be able to afford it.
But just still being around, still saying the same things over and over again, when many change and pivot: we have evidence clients like this. I guess it's reassuring.
The best hires take time to find. Product-market fit isn’t a 6-month sprint. Trust takes years, not tweets.
Play the long game. Most people won’t. That’s where the edge is.
**The Sales Process: A Marathon, Not a Sprint**
In the fast-paced world of sales, it's easy to get caught up in the rush for quick wins and immediate results. But let's take a step back and consider the bigger picture. The sales process is not a sprint; it's a marathon.
🏃♂️ **Endurance Over Speed**
Just like in a marathon, endurance and consistency are key. Building relationships, understanding client needs, and crafting tailored solutions take time. It's about pacing yourself, maintaining a steady approach, and being prepared for the long haul.
🤝 **Building Trust**
Trust isn't built overnight. It requires multiple touchpoints, genuine interactions, and delivering on promises. Each conversation, follow-up, and meeting is a step forward in establishing a strong foundation of trust with your prospects.
🔍 **Deep Understanding**
Rushing through the sales process often leads to missed opportunities and misunderstandings. Take the time to deeply understand your client's challenges, goals, and pain points. This thorough understanding allows you to offer solutions that truly meet their needs, setting you apart from competitors who may only be looking for a quick sale.
📈 **Long-Term Success**
Focusing on short-term gains might give you a temporary boost, but it's the long-term relationships and recurring business that drive sustainable success. A marathon mindset encourages nurturing leads, continuous learning, and adapting to evolving market dynamics.
💡 **Patience Pays Off**
Patience is a virtue in sales. It allows you to stay calm under pressure, think strategically, and make decisions that benefit both you and your clients in the long run. Remember, it's about creating value over time, not just hitting immediate targets.
Embrace the marathon mindset in your sales process. Pace yourself, focus on building lasting relationships, and stay committed to understanding and serving your clients. The journey might be longer, but the rewards will be worth it.
#SalesStrategy#MarathonNotSprint#SalesProcess#RelationshipBuilding#LongTermSuccess#CustomerFirst
Dear friends, in these times, where many are feeling discouraged by the current challenges in the gaming job market, I want to offer an uplifting story. It’s a tale of perseverance and triumph that I hope will inspire and remind us that resilience can lead to unexpected success.
It's about a man who, after graduating first in his class in college and eighth in medical school in his home country, sought greater opportunities in the United States, landing in New York. However, his transition was far from easy. The loneliness and adjustment to a new study environment hindered his performance, leading him to miss out on his preferred residency program. Yet, he viewed this setback as a hidden opportunity, switching disciplines and discovering his true calling.
Despite his exceptional training and board exam successes, numerous challenges, including job availability, kept him from securing the type of full-time position he wanted. Undeterred, he worked as a house doctor across various New York towns, continually moving with his newlywed wife to make ends meet. He began to wonder if he would ever land a stable, long-term role.
Fate took him to another state where he finally landed a position at a medical practice, albeit with very modest pay. When the senior partner unexpectedly had to step back due to health reasons, and the second most senior partner didn't want to manage the practice, he was thrust into the topmost leadership role as employee number 3. Embracing this chance, over 15 years he expanded the practice significantly to three locations and nearly 30 staff, turning it into one of the most successful for its specialty in the region.
The man at the heart of this story, revealed now as my father, Dr. Behzad Satvat, embodies the spirit of never giving up. His journey from struggling to adapt in a new country to leading a successful medical practice is a reminder that opportunities often arise in the most unexpected ways and at the most unexpected times.
My father's experiences, especially during those lean initial years in the U.S., when my mother literally made some of my clothes and toys and our curtains to save money, are a testament to the fact that life's setbacks can pave the way for unforeseen opportunities. They remind me daily to remain resilient, adaptable, and open to the twists and turns of life.
May this story inspire you as it does me. Remember, life is full of surprises, and sometimes, it's the unexpected turns that lead to the most rewarding paths.
I believed success would come quickly if I worked hard & made smart decisions.
But here’s the truth no one talks about:
In the first year of Finvision, I cycled 25 km to meet clients. I had no big office, no flashy branding, and certainly no shortcuts.
Some meetings went well; others ended with polite rejections.
There were moments I questioned myself:
– “Why is this taking so long?”
– “Am I doing something wrong?”
But then I remembered the value of waiting.
Think of a Bamboo plant. For the first few years, it hardly grows above ground. All its energy goes into building a strong root system.
But once the roots are established, the bamboo shoots up rapidly.
Entrepreneurship is much the same. The slow, unseen effort is what builds the foundation for exponential growth.
Today, Finvision Financial Services manages assets worth multi hundred crores. But this didn’t happen overnight.
It took years of consistent effort, countless conversations, and the discipline to stay focused even when results were slow to show.
Patience allowed me to:
– Build trust with clients, one relationship at a time.
– Learn from failures without rushing to quick fixes.
– Create a strong foundation that could sustain long-term growth.
In today’s world, we’re told to “hustle harder,” “move fast,” and “scale quickly.” But, rushing can lead to poor decisions and burnout.
If you’re feeling impatient about your progress, remember this: the best things in life—and business—take time.
Patience isn’t about sitting idle; it’s about working consistently and trusting the process.
So, slow down.
Focus on what truly matters.
Let your efforts compound over time.
Have you faced moments where patience helped you succeed?
#business#success#growth#patience
Three Lessons About Entrepreneurship from Tope Awotona, Founder of Calendly
Lesson 1: Pain is the best teacher.
Calendly didn’t start with a grand vision — it started with frustration. Tope was just tired of endless back-and-forth emails trying to schedule meetings. No tool did it well, so he built one himself. No coding background. No team. Just a deep understanding of a problem every professional faces.
The takeaway: When something drives you crazy — and everyone else too — don’t just complain. Solve it. That’s where great businesses begin.
Lesson 2: You don’t have to be first — you just have to be better.
Scheduling software existed long before Calendly, but Tope focused on simplicity. One link. Zero friction. A clean, beautiful experience that made people want to use it. He bootstrapped the company with $200,000 of his own savings while working a full-time job — no investors, no hype, just a product people loved enough to share.
The takeaway: Innovation isn’t always about invention — it’s about reimagining what already exists through empathy and design.
Lesson 3: Persistence beats pedigree.
Tope grew up in Nigeria, moved to the U.S. as a teenager, and faced every barrier you can imagine — immigration issues, investor bias, near bankruptcy. But he never quit. That persistence turned Calendly into a $3 billion global brand used by tens of millions of people.
The takeaway: You don’t need perfect credentials. You need staying power.
Calendly wasn’t built on connections or capital — it was built on frustration, focus, and the relentless pursuit of a better way to book a meeting.
What’s one frustration in your life that could be your next big idea?