The Importance of Tenacity for an Entrepreneur

Introduction: A Lesson from Home Depot

Last night I went to Home Depot with my daughter to buy a power drill she could use to work on her robot. By the way, I'm happy to say that we are breaking gender stereotypes and that is a typical day at casa Moura.

Anyway, I'm not sure if you've been to the Home Depot on SW 8th but they must have had shoplifting problems there because they have a locked gate in front of each of the shelves where the tools are. The lock has a combination that I assume they tell the staff.

We were served by an older Hispanic gentleman who after several minutes of fumbling with the lock, clearly had forgotten the combination. Not to be deterred, he muttered something, disappeared for a moment and returned with a small wrench, and proceeded to dismantle the part of the gate that held the lock so he could open it and get us our drill.

In any case, this display of sheer tenacity made me think about the tenacity of successful entrepreneurs. I can tell you were wondering for a minute how I'd make the transition to sharing something relevant to growing your business today!

Why Tenacity Beats Intelligence

I was reading a great article in Entrepreneur Magazine about how tenacity is even more important than intelligence in determining success.

Now we've all heard stories of entrepreneurs who failed multiple times but kept pushing through until they succeeded. The data backs this up: the average successful entrepreneur fails 3.8 times before building a sustainable business.

Famous Entrepreneurs Who Never Gave Up

J.K. Rowling

Rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter saw the light of day. She was a single mother living on welfare, writing in cafes while her baby slept. Today, she's worth over $1 billion.

Walt Disney

Fired by a newspaper editor for "having no imagination and having no good ideas." He went bankrupt with his first animation studio before creating Mickey Mouse and building the Disney empire.

Oprah Winfrey

Fired as a news reporter for being "too emotionally invested." She transformed that emotional connection into the most successful talk show in television history and became a media mogul.

Albert Einstein

Reportedly worked for days on end on his mind-bending problems, facing skepticism from the scientific community. His theory of relativity was initially rejected by multiple academic journals.

Colonel Harland Sanders (KFC)

Founded KFC at age 56 after his secret chicken recipe was rejected 1,009 times before a restaurant finally said yes. Proof that you're never too old to start.

But what does it take to create that fire in the belly, and that feeling that you'll never give up?

#1: Love What You Do

Especially because you'll spend a LOT of time doing it. Don't go into a type of business because you think it will make money—do it because you love it so much that you lose track of time while doing it.

Your passion will show and people will naturally gravitate toward you.

Questions to Ask Yourself

#2: Put Skin in the Game

If you're still accepting money from your parents, stop it. See Mariano for a loan.

It wasn't until Zig Ziglar got so low on cash that they cut off the power to his apartment that he really kicked his ass into gear to become a top salesman.

It's like the difference you see in the kids who pay their way through college and the ones whose parents pay. Who do you think works harder to get an A?

Ways to Put Skin in the Game

• Invest your own savings: Even $5,000 of your own money creates more commitment than $50,000 from someone else
• Quit your day job: Set a deadline to go full-time (with 6 months of expenses saved)
• Sign a lease: Physical or financial commitment raises the stakes
• Pre-sell to customers: Take deposits before building—now you HAVE to deliver
• Public commitment: Announce your launch date publicly—accountability works

#3: Master Your Focus

In previous weeks I've talked about the importance of eliminating distractions but consider this.

On average, we spend 5 hours per day on our phones, and if you think I'm kidding, then enable your screen time setting on your smartphone. This means that you're interrupting yourself on average 2-3 times per hour.

The Focus Challenge: Try This for 1 Week

So try this—for 1 week, only check your emails 3 times per day for 10 mins each, and try blocking times on your calendar where your team knows your phone will be turned off so you can focus.

What Venture Capitalists Really Look For

If you listen to what VCs look for in a company, it isn't the idea—it's the team.

They look for tenacity because they know that an entrepreneur who doesn't take no for an answer can will their company to succeed.

Top 5 Traits VCs Evaluate in Founders

Conclusion: Find Your Fire

Find that fire in your belly, even if you've been at this for a while and it needs a little rekindling, and you'll be unstoppable.

Tenacity isn't something you're born with—it's a muscle you build. Every time you push through resistance, every time you solve a problem like that Home Depot employee with the wrench, you're strengthening your entrepreneurial grit.

Remember: the difference between success and failure often isn't talent, funding, or even the idea itself. It's showing up every single day, even when it's hard. Especially when it's hard.