In Times like Now and, in the Future, Patience is truly a Virtue

One of my favorite sports, mountain biking, not only requires a level of skill to avoid a trip to the ER, but also patience. As I mention in the video below, my patience is often tested on rides that involve long climbs.

When enduring a long sustained climb, many thoughts go through my mind. When is this climb going to end? This is harder than I thought! Come on, lungs and legs, keep going! Where is that damn summit?!

​Once I reach the top, the pain is typically rewarded with a beautiful view and an incredibly fun descent! It is this reward that reminds me of how important maintaining patience can be to help get me through the tough climbs.

We are facing a similar challenge in our personal and professional lives. The Shelter-in-Place seems like a long, painful climb before we can return to our “normal” lives. I see many people already out of patience and forgetting about the importance of social distancing. A risky game to play.

Patience plays a huge role in business development, as well. Many professionals struggle with this. They want instant results and often give up if they do not see their “hard work” pay off right away.

“I tried reaching out to that person, but they never got back to me. I assumed they were not interested.”

“I attended an event, but I did not get any work out of it. I will never attend THAT event again."

Statements I hear often. Who really knows the reason why they did not get a reply or receive new work? The timing was off? No need at that moment? Their email got lost in the barrage of other emails?  The person intended to reply but got distracted and forgot? They met several new people but now they need to invest the time to build the trust? The list goes on.

Whether it is during or after Shelter-in-Place, developing relationships takes time and perseverance. The important thing to remember is to stick with it and do not give up on someone too early. Often you will eventually learn why they did not reply to you earlier and appreciate that you kept in touch with them. More importantly, they will appreciate YOU for not giving up on them.

Traditional events may take a while to come back due to COVID-19 but keep an open mind about attending virtual events. And when you do, be patient with the new contacts you meet!

If I gave up in the middle of every long climb on a mountain bike ride because it was hard, I would miss out on a lot of beautiful views and fun descents.

Hang in there during this ultimate test of patience! It will pay off in the long run. And believe me, your patience will be tested even when you get back to your “normal” life.

If you are struggling with how to be patient and develop long-term relationships with contacts, please contact me - 415-350-9423, doug@dougottconsulting.com.

I would be happy to help!