In the journey of leading a Small or Medium-Sized Business (SMB), perseverance is undoubtedly a cornerstone of success. The ability to stay the course when challenges mount, when market conditions shift, or when ambitious projects encounter roadblocks is crucial. But is pure, unyielding persistence always the answer?

As leaders, we’re often told to keep pushing, to keep our eye on the goal. However, as the saying goes, doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results can be a recipe for frustration, not progress. This is where the concept of Intelligent Perseverance becomes transformative. It’s about combining that essential tenacity with critical reflection, continuous learning, and the courage to adapt.

The Pitfall of Stubbornness vs. The Wisdom of Reflection

Intelligent Perseverance, a concept with roots stretching back to Plato, emphasizes blending courage with intelligence. It’s the antidote to potentially harmful stubborn perseverance. In the context of your SMB, this means regularly asking: “Is our current approach still the most effective way to reach our goals, or are we just pushing harder on a path that needs adjustment?”

One of the most effective ways I’ve found, both for myself and in advising business leaders, is to build in dedicated time for reflection. This isn’t about taking time away from “doing”; it’s about making the “doing” more effective.

A Practical Framework: Bookending Your Day with Strategy

Consider a simple yet powerful routine:

Morning Strategic Huddle (with yourself or your team – 30 minutes): Before diving into the day’s urgent tasks, take time to review yesterday’s outcomes and clarify today’s true priorities. What absolutely needs to get done to move your strategic goals forward? What opportunities exist for learning or improvement based on recent experiences? This sets a focused, proactive tone for the day.

End-of-Day Strategic Review (30 minutes): Compare what was accomplished against your plan. Document what remains, and critically assess progress towards longer-term objectives. The end of the day often provides a more realistic lens on what’s achievable and where course corrections might be needed for your projects, processes, or even your technology roadmap.

By “bookending” your days with these reflective practices, you create built-in opportunities to identify when determination might be turning into inflexibility. It allows you to spot dead ends sooner, choose more effective routes to your goals, and ensure your team’s hard work is always intelligently applied.

Intelligent Perseverance in Action – From History to Your Business

History is filled with examples of monumental achievements born from perseverance – Michelangelo’s David, Marie Curie’s discovery of radium, Henry Ford’s Model T. But a closer look reveals these weren’t just acts of stubbornness; they were driven by intelligent perseverance – a cycle of effort, learning, adaptation, and renewed effort.

For your SMB, this might mean:

Persisting with a challenging digital transformation, but intelligently adapting your approach based on team feedback and initial results.
Staying committed to improving customer experience, but being smart about which technology investments will actually move the needle.
Driving towards operational excellence, but regularly reflecting on whether your processes and systems are truly supporting that goal or creating new bottlenecks.

What’s Next

True business resilience isn’t just about enduring; it’s about intelligently adapting and growing stronger through challenges. By fostering a culture of intelligent perseverance, you empower your SMB to not only weather storms but to emerge more focused, efficient, and strategically aligned.
Are your business strategies and technology initiatives guided by intelligent perseverance? If you’re seeking an experienced partner to help you reflect, strategize, and ensure your efforts are yielding the best possible results, Succeed Sooner Consulting is here to help.