Patience, More Than A Virtue

May 18th, 2009

by John R. Sedivy

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It has been said that patience is a virtue. For the entrepreneur, patience is more than a virtue – it is a requirement. To be an entrepreneur you must have patience, without it you will not succeed. Good things take time, and will come to those who wait.

An example may be found in “The Complete Guide To Boston’s Freedom Trail” by Charles Bahne. Bahne describes how one famous American entrepreneur, Paul Revere, who is best known for his midnight ride to warn the American Revolutionaries of the approaching British, waited a very long time for recognition of this accomplishment. In the case of Paul Revere – his midnight ride did not become a household name until 85 years after the fact!

I am not suggesting that your business will take 85 years to succeed, I am just making the point that good news takes time to spread. Creating a business with substance is no different. Success should not be expected within hours, days, weeks, or even a year. If you commit to the entrepreneurial path you should be in it for the duration.

Do You Have Patience?
If you want to succeed as an entrepreneur the answer had better be yes. If the answer is no, you must work at it – make it a priority. Your other option is to bring on a partner who possesses enough patience for the two of you.

This is yet another area where Amy and I compliment one another quite well. I joking refer to us as “the tortoise and the hare”. I consider myself the hare in that I very much consider myself a part of the American microwave culture – I expect things instantly – I have near zero patience. On the other hand, Amy has remarkable patience, much more than I will likely ever possess – maybe even too much patience. She is definitely the tortoise of our partnership – slow and steady.

This works quite well for us. Without Amy I may have thrown in the towel early in the business when I did not see instant results. This may seem silly when considering this from a distance, but it is a very real possibility when in the thick of things and attempting to overcome the day-to-day struggles. On the other hand I bring a sense of urgency that may not otherwise be there. I keep things moving quickly, that may otherwise take much longer to accomplish.

Patience is a key attribute that I initially missed when starting my business alone. In hindsight I recognize it’s importance and believe that others should as well. Without patience you will likely be doomed to ditching ideas prematurely, even great ideas that have merit and require time to mature. Good things take time, good news takes time to spread. Consider this when starting a business!

Patience is a key ingredient for the entrepreneurial recipe!

-John R. Sedivy of Cape Cod Branding