Relentless Persistence

Centuries ago, before the invention of high-powered rifles, refrigerators, or the frozen meat aisle at the grocery store, human hunters were the apex predator on land.

In seeking to feed themselves, their families, and their tribes, human hunters would stalk and kill animals that were stronger, faster, and had biological advantages that made them superior in virtually all respects to early man except one: Relentless Persistence.

How did early man overcome prey that had a biological advantage over them? They used a technique called persistence hunting. The most apt way to describe this technique is using a combination of aggressively giving chase causing the prey to run away, tracking the prey, and stalking after it until they catch up, thereby causing a repeat of this same cycle until their mark became thoroughly and completely exhausted — thereby eliminating any size and speed advantages of the prey — and allowing the hunter to move in for the kill without much of a fight.

Persistence hunting demands that the hunter use their resources (time and energy) wisely to ensure that they can maintain a continuous chase, which in turn requires the prey to use up their energy to the point of exhaustion.

If the hunter does not efficiently expend their energy (or does not have enough energy) or takes too much time, the prey will have more rest, thereby requiring the hunter to expend even more of their resources to take-down their prey (inefficiency) or, worse, cause the hunter to exhaust their resources before their prey (failure).

And you too can find massive success in whatever you set your mind to so long as you have the right mindset, you deploy your resources — time, energy, and knowledge — wisely and efficiently to relentlessly ensure you achieve your outcome whatever challenges stand between you and that result.

URGENCY

It may be somewhat difficult to imagine how a barefoot, spear-wielding, loincloth wearing hunter can be a model for achieving outcomes in our polished-shoe, cell phone-wielding, bespoke suited lawyer culture.

It is not the prey we are interested in, but rather the process.

Urgency, or more appropriately the application of “urgent energy”, is perhaps best described by what it is not: going with the flow, “managing”, or being a victim of circumstance. Rather, urgent energy is used to make our destiny. It is result or outcome-focused, purpose-driven intense actions designed to overcome all obstacles; ignore, circumvent, or crush all impediments; and execute a massive action plan to get to a result.

By way of illustration, if you need to speak with John Doe — a clearly fictitious person — to influence him to want to buy your product in order to achieve your outcome, would you simply call and leave a voicemail message for John Doe once and never call back again? The answer is no — or at least it should be if you want to be successful.

The fact that John Doe won’t return your call is an impediment. A challenge that is surmountable, right? And since urgency demands you ignore, circumvent, or crush impediments, right?

So what can you do when John Doe doesn’t return your call? How about:

1.       Call back the next day and every day thereafter;

2.      Call back and ask to speak with the receptionist and: (a) Ask him/her to schedule a call with Doe; (b) find out when Doe will be back in the office; (c) find out whether he/she can give you Doe’s cell phone number; (d) find out whether he/she can call Doe and conference him in; or (e) find out whether he/she can call Doe and give him your cell phone number or merge the calls.

3.      Write Doe: (a) an email; (b) a typed letter sent certified mail; or (c) a hand-written letter placed in a linen-blend envelope with a dripped wax seal bearing your Company’s crest pressed into the seal before it dries and have it delivered by courier.

4.      Call back and ask to speak with Doe’s co-workers and: (a) Ask whether Doe is alright since he is not returning your call and you are concerned about him; (b) Ask whether Doe’s co-workers can help by contacting Doe and asking him to call you; or (c) Ask whether they can schedule a call with Doe.

5.      Go to Doe’s office in person;

6.      Send cookies to the office with a message telling Doe you have been trying to get in touch with him;

This is what urgency can look like!

It means continuously taking intense action to produce your result.

MAGIC OR ADVANCED SCIENCE

Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic. – Isaac Asimov

Ever meet someone and immediately be awed at their ability to influence result and produce outcomes?

Did it ever feel to you like they were making those results happen magically?

Well, it was… but not in the paranormal or fictional sense.

Any science looks like magic if you do not understand it. Curing incurable diseases (antibiotics), creating unlimited energy from splitting a rock (nuclear energy), or producing flames (friction and white phosphorous) seem like magic… if you do not understand the science.

The science here is part masterful skill, part process or recipe you model, and part is relentless persistence and relentless urgency – see what I did there – towards the outcome until you have what you want.

Whether to believe this is true or not, does not matter.

Like gravity, whether believe in it or not, you will fall to earth just the same if you jump off a cliff.