The Upside of Being Stubborn: Why Grit, Resilience, and a Little Bit of Stubbornness Are the Real Keys to Success

If you’ve ever been told you’re stubborn, you might have felt the sting of criticism. But here’s a thought: what if that very trait, the one people think you should tone down, is actually one of your greatest strengths as an entrepreneur?

I’ve seen it again and again with the leaders and founders I work with. The ones who build something truly remarkable aren’t always the most gifted, the most resourced, or even the most strategic. They’re the ones who refuse to give up. They have that quiet (and sometimes loud) determination to keep going, to hold onto their vision even when the path gets messy, uncertain, or painfully slow.

That’s not just stubbornness. That’s grit.

Grit: The Engine Behind Every Great Idea

Psychologist Angela Duckworth describes grit as the combination of passion and perseverance toward long-term goals. It’s not about bursts of effort; it’s about consistency. The ability to keep showing up long after the initial excitement has worn off.

Every innovation, every business turnaround, every cultural transformation I’ve seen succeed has grit at its core. It’s what keeps you pushing forward when results take longer than expected or when doubt creeps in.

But lean in, because here’s the secret: grit looks a lot like stubbornness from the outside. The difference is purpose. Stubbornness for the sake of ego can blind you. But stubbornness anchored in purpose can change everything.

Resilience: The Art of Bouncing Back and Forward

If grit is what keeps you moving, resilience is what helps you recover when you’ve been knocked off course. It’s the ability to take a hit, learn from it, and use that lesson as fuel for what’s next.

Resilient entrepreneurs don’t avoid failure; they metabolise it. They turn setbacks into insights. They adapt, but they don’t abandon their mission.

That’s where stubbornness comes in again. It’s that internal voice that says, “I’m not done yet.” The part of you that refuses to let go of the vision, even when the tactics need to shift. You're not denying reality; you're rewriting it.

The Power Trio: Grit, Resilience, and Stubbornness

When you combine these three forces, you create something unstoppable.

• Grit keeps you in the game long enough to make progress.

• Resilience helps you recover when things don’t go as planned.

• Stubbornness anchors you to your purpose so you don’t get blown off course by every new trend, challenge, or opinion.

Together, they form the backbone of entrepreneurial success. They are the quiet strength behind every “overnight success” story that actually took ten years.

A Final Thought

If you’ve ever been told you’re too stubborn, take it as a sign you’re made for this. The world doesn’t need more people who give up at the first hurdle. It needs leaders who are bold enough to hold their ground, curious enough to adapt, and gritty enough to keep going.

So stay stubborn about your purpose, your impact, and the vision you’re building. Because sometimes, the secret to success isn’t about finding the easiest path. It’s about refusing to stop walking.

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