“The lesson is that one person with a persistent vision can make change happen, whether climbing rocks or delivering services.” Seth Godin, Tribes.
That sentence relates to a passage in Seth’s book where he talks about Chris Sharma and how he changed the way rock climbers looked at scaling a cliff. Instead of the normal left/right/, left/right approach of hand over hand, Sharma jumps (known as a dyno).
It’s a leap of faith at its purest, since a fall while rock-climbing can be a long way down.
Seth’s analogy is that because of Sharma’s vision that the status quo needn’t be the norm, and his persistence in experimenting with how far you could push the limitations of the dyno, things changed. Other climbers experimented, and soon the dyno wasn’t the exception anymore. It may not be the rule, but it’s not the exception.
Finding Your Dyno
Persistent vision is difficult. Persistence in itself is tough. Much like a rock climber, you need stamina. Stamina to see something through; to reach the endgame. Like rocks that jut out, obstacles will stand in your way. And the more persistent your vision, the more frequent and tougher the obstacles will be.
But that’s why it’s called persistence. That’s why you need to reach out and find your dyno and push it to its limits. That’s why you need to take your leap of faith and trust in the safety of your landing.
Change doesn’t happen overnight but it does happen.
The Story of Persistent Vision
At the tale end of 2008, I had a vision. It was maybe a little ambitious and perhaps just a little crazy. But it was something I knew could work, and believed in 100%. And when I believe in something, I’m persistent to the end.
I didn’t know if my vision would work. I didn’t know if people would share it, or whether I’d be the lonely guy with a plan and a road map that no-one wanted to read. Thankfully, though, people did. Then more people. And when obstacles got in the way, the persistence that had started in me had also started in others, and they barged their way through the obstacles.
They jumped their dynos.
Just over 12 months later, a group of persistent people with a shared vision had raised over $91,000 for charity (which broke $100,000 in January 2010), and set out their stalls for future dynos to come.
Endgame and Beginnings
This isn’t a story about ego. This is simply a story about how you have the same persistence in you too. How you have the same visions for what matters to you. How you can find your dyno and leapfrog it every single time.
Afraid to start blogging? Write the first word then leave it. Then go back and write another. Then leave it. Go back. Leave. Persist. Jump your dyno – the blog will happen.
Afraid to start your own business? Buy the first product. Store it. Buy another. Store it. Scour the classifieds. Buy another product. Find the audience, write a short advert (could be that first blog post). Persist. Build slowly. Let your stamina feed your persistence and jump your dyno.
The point is, change is waiting for you. Persistence doesn’t mean overnight. Change doesn’t happen overnight. But it does happen.
Ready to jump your dyno?
image: John Kratz
