Small Perseverance – The Big Secret Behind Leadership Success

What can a small clock teach about leadership? A story in Rising Above proves that persisting in tiny steps leads to massive victories.
Do you think small steps can’t yield big success as a leader? The tale of the young clock in Rising Above – Mastering Success & Complete Happiness (page 274) will change your mind. For new leaders, it’s a lesson in building lasting habits from day one. Middle managers find ways to hit KPIs through incremental progress amid overwhelm. Senior leaders gain the patience needed for long-term strategies.

The story starts with a young clock, eager but terrified by the older clocks’ demand: “30 million ticks in a year.” It felt incapable—much like you facing a chaotic team or giant project. But the elder clock’s advice shifted everything: “Start with one tick per second.” The result? In a year, it hit 31,104,000 ticks—a monumental win from small, steady persistence. Coach Tường Huân concludes: “A journey of a thousand miles begins with one step. Perseverance, not power, unlocks victory’s door.”

For new leaders, this is a guiding light. You don’t need to overhaul your team in a week—start small: 10 minutes daily chatting with staff builds trust. In a month, your team gels. Middle managers tackle pressure this way: instead of swallowing a whole project, break it into weekly chunks—finish a report today, meet the team tomorrow. Senior leaders apply it to vision: don’t revamp the organization overnight—start with one department, then spread out.

Imagine: you’re a middle manager with a 20% sales KPI. Rather than panic, use “small perseverance”—meet one new client daily. In three months, sales soar, and your team learns from you. Rising Above doesn’t just tell stories—it pushes you to act: pick a big goal, split it into daily tasks, and stick to it for 30 days.

The clock tale also shows perseverance doesn’t need innate strength—just resolve. For new leaders, this conquers early failure fears. Middle managers sustain drive amid stacked deadlines. Senior leaders see small shifts—like better internal communication—ripple across the organization.

Try it now: choose a skill to improve (like communication) and practice 15 minutes daily—say, speaking clearer in meetings. In a month, you’ll glow with confidence. Rising Above proves success comes not from leaps, but steady steps—are you ready to walk toward your big win?