If and when you get a chance,

...try discerning the 'killer instinct' of a chess champion, often clad in a calm demeanour, but very evident through his actions that are a result of consistently looking ahead several moves...

...imagine yourself in the shoes of a champion marathon runner who perseveres for 26 miles and then pumps in extra energy to take the decisive lead in the last stretch...

...carefully follow the gaze of a mountaineer who may climb up at a steady pace looking down, but who looks up at regular intervals to mentally plot or correct a route to the top... 

...try living the nausea of a boxing champion who is battered, bloody and bruised on the face, with no strength in his arms and legs, but is the one who does not lose sight of the 'target' where he must land his punches to score points consistently...

...try following the train of thought of an excellent orator whose mind's 'eye' runs through the words ahead of his delivery of a mesmerizing speech...  

When these marvellous people are busy putting up their best show, they are predisposed to numerous distractions, impeding pain, weakness within, shortness of breath, mind drawing a blank, and stomach tied up in knots...

Then, what keeps them ticking...? It is TENACITY, my friend!

Some of you may be inclined to liken these examples to one’s determination or grit.

Essentially, tenacity is different.

Your grit or determination helps you hold on to your resolve until the very end, but it is tenacity that enables you to attain an edge over your competitors. It is tenacity that gives you the ‘killer instinct’ that makes the difference between the ‘Gold’ and the ‘Silver’!

So, how do you develop tenacity?

Good news is that tenacity can be inculcated!

In my next post, I will talk about some methods of infusing tenacity into our actions.