Written by Ash Taylor, Director, The Business Clubhouse

Every morning without fail, my dog Lily races into the garden with one mission: to catch a rabbit or mouse. She knows exactly where to go - the hedge line, the base of the office wall, all the secret spots where something might emerge.

She sits. She waits. Minutes turn into hours. Sometimes it’s pouring rain. Other times, the sun beats down. She never complains. She never quits. She never loses focus. She never gets bored. 

Lily has never caught a rabbit. And yet, every single day, she’s back at it - alert, patient, and completely committed. 

Persistence: The Difference Between Chasing and Catching

Watching Lily, I realised she embodies something many of us struggle with: persistence without immediate reward. 

In leadership and business, we often chase goals like Lily chases rabbits. Fired up and eager in the beginning, but when we don’t see results quickly, we lose steam. We question ourselves. We pivot prematurely. We give up.

“More than 90% of failure comes from quitting.” Not from lack of talent. Not from lack of opportunity. From lack of staying power. 

Lily has no such issues. She teaches us what true commitment looks like. Not just passion, but a tough mental attitude. She doesn’t let the rain distract her, the empty hours discourage her, or past failures define her. She just keeps showing up. 

The Steel Mindset

A tough mental attitude is like steel, strong but flexible. Under pressure, brittle iron breaks. Steel bends, absorbs the strain, and comes back stronger. Success works the same way. You need to be resilient. 

Life will throw distractions, challenges, and discomfort at you but if your goal truly matters, you keep going. You adjust your tactics. You wait for the opportunity. And when it shows up, just like Lily, you're ready. 

Patience: The Quiet Partner of Persistence

One of the marks of maturity in leadership is the ability to work today for a reward that may come tomorrow, or might not arrive until next year. Lily isn’t checking her watch. She isn’t asking for results. Her satisfaction lies in the pursuit, not just the catch.

That’s what persistence requires: the discipline to delay gratification.

Research shows that those who can delay gratification are far more likely to succeed. Why? Because they’re focused on the long game, not just short-term wins. 

Priorities and the Power of Planning

Persistence is not about doing everything. It’s about doing the right things repeatedly. Like Lily returns to her favourite hiding spots, leaders must return to the habits, decisions, and actions that align with their vision.

Make it simple: 

1. What’s Imperative today? 
2. What’s Important but can wait? 

Revisit this list. Adjust as needed but don’t abandon your mission.

Final Thought: Be Like Lily

Lily may never catch a rabbit but in her unwavering focus, her refusal to quit, and her joyful pursuit - she’s already winning.

In the garden of life and leadership, success doesn’t always come quickly, but those who keep showing up, rain or shine, eventually find what they’re looking for, or they discover something even more meaningful.

So the next time you feel tempted to give up, think of Lily in the garden. Sit. Wait. Watch. Persist. Your breakthrough might be just beneath the hedge.

Written by Ash Taylor, Director, The Business Clubhouse