I have a long list of themes that I’m going to work through in 2009 – enough for at least a theme a month to see me safely through to the start of a new decade (gulp).
“Tenacity” isn’t on the list.
But when I looked back at some of the conversations that came up in January about audacity and audacious goals, when I thought about how so many of us feel in February after the newness of the New Year has worn off and spring still seems like a distant promise… it was tenacity that sprang to mind.
It seemed to be the natural complement to the jumps and leaps that audacity suggests, turning our attention instead to the slow, dogged, persistent steps we need to make things happen. It felt like the right thing to write about this month. Or perhaps it’s just what I’m needing to hear.
Tenacity:
Persistence, determination, perseverance, doggedness, strength of purpose, tirelessness, indefatigability, resolution, resolve, firmness, patience, purposefulness, staunchness, steadfastness, staying power, endurance, stamina, stubbornness, intransigence, obstinacy, obduracy, pertinacity
(From the Oxford American Writer’s Thesaurus)
Chosen because it’s one thing to have audacious goals: another thing entirely to stick with them.
If you’ve got a writing project that you need to keep working on, or find the extra motivation to polish, or finish, or publish or sell… stick around in February and let’s see if we can’t celebrate some tenacious successes together.
Joanna Young, The Confident Writing Coach
Because our words count
If you’re wondering what I mean by themes, I write posts around a monthly topic, based on the ingredients of Confident Writing, with a few extras thrown in for good measure. I don’t stick rigidly to this during the month, but it does prove a useful way to explore an idea in more depth, and give you the chance to reflect on or take action on a particular issue too.
Photo Credit: Determination by Joanna Young on Flickr
Work with Joanna and learn to express yourself with confidence. Online classes to free the inner writer. Get help writing the pages that you need for an effective presence on the web.
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Joanna,
what a great theme! Do you know that 2009 is the Chinese year of the Ox – and oxen are famous for their tenacity? They are slow, but they keep plodding on and they are moving the cart.
I have been so audacious and am now blogging three times a week. But without tenacity I am afraid I would not stick to that schedule. So, as you wrote, tenacity is the complement of audacity.
Ulla Hennigs last blog post..The Lord of the Dance
Joanna, Great theme, of course, but I’ll have to say you surprised me with this one. I was sure you’d pick something to do with love, relationships … being Valentine’s Day month. But I guess JJL has that covered. Anyway, if anyone saw the Super Bowl yesterday, they witnessed an amazing demonstration of tenacity from both teams. Imagine if we could write with that kind of tenacity! To never give up, never say die.
Brad Shorrs last blog post..Twitter – The One Stop Social Media Shop
Wow, Joanna it’s as if you read my mind and knew exactly what I needed this month. Tenacity is the perfect follow-on to audacity. It can be even more difficult to stick to it when you are not seeing immediate results. You begin to doubt your audacious goals and there is a temptation to retreat to the comfort of your old ways. I look forward to this month and know that by the end of February I’ll be that much closer to my goals!
Karen Swims last blog post..And the Theme is Love
This is really a timely reminder of my own path and how I need to be tenacious to achieve my goals. Sometimes I have such an urge to lay down my tools and rest, but I haven’t completed the task at hand.
Wyatt at Pan Historias last blog post..Do You Want to Be a Great Writer?
Joanna,
A wonderful idea for your new theme.
Someone once said that success is two per cent inspiration and ninety-eight per cent perspiration.
Not to question the value of creative ideas, imagination and inspiration – these are wonderful virtues – but I would highly doubt that any form of great feat can be achieved without the tenacity to stick with it and see it through until the required tasks are complete.
Andrews last blog post..How healthy is Apple’s disclosure?
Tenacity it is. Smiling here. I love that theme. One painting on tenacity, coming up.
Janice Cartiers last blog post..Right Down To The Wire
That’s the perfect theme for February. For most, the excitement of their New Year’s resolutions has worn off. Many have fallen into their old habits or patterns. With a continued winter looming, February becomes the time to dig in your heels and push your goals forward.
I think we should view our New Year goals as we do our mission statements for businesses or blogs. Something to build upon and center our life around. That makes them easier to achieve.
Gennaros last blog post..Groundhog Day In Punxsutawney: A Travel Guide
Ulla, thanks for reminding me about the year of the ox. That’s a nice tie in… maybe there’s a post in it. Thanks. I feel the same about some of my writing and other goals – setting them is one thing, making them happen something else entirely.
Brad, I’m afraid I always resist what’s expected of me! Plus I’m a bit anti-love. That sounds awful… but I don’t like schmaltz. ‘Fraid I missed the Superbowl – I was following it on Twitter, but most people were talking about the adverts! Very odd.
Karen, yes that’s it absolutely. I often feel like we’re on similar paths – I wasn’t reading your mind, but trying to fathom my own. I like the feeling we’re stumbling along together
Wyatt hello, and thanks for taking the time to hare that. Boy, sometimes I feel like putting down my tools too… but like you say, there’s still work to be done, so there’s nothing for it but to keep on going.
Andrew I agree – it’s one thing to have a concept or an idea, another to turn it into something of value, or to complete what you set out to do
Janice Well you’re ahead of me – you’ve already stuck to your guns and achieved your deadline! And a beautiful painting
Gennaro I like that: Something to build upon and center our life around. It’s working from a value set, a way of being rather than a set of specific tasks… and then making that central to what we do. Thanks.
I’ve always liked this quote about tenacity, or persistence as I am more likely to say.
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” I don’t have an author on this, but I’ve had this in one of my journals for years.
Great theme – especially for February!
Bos last blog post..And So Today the Sun Shines
Awesome theme Joanna,
As a newbie to blogging I welcome this theme as we need to be reminded at times that it is tenacity that will see us through.
Tenacity is a theme I will be following as it is an area that I am still weak in.
Now to get those unpublished posts completed.
David Atkinsons last blog post..3 Bloggers I Would Love To Meet
Whenever I think of the word tenacity, I picture a terrier holding onto a chew toy and not letting go, not matter how much shaking or lifting goes on.
And that’s how I picture my desire to succeed with my blog. I too have jaws of steel and I won’t let go.
Alex Fayle | Someday Syndromes last blog post..Getting through it on your own: The Deep Friar interview
Joanna,
Tenacity is a wonderful choice for theme this month. I’m reminded of a quote (though I don’t recall the exact words or who said it): A published writer is an unpublished writer who kept submitting.
Lillie Ammanns last blog post..500 Posts … Now What?
Bo Thanks for sharing the quote… I’m going to grab it for my quote post next week. Your daily blogging schedule is a great example of how tenacity pays off… and takes you into places you couldn’t anticipate when you set out on that journey
David, yes, tenacity and patience are definitely qualitities that will help in the early days of a blog… sometimes it feels like it’s not worth it, but you just need to keep going, keep writing, keep building it up and then you reach a point where it starts to take care of itself… But slow and steady is fine. How about just finishing off one of those unpublished posts for now?
Alex great image, thanks! I will forever now associate someday syndrome with jaws of steel…
Hi Lillie, I’m glad people are finding it a useful theme for February. I like the quote about submission. Like Alex said, there are qualities of doggedness (literally!) that writers need as well as the creative aptitude. Congrats again on the 500 post milestone.
As others have said, February is a time when January’s bright new resolutions are called to task. I look forward to your upcoming encouragements to be tenacious.
I’ve heard you have to do something 21 times to make it a habit. Since February has 28 days, it gives a little extra time for slow starters like me.
Terry Heaths last blog post..Crows and Social Proof
Mmmm… licking my lips with this one Joanna. Resolve, as opposed to my Taurean stubbornness, has always been one of my favorite self-coaching words. Yet also asking myself, “with what?” and “for the sake of what?” so I don’t fall in that trap of being tenacious with ill-conceived decisions. As you know I have just returned from a trip which seemed to somewhat delay the New Year for me, and I am feeling like I am having a second chance at the first week of the year right now!
Thus I agree with the comments shared here about your tenacious follow-up being good to audacious, and an assumption we’ve already taken that journey of good preparation with you. If not, your archives are a very wonderful thing…
Rosa Says last blog post..Set your price, charge it, and stand behind it
Another incredible theme from Joanna. I’m looking forward to read on your piece of words!
wilsons last blog post..Too Hot and Too Spicy is Bad For Your Health!
Hi Joanna. You’ve got me thinking that in February we should renew our vows (resolutions) — if they’re not serving us, there’s no need to give up. Just re-invent or adjust, and then sprinkle with some of this tenacity you’ve mentioned. A perfect theme for this month.
Davinas last blog post..Guest Post: Emotions — The Universal Language
Wilson, it’s good to hear that the theme is going down well with you all. Thanks for taking the time to leave your feedback.
Davina, I was thinking similar thoughts – we get a chance with each new month to set out with determination and resolve, not just January. In fact, why not set out like that with each day? (She says, to herself…)
Terry, that’s a good point about 21 times… yep, we’ve still got enough days left to get where we want to be
Rosa, yes, I think they’re approaches that need to go together, and, as always, coupled with good intention. Which I hope is the way of answering – or at least exploring – “for the sake of what?”.