“Stubbornness is not a lack of intelligence but a lack of flexibility,” remarked the late Steve Jobs. Businesses walk this tightrope of tenacity.
History is rife with stubbornness—some catastrophic, some visionary. Blockbuster laughed off Netflix, a $50 billion blunder. Yet, on the flip side, Winston Churchill’s steadfastness became Britain’s WWII bulwark.
Kodak clung to film in the corporate realm, missing the digital memo. Contrastingly, Henry Ford’s insistence on the Model T revolutionized manufacturing. The lesson? Stubbornness can be the anchor or the sail.
Consider Nintendo, a company that is over a century old, which began with playing cards. They stubbornly pursued entertainment through countless tech evolutions, pivoting to video games and becoming a household name.
Stubbornness isn’t about digging in your heels but knowing when to pivot with purpose. It’s about a resolve that’s informed, not inflexible. It’s the wisdom to say, “This is my stand,” or “This is my new direction.”
So, channel your inner Churchill or Ford when the path is clear. It’s a pivot like Nintendo when the winds change. Because stubbornness, wielded well, isn’t a barrier. It’s a breakthrough.
