"Si vous n'êtes pas têtu, vous abandonnerez les expériences trop tôt."

Being stubborn can be a double-edged sword. But in the context of experiments and innovation, it’s an asset. This idea is simple: to achieve breakthrough results, you’ve got to hang in there. If you give up too soon, you might miss out on something incredible just around the corner.

Imagine Thomas Edison, the relentless inventor. Why does his story matter? Because he failed—over and over. When he was working on the light bulb, he faced countless failures. Yet, he didn't see them as failures. He saw each attempt as a step closer to success. Without his stubbornness, we might still be living in a world lit by candles.

Now, let’s drop into the world of modern startups. Think about Sara Blakely, the founder of Spanx. She faced rejection after rejection. Investors laughed at her idea of footless pantyhose. But she was stubborn. She believed in her product. Eventually, her persistence paid off. Today, Spanx is a billion-dollar empire, and it all came from Sara’s refusal to quit.

So, what’s the takeaway? It’s about grit. When you believe in an idea, you need to stick with it, even when things get tough. But let's get practical. How do you apply this wisdom in your own life?

Start by setting small, achievable goals. Break your big dream into bite-sized pieces. This makes it less daunting and gives you a sense of progress. Celebrate those small victories—they’ll keep you motivated. Next, surround yourself with a support system. Friends, mentors, family—people who believe in you and your vision. They’ll keep you grounded when you’re tempted to throw in the towel.

And here’s a relatable scenario. Picture this: You’ve got an idea for a new app. It’s a dating app with a twist—one that matches people based on their Spotify playlists. Cool, right? You pitch it to a few investors, and they’re not convinced. They think it’s too niche. But you’re stubborn. You tweak the app, add new features, and keep pitching. You get more rejections, but you also get valuable feedback. You adjust your approach, refine your pitch, and finally, a small investor sees the potential. They fund your project, and the app takes off. Users love it, and before you know it, you’ve tapped into a community of music lovers who are tired of swiping left or right. Success—thanks to that stubborn streak.

Remember, being stubborn doesn’t mean ignoring feedback. It means filtering out the noise and focusing on constructive criticism. It’s about finding that balance between staying the course and adapting when necessary.

In essence, the stubbornness that keeps you from giving up is the same quality that can lead you to your next big success. So, next time you're on the brink of quitting, think about Edison or Blakely. Think about your dating app. And remember: the breakthrough might just be one more experiment away. Keep at it.