A while ago, I had what seemed like a promising consult with a well-known organization. I was clear about the value I’d bring—even priced the consult—because the strategy alone was worth it. Their response? Enthusiastic. Receptive. They asked, “What’s next?”

So I delivered.

A proposal followed. Then silence.

I followed up once. I was given a reason why perhaps the time wasn’t right. I followed up again on the date they projected that the time would be right. Still nothing. I tried to engage from another angle. Still nothing. Fast forward to this month. When I checked back, I realized that it was almost one year since I first met with that organization.

I decided to send one final email and as I pressed send, something clicked.

At first, I thought I was just being persistent. But what I didn’t realize at the time is that I wasn’t being persistent from alignment—I was operating from scarcity.

Persistence is often applauded as a virtue—in fact it is the eighth step towards riches as outlined by Napoleon Hill in Think and Grow Rich.

The school of thought around persistence, especially from people like Hill or Earl Nightingale (Lead the Field), emphasizes holding the vision, adapting the strategy, and continuing forward despite obstacles.

But here’s the key nuance that people often miss:

Persistence should be tied to vision, not to a specific person or outcome.

If you’re persisting in:

• Reaching out to someone who repeatedly ignores or disrespects your value
• Trying to prove your worth to someone who’s not open to receive it
• Continuing a conversation when there’s no honest or reciprocal engagement

Then you’re no longer persisting toward your vision—you’re persisting in a loop that erodes your energy.

Before my “aha”, a part of me felt… disrespected. Dismissed. Like I had shown my hand and they decided I wasn’t important enough to respond to.

But here’s the truth I had to own:

I wasn’t chasing because I believed in the service anymore. I was chasing the money.

My persisting was driven by scarcity, fear, and an ego that needed validation.

Not all persistence is aligned

Sometimes, what we call “being persistent” is just an unwillingness to release a dead lead… because we’ve tied our worth—or our revenue goals—to someone else’s ‘yes.’

My follow-up wasn’t anchored in serving. It was fueled by the hope that maybe they’d say yes, maybe I’d land a contract. That energy was off. I wasn’t serving. I was subtly chasing.

In the Science of Getting Rich, Wallace D. Wattles emphasizes that we should give more in use value than we receive in cash value. the moment I shifted out of service and into “trying to land that client,” I was out of alignment.

I had already given tremendous value in the consult. My mistake was in trying to force a timeline or outcome that was no longer mine to control.

That’s when I remembered: You never have to push what’s already aligned.

I was so busy trying to prove that my solution was valuable, that I was who they needed, and of course the money was worth it. I had stepped away from my Zone of Genius into a space of proving which is a HUGE energy leak.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

• Clarity is offering your best work—once.
• Self-trust is knowing you don’t need to chase.
• Boundaries are recognizing when silence is the answer.

I now give my full attention, my best thinking, and my most aligned offer—and then I release. Because if someone can’t see the value, no amount of persistence will make them ready.

But your perfect clients? They’ll recognize it the first time.

Journal Reflection Prompts:

• Where am I leaking energy by trying to convince instead of serve?
• What would it look like to follow up once—and then fully let go?
• Is my persistence rooted in fear, scarcity, or self-worth?
• Am I serving or just hoping for validation?
• Do I feel expansion or contraction when I follow up?

If you’ve been forcing what no longer fits—it may be time to realign.

If your sales team is following up with potential clients but the results feel forced, inconsistent, or low-converting—it might not be a training issue. It could be an alignment issue.

Misaligned persistence in any process is costing you more than just missed deals—it’s draining morale, confusing your messaging, and weakening your brand integrity.

Let’s uncover the real constraint. Book a Private Business Alignment Briefing to pinpoint where you’re operating our of sync with your business model, messaging, or client journey—and how to bring it back into strategic alignment for consistent, confident conversions.

Click here to book a Private Business Alignment Briefing to identify what’s off, what it’s costing you, and how to return to powerfully aligned strategy.