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www.privateairny.com Private Air | Winter 2019/2020 52 "Firestarters" in various industries and trades to share advice on what it takes to start, create and even disrupt in order to achieve goals. eir anecdotal circumstances and points of advice also exemplify differences between people who actually make things happen and those who only think about making impactful changes, but never quite get there. #1: Be Persistent with a Purpose Best-selling author, lauded corporate executive and sought- after motivational speaker Steve Pemberton recommends unleashing "the power of persistence" with visceral determination. Having overcome a litany of adversities growing up in the foster care system to ultimately become a C-Suite powerhouse for global leaders the likes of Monster.com, Walgreens and Globoforce, Pemberton has walked the walk when it comes to "surthrival" and perseverance. Relative to the research mentioned above regarding the helpful or hurtful nature of back up plans, for Pemberton there was no such thing. ere was simply no other option than to persist toward his goals, however small or large, that were doggedly pursued one at a time until, collectively, he reached that mountain peak. en, he did it time and time again, also having spent much of his professional life helping others do the same. His childhood experiences not only gave him the resolve and tenacity to stay the course, but to do it with purpose and meaning—for Pemberton, a burning desire to "pay it forward" and help others break through obstacles in their own lives. #2: Consistency Breeds Commitment Ask people if they are committed individuals and many will say "yes," however; commitment is often defined or regarded quite differently from culture to culture, and even person to person. Individuals often assert their commitment to their goals until a circumstance arises that knocks them off balance, comfortably absolving themselves of blame in the process. It's no wonder a whopping 80 percent of New Year's resolutions are purported to fail by February. "In order to remain committed to a goal or cause, one must conduct themselves with steadfast consistency in working toward it, and upholding it when you've achieved it—no matter what hardships present along the way," urges social activist and acclaimed personal injury attorney Christopher Chestnut, partner at e Chestnut Law Firm. Despite Chestnut's amazing early career trajectory, including recognition from former President Barack Obama (who was Senator at the time) for courtroom excellence, earning a National Bar Association award and winning a multi-billion dollar lawsuit against Big Tobacco, he suddenly found himself immersed in challenges threatening his reputation, livelihood and future at large. is included being in a dispute with his former mentor. While Chestnut was faced with possibly "losing it all," having many chances to quit, his devotion to the idea of "justice because you deserve it"—the actual slogan of his law firm—gave him the emotional strength and fortitude to remain committed to the profession he worked so hard to attain. Consistency forges a path and, rather than focusing on the end destination, holding on to the ideals for "why" you want to grow can reinforce your commitment and serve as guideposts to help you navigate those inevitable bumps in the road. #3: Remain in Relentless Pursuit Russian-born Eugene Gold grew up poor, ultimately immigrating to the United States with the hope of a better life. In the process, he faced setbacks too numerous to count, from financial to professional to social. But he was relentless in working toward his career goals. So much so, Gold was coined a "relentless-preneur" for his unwavering belief that rejection actually fuels success. Gold reveres failure and regards rejection as an asset. Gold points out that, "Every single time you fail and every single time you get rejected, you are that much closer to a 'yes' and more knowledgeable at how to get there." It's with this maverick mentality that Gold built a business that's grown by a staggering 4,400 percent. His incredible, fearless determination landed his company at No. 65 on the coveted Inc. 5000, also appearing on Entrepreneur 360 list twice. Producing such staggering "against the odds" results is certainly difficult, but entirely attainable with the right mindset. Another fast track case-in-point is Chi Ta, a self-made millionaire who grew his Airbnb business to $2.4 million upside in nine months, making him one of the world's largest Airbnb hosts by dollar volume. He not only attributes his rapid-fire success to determination, dedication and consistency, but also by being willing to take those calculated risks and leaps of faith needed to push past the status quo and not just be good ... but great. Before growing his Airbnb empire, Ta was working toward his "wealth" goals in the mortgage industry where he served for over a decade. But, when he uncovered gig economy opportunity in the homeshare space and curated what he felt was a powerful strategy related thereto, he brazenly pivoted and shifted his professional point of focus on the new pursuit. Today, Ta is one of the global leaders in his field and his now mentoring others on how to achieve just the same. Gold and Ta are examples of how quickly things can get back on track after an undesirable result. eir mega success demonstrates that people BUSINESS

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