Work is not a straight line. It is a series of problems to solve and, on some days, an endless argument among a few colleagues who see the world through very different lenses. I used to think every debate needed a winner. Now I remind myself that the real goal is not to win the room but to move the work forward with integrity.
It takes patience to listen when tempers rise and to separate noise from what actually matters. It takes determination to return to the table after a tough meeting and still give your best. Most progress happens in those quiet, unglamorous moments when I choose to be steady, to breathe, and to focus on the next right action.
So I practice small habits that help me hold the line. I prepare before discussions, I ask better questions, and I document agreements so we do not circle the same issue again. I pick my battles, and when I do speak, I aim to be clear and respectful. Some days this feels like carrying water up a hill, yet that is how foundations are built. One careful trip at a time.
The arguments might not disappear, and the challenges will keep coming. That is the nature of meaningful work. What I can control is how I show up. I will stay determined every single day, not because it is easy, but because it is the only way good work becomes great work.
“It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.” — Confucius
Here is to patience that keeps me grounded and determination that keeps me moving. Tomorrow, I will try again, and that will be enough to start.
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