Relentlessness starts in the mind; we cannot possess unyielding energy if the mind is polluted with even the slightest doubt. With our minds set, every touchpoint on our journey serves as a beacon. Whether going through, around, or over obstacles, relentless people either win or learn. We may not even want to raise our children to be relentless—it can be both a blessing and a curse—but we should teach them about the breadth and depth of its power.

There is No Such Thing as Overnight Success
Hope is not a strategy. Relentlessness wins. Former trainer of basketball superstars Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, Tim Grover, wrote, “Crave the result so intensely that the work is irrelevant.” Behind every rags-to-riches story lies a person who worked relentlessly on their craft. The path may be long and winding, but with a tenacious spirit, a flexible mindset, and the right resources, we will find a way.

The persistent person conspires with the forces of life every single day, savoring both the pain and the pleasure of the journey. The process is just as significant as the outcome. Whether it’s research, experimentation, or just one more set when our body wants to give up, relentless people don’t stop. With mental, emotional, and physical fortitude, we commit our entire mind, heart, and soul, prepared to endure all potential suffering while in pursuit of our goals. Hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

Think Big, Act Big
There will be haters, but lions don’t concern themselves with the opinions of sheep. To be exceptional, we must pursue excellence—not only for ourselves—but for everyone on our team. High-level success is seldom achieved by those who aren’t dedicated to improving themselves and their team every single day. Chipping away intentionally, deliberately, relentlessly; the bigger we dream, the further we must reach.

For the relentless, anything detrimental to the overall goal should be discarded. Outcome-oriented, relentless people often have an intuition for when changes are needed and assume responsibility for overcoming challenges as they emerge. A hidden force influences their every step. Trials become catalysts. Pain is repurposed to forge character.

These are the foundations of the relentless, who possess a growth mindset and a will that cannot be stopped. While we avoid succumbing to the whispering voices of doubt, we also recognize that today, we are only as good as our most recent performance. Uncompromising, relentless people think big and act big.

Relentlessness is Not All Peaches & Cream
Although everyone can win, not everyone will win. Partially driven by the cultural expectation that children should excel in all areas, mothers might have unreasonable expectations. We’ve all witnessed parents’ overzealous cheering and inappropriate sideline behavior. Knowingly or unknowingly, misguided parents often believe that their children should not only play a sport but that they should be a superstar. Real life may see things play out differently; a healthy reality check can bring overbearing expectations back down to earth. Relentlessness without talent manifests as disappointment. Mothers should instill the virtues of a good attitude, doing our best, and having a winning mindset, but if we find ourselves being unreasonable with ourselves or our children, we may want to reevaluate the motivations that are driving our expectations.

Mothers should be mindful about how we talk about our children’s sports. We can avoid the risk of introducing unnecessary stress by letting our children spark post-game conversations. Sprinkle in comments like, “I love watching you play!”  and “Great effort out there!”

Legendary football coach, Vince Lombardi, said, “We will be relentless in our pursuit for perfection. We won’t ever be perfect—but in the process we will achieve greatness.”

Is There Something Wrong with That Person?
Relentlessness drives us to pursue our passions even when we don’t feel like it. To “normal” people, tenacity may even seem like a mental derangement, but what others may see as a sickness is a force that propels purpose-driven souls toward inevitable success. British statesman, Benjamin Disraeli, eloquently described the potential of those who possess relentlessness when he wrote, “I have brought myself, by long meditation, to the conviction that a human being with a settled purpose must accomplish it, and that nothing can resist a will which will stake even existence upon its fulfillment.”

Summary
With persistence and unwavering pursuit, Thomas Edison gave us the light bulb. The Wright brothers gave us powered flight. Harriet Tubman risked her life 13 times to bring 70 people to freedom. Never willing to acquiesce, with fierce desire and determination, relentless people do not allow things to stand in their way.

“Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”
—1 Corinthians 15:58