3 ms·

My first startup failed and yet I was labeled as tenacious with regards to it.

• carbocation 17y ago
  The startup may have been labeled a failure, but you were not labeled so (at least, not to my knowledge). The distinction is critical to my point. If that first business were successful, people fond of the buzzword 'tenacious' might label you tenacious, for toughing out the hard times in order to 'win'. Since it failed, they could keep the buzzword alive by bumping it up a level and saying that you were tenacious in pursuing the entrepreneurial dream, wisely jettisoning that failed project and learning great lessons along the way. Neither of those uses of the word would surprise me. What would be surprising is if the word 'tenacious' were to be decoupled from success. That is, if you never hit it big but were so renowned for your tenacity that you nevertheless got press or recognition for it. Perhaps Daniel Ruettiger (Rudy, from Notre Dame fame) is the best example of someone who is recognized for his tenacity despite not achieving canonical success.* * = at least, not in football; he is making plenty as a motivational speaker.