Determination – ElPropósito3 min de lectura

How to stay focused

What defines determination? What does a determined person or team look like? Is there one kind of determination or several? I watched the recent attack on President Trump with shock, sadness and concern, above all the attempt on his life. I can only condemn it, especially given the figure he represents and the values he defends, and above all because he is a human being who, like those wounded and killed in the attack, should never be touched by any kind of violence. In the middle of it all, I could see in his eyes the mark of determination and the courage it takes to keep going no matter what. Right now he is a very clear example that even when everything is against us, there are signs that keep us standing firm on the path. Adversity is part of life, and as Saint Josemaría Escrivá would say, "Never be afraid of the truth, even if it brings you death."

In several tweets I read that a man his age, with his money, could easily have retired from all the media abuse. Instead he chooses the mud of politics, as Milei would put it, with courage, with passion and, above all, with determination. That got me thinking about the word and what it implies. I remember a very intimate moment in my life, when our second son, Juan Diego, was born and died a few days later. I remember clearly how determined I was, how determined my wife and I were, to do everything we could to save his life. Many variables were at play, and in the end God decided to take him home. I believe that in extreme cases determination surfaces naturally. Perhaps our most basic instinct, survival, is what best lets us see in ourselves this trait that makes us unique and that every one of us comes equipped with. The question is what keeps us from developing that determination, or from realizing we have it.

A weakness of many objectives and goals is that they have no clear purpose, no connection to a vision, or are simply poorly framed. Objectives that are framed very specifically and carry deep meaning, down to the most basic fibers of our existence, are the ones we will achieve, though never easily. I bring up happiness because it is also clear that we have lost sight of the struggle and the work it takes to reach a goal. Meritocracy also ends up being a key enabler of what we set out to do. Those who know they can fight for a goal, and feel in their own flesh all the effort it takes, will be more willing to accept the win as part of the journey and never as an end in itself.

Goal by goal, objective after objective, we achieve a great deal in life. I admire, for instance, the work many leaders do to keep their companies, their people and the culture that has defined them for years safe. That fierce defense of work rhythms, discipline and habits is key to determination. You can be determined to reach an objective, and that still falls short if what you long for does not connect with something deeper. It will have more impact and do more good as long as our eyes stay on a purpose and on the one thing that makes determination burn brightest: being able to serve others.

Warm regards and all the best,

Rodrigo Baccaro

Author: Rodrigo Baccaro

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