In a world entranced by grand strategy and innovation, Steve Jobs highlighted a quieter but decisive quality behind true success: perseverance. As noted by Marcel Schwantes in a recent Inc.com article, Jobs believed that nearly half of what separates successful entrepreneurs from the rest is this unwavering commitment to persist even when momentum, clarity, or reward aren’t immediately evident.

Perseverance doesn’t get praised as glory, creativity, or visionary insight. Yet in the face of uncertainty, failures, and fierce competition, it’s often the unheralded trait that makes the difference. Jobs went on to explain that without deep passion intertwined with that perseverance you’re likely to give up too soon.

This mindset shapes a powerful framework: allow yourself to fail, but never quit. Combine it with purpose-driven passion, and you arm yourself to weather the storms of entrepreneurship and innovation.

Jobs’s message is a timeless reminder that success isn’t just about having good ideas it’s about the grit to stay the course when it matters most.