The Right Kind of Stubborn
Author: Paul Graham Published: 2024 URL: https://paulgraham.com/persistence.html
Summary
Graham resolves the persistence-vs-obstinacy tension that runs through all startup advice. “The persistent are attached to the goal. The obstinate are attached to their ideas about how to reach it.” Five qualities distinguish good stubbornness: energy, imagination, resilience, good judgment, and goal focus. The persistent listen with “predatory intensity” to problems; the obstinate’s eyes glaze over. Directly addresses his own mistake #5 (obstinacy kills) and enriches the pivot/persevere decision.
Key Claims
- “The persistent are attached to the goal. The obstinate are attached to their ideas about how to reach it.”
- Five qualities of persistence: energy, imagination, resilience, judgment, goal focus
- Persistent people listen with “predatory intensity”; obstinate people’s eyes glaze over
- Attach to high-level goals, stay flexible on implementation — obsessing over details is a warning sign
- “Anyone can do obstinacy. Kids and drunks and fools are best at it.”
- Obstinacy is “induced stupidity as contrary evidence mounts”