Like him or hate, and there is certainly much of both, US Republican Presidential nominee Newt Gingrich proved that persistence pays after winning the South Carolina primary this past Saturday. Considered all but dead, his campaign now has new life as the contest moves to the state of Florida on January 31st.

Regardless of your feelings for the former Speaker of the House, you can learn from his tenacious example. When you sell you must see every no as getting you that much closer to the next yes. In service and operations you can choose to view every challenge as an opportunity to exceed someone’s expectations. And as a leader your job is to create a strategy, adjust that strategy as needed, and unwaveringly hold true to the course you have charted.

Living your life with unshakeable resolve doesn’t require being a controversial or famous figure. It simply depends on persistence even when the odds seem against you.