Rhetoric Tip #45: Persistence Builds Credibility
The message is powerful, but persistence proves you mean it.
Recently, I attended the Business Network International (BNI) Accelerate Conference in Orlando. There, I had the opportunity to meet the founder of the world’s largest business networking organization, Dr. Ivan Misner. We chatted about famous historic speeches such as John F. Kennedy’s “we choose to go to the moon,” and I gave him a copy of my book Voices of Reason.
That moment was meaningful not just because of the meeting, but because of what it represented. BNI is built on a simple principle: relationships take time and persistent effort.
The Power of Persistence
Misner often emphasizes a lesson echoed by someone else highlighted in my book, Winston Churchill: “Never, never, never give up.”[1] It sounds simple, but in both business and communication it’s rare. Most people say something once or twice, and then they move on.
Great communicators understand that repetition builds recognition, consistency builds trust, and persistence builds credibility.
Why This Matters for Speakers
Anyone can deliver a strong message once, but audiences don’t remember most things they hear once. They remember what is repeated, reinforced, and lived over time. Persistence is what turns a message into a memory. Building up memories of who you are and what you stand for builds your reputation.
This is where persistence connects to something deeper: character. Because persistence signals belief. It tells your audience: “I stand by this message.” Over time, that consistency becomes ethos.
Rhetoric Tip
Before your next presentation, ask yourself: “Am I reminding my audience of my message enough to make it stick? Find your core message, then repeat, refine, and reinforce it. In the end people don’t always trust or remember what you say once. They trust what you say, and keep saying.
If you want help refining a message worth repeating, let’s talk.
[1] Dr. Ivan Misner, “Never Give Up,” January, 19, 2026, https://ivanmisner.com/never-give-up/.