Perseverance > Endurance

From the battlefields of Afghanistan and Iraq to the boardrooms of Nike, Walmart, and Microsoft, Blayne Smith and Brandon Young have consistently built tightly-knit, high-performing teams that persevere and win.

Join the Army Rangers on the peaks of the Hindu Kush Mountains in Afghanistan and the Green Berets at Firebase Anaconda to gain key insights for leading teams through uncertainty and the understanding that perseverance is what’s most required for today’s complex world.

Doubt crushes leaders daily—from GMs of Fortune 500 companies to small business owners across America, leaders nearly unanimously express doubt and fear in the face of adversity. This makes sense because adversity pushes us beyond our training and our comfort zones.

We cannot simply put our heads down and endure. Instead, learn that adversity is an opportunity for transformation. When faced with circumstances beyond our capabilities, we must grow to meet those challenges by persevering and becoming the person the situation requires.

Perseverance > Endurance empowers leaders to gain clarity of their challenges, apply sound leadership principles, and lead their teams to victory by embracing the five factors of perseverance:

• Change: Factors outside of our control change fast and often.
• Uncertainty: We are confronted with situations beyond our training or capabilities, creating a sense of fear.
• Acceptance: Accept the consequences, embrace the reality of the situation, and surrender what we cannot control.
• Choice: Choose to become our creeds, values, and ethos and become the person your team and the situation call for.
• Growth: We will be changed on the other side, becoming better, wiser, and more confident leaders ready for the next big challenge.

Discover a framework that has helped real organizations, including ThermoFisher Scientific, Siemens, GEICO, Ziggi's Coffee, SDA Colorado, Frontline Construction, Public Trust Advisors, and many more, learn to lead through adversity and win. From two US Army Special Operators turned business professionals who have built successful businesses and led teams to persevere and achieve no-fail missions in war, business, and life, this book will become a staple for leaders worldwide.

“Supremely entertaining and brilliantly practical. Two former Army special operators translate their extraordinary experiences into invaluable lessons for leadership and life. They can’t make your journey easier, but their hard-earned wisdom will make you better prepared for it.”

—General Stanley McChrystal, CEO and Chairman, McChrystal Group, and New York Times Bestselling Author, Team of Teams

“Perseverance > Endurance is a must-read for leaders at every level. Blayne and Brandon served our country with honor and distinction . . . They've brought hard-earned lessons from the battlefield to help organizations build a culture that thrives during periods of adversity.”

—Don Faul, CEO, CrossFit

"Life is defined by the moments that matter. The difference between those of us who rise up to meet those moments and those who falter often comes down to perseverance. This book serves as the definitive guide for anyone, of any age, in any profession, to persevere and conquer those moments." 

—Jake Wood, CEO, Groundswell; Cofounder and Executive Chairman, Team Rubicon

“Blayne and Brandon's shared experiences—marked by both triumphs and setbacks—provide a compelling road map for leaders navigating adversity. This is an essential read for those dedicated to leading with strength and resolve.”

—Ann Terry, CEO, Chairman, National Coalition of Special Districts

“Without mission and purpose, we’re all lost. This book is a great and honest story of what it means to have it and lose it, and find it again in service to others, even when that service looks very different—as it must.”

—Jason McCarthy, Founder and CEO, GORUCK

“Change is now an everyday opportunity that we all can learn from, prepare for, and execute better for our teams and our businesses. This book is an opportunity for all of us to lead better.” 

—Michele Zwickl, Senior Vice President, Core Lab Solutions, Siemens Healthineers 

Blayne Smith is a West Point graduate and former Army Special Forces officer who has transitioned into a highly effective business and social impact leader. He is a cofounder and principal at Applied Leadership Partners and the director for health and wellbeing at the George W. Bush Institute. Blayne also serves on the board of the Armed Services Arts Partnership and as an advisory board member of GORUCK. Previously, Blayne was the first executive director of Team Red, White, and Blue, a veterans’ nonprofit that has grown into one of the most trusted and effective organizations in the space.

During his time in the military, Blayne led combat units in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He is a Draper Leadership Award recipient, the Distinguished Honor Graduate of the Army’s Ranger School, and was awarded three Bronze Stars, including one for valor. Blayne holds a MBA from the University of Florida and currently lives in Maine with his wife and three children.

Brandon Young is a former US Army Ranger with four combat rotations to Afghanistan. He has spent more than 25 years building and leading teams in the military, corporate healthcare, and nonprofit sectors. Brandon has built partnerships with some of the world’s most iconic brands, including Nike, Walmart, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Amazon. He is the recipient of the Quest Diagnostics Regional Excellence Award for Commercial Leadership for his work in cancer diagnostics.

He’s been published in various magazines and peer-reviewed academic journals; assessed, mentored, and trained more than 1,000 Ranger leaders while serving in the 75th Ranger Regiment; and placed third in the 2006 Best Ranger Competition. Brandon lives in Littleton, Colorado, with his wife, Kelly. They have two adult children: Jaden is a Soldier in the US Army and Elliot is a student at the University of Colorado. Brandon holds a master of divinity in leadership from Denver Seminary, and his passions are faith, family, community, and adventures.

Brandon Young cofounded Applied Leadership Partners in 2020 (with Blayne Smith) to share hard-earned leadership wisdom with leaders guiding teams through growth, change, or adversity. Applied Leadership Partners is a boutique consulting firm that supports leaders in creating tightly knit, high-performing teams through leadership development training, keynotes, and executive advising.

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