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The Persistence Factor: Turning Purpose Into Progress
Big dreams stall when willpower wears thin.
The Persistence Factor
shows you how to keep going—smartly, sustainably, and together.
Physician–executive Dr Kevin Fickenscher distills forty-plus years of leading rural clinics, Fortune-500 C-suites, and national policy tables into one repeatable the Persistence Cycle of Purpose → Consider → Commit → Focus → Assess → Integrate — and then repeat until the breakthrough sticks . Packed with field stories that range from transforming prairie health systems to advising Congress on digital medicine, the book reveals why long-game change hinges less on heroic stamina than on disciplined reflection and adaptive iteration.
Inside you’ll discover
The FAIR-CTI ethos—Fairness, Attitude, Integrity, Respect, Consistency, Transparency, and Inclusion—that turns trust into the “mortar” holding teams together through stormy seasonsA Confidence Loop to convert criticism into renewed momentum without losing sight of your purposeFailure as Strategic Fuel—how to mine setbacks for data, allies, and narrative powerThe Leader’s Self-Retreat—a step-by-step reset that clarifies values, reallocates energy, and prevents burnoutWhether you’re launching a social-impact start-up, re-architecting healthcare, or rallying a community around bold policy, The Persistence Factor hands you the compass and the toolkit. Dr Fickenscher’s warm storytelling voice makes complex strategy feel like a fireside chat, while ready-to-use worksheets and reflection prompts turn insight into immediate action.
If you believe tomorrow can be better—but know tomorrow will fight back—this book equips you to outlast the resistance, inspire steadfast allies, and translate purpose into a legacy that endures. Read it, apply it, and—most of all—persist.
Physician–executive Dr Kevin Fickenscher distills forty-plus years of leading rural clinics, Fortune-500 C-suites, and national policy tables into one repeatable the Persistence Cycle of Purpose → Consider → Commit → Focus → Assess → Integrate — and then repeat until the breakthrough sticks . Packed with field stories that range from transforming prairie health systems to advising Congress on digital medicine, the book reveals why long-game change hinges less on heroic stamina than on disciplined reflection and adaptive iteration.
Inside you’ll discover
The FAIR-CTI ethos—Fairness, Attitude, Integrity, Respect, Consistency, Transparency, and Inclusion—that turns trust into the “mortar” holding teams together through stormy seasonsA Confidence Loop to convert criticism into renewed momentum without losing sight of your purposeFailure as Strategic Fuel—how to mine setbacks for data, allies, and narrative powerThe Leader’s Self-Retreat—a step-by-step reset that clarifies values, reallocates energy, and prevents burnoutWhether you’re launching a social-impact start-up, re-architecting healthcare, or rallying a community around bold policy, The Persistence Factor hands you the compass and the toolkit. Dr Fickenscher’s warm storytelling voice makes complex strategy feel like a fireside chat, while ready-to-use worksheets and reflection prompts turn insight into immediate action.
If you believe tomorrow can be better—but know tomorrow will fight back—this book equips you to outlast the resistance, inspire steadfast allies, and translate purpose into a legacy that endures. Read it, apply it, and—most of all—persist.
302 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 23, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
November 5, 2025
This book came to me at a time when I needed it the most. Thinking and reading about progress in a clear perspective, in which it has to be consistent rather than perfect, by reading about the author’s stories, feels more like advice rather than just another business advice, and questioning my own projects and routines.
There are different topics that I learned in a deeper way. How the author breaks down why purpose is more important than motivation is something incredible in this book. How the author talks about failure and how it is explained, approaching it in a way where it isn’t the end, is just a sign that we’re moving is something I felt identified with.
The practical way this book is written inspires you and helps you stay focused when you feel stuck, which was something that happened to me.
There are different topics that I learned in a deeper way. How the author breaks down why purpose is more important than motivation is something incredible in this book. How the author talks about failure and how it is explained, approaching it in a way where it isn’t the end, is just a sign that we’re moving is something I felt identified with.
The practical way this book is written inspires you and helps you stay focused when you feel stuck, which was something that happened to me.
November 5, 2025
Learning to persist
The Persistence Factor, by Fickenscher, is a shared life story, an example of resilience, demonstrating that with willpower and intelligence, one can move forward and succeed despite external or internal factors.
I really liked the way the author begins by recounting his beginnings as a medical student and how he evolved, as well as the way he shares his experience in a clear, honest, and concise manner.
I especially liked the section on renewal; it gives it a different meaning than I've always had, and renewal definitely has a deeper significance than a simple change. If it's done taking into account the points the book shares, such as dialogue, time, and consensus, this renewal will be better and more readily accepted.
The Persistence Factor, by Fickenscher, is a shared life story, an example of resilience, demonstrating that with willpower and intelligence, one can move forward and succeed despite external or internal factors.
I really liked the way the author begins by recounting his beginnings as a medical student and how he evolved, as well as the way he shares his experience in a clear, honest, and concise manner.
I especially liked the section on renewal; it gives it a different meaning than I've always had, and renewal definitely has a deeper significance than a simple change. If it's done taking into account the points the book shares, such as dialogue, time, and consensus, this renewal will be better and more readily accepted.
November 8, 2025
This book is a gem for anyone committed to making a lasting impact, especially when the path gets rough. Dr. Fickenscher maps it out through the “Persistence Cycle,” showing that progress is about thinking smarter. His stories are inspiring without being preachy. Readers will appreciate the practical frameworks like FAIR-CTI and the Confidence Loop, which turn vague concepts like “grit” into actionable steps. It’s ideal for mission-driven leaders, changemakers, or anyone who feels stuck and needs a method, not just motivation, to keep going. The tone is warm and reflective, like a seasoned mentor sharing lessons over coffee. Bottom line: if you’re trying to turn purpose into something tangible and enduring, this book shows you how.
November 6, 2025
Today, we live in a culture that rarely perceives dreams; most people get exhausted and give up quickly. In this useful book, Dr. Kevin Fickenscher invites us to reflect on change and why it is considered a long-term option. I felt very comfortable with this clarification, since we often believe that we must replace our habits overnight, and when we fail to do so, we can feel discouraged.
Without a doubt, this is a long book, and perhaps that is why some people hesitate to choose it, but don't be discouraged, because it is absolutely captivating and easy to read. The ideas are clear, the strategies easy to implement, and the stories illustrative, making this book a unique resource.
Without a doubt, this is a long book, and perhaps that is why some people hesitate to choose it, but don't be discouraged, because it is absolutely captivating and easy to read. The ideas are clear, the strategies easy to implement, and the stories illustrative, making this book a unique resource.
November 6, 2025
I loved this book, something that I'm always looking for is ending a reading and feeling changed and empowered, and this book did meet my expectations. It is a book where you will read an author's experience on leadership, someone who has worked in different industries and can really be this mentor for those who want to be better in their jobs, doing the impossible to meet your companies goals and don't give up when something difficult appears. The thing that I liked the most is all the real-life experiences; this made me feel even more connected and immersed in everything the author had to go through to bring us this amazing book.
November 6, 2025
Take a moment for yourself
This book came into my life at the perfect moment, at a time when I have many dreams and big goals I want to achieve. However, it reminds me that reaching any goal requires persistence, and persistence cannot depend on mood, emotions, or whether we feel motivated or not. It must come from a firm decision of the mind and the heart to keep moving forward toward what we want.
This book teaches that success comes when we understand that our dreams cannot depend on temporary feelings, but on decisions we renew every day. It opens your eyes, inspires you, and pushes you to take action if you truly want to achieve great things in life.
This book came into my life at the perfect moment, at a time when I have many dreams and big goals I want to achieve. However, it reminds me that reaching any goal requires persistence, and persistence cannot depend on mood, emotions, or whether we feel motivated or not. It must come from a firm decision of the mind and the heart to keep moving forward toward what we want.
This book teaches that success comes when we understand that our dreams cannot depend on temporary feelings, but on decisions we renew every day. It opens your eyes, inspires you, and pushes you to take action if you truly want to achieve great things in life.
November 6, 2025
The Persistence Factor is one of those leadership books that combines inspiration with real, usable strategy. Instead of making persistence sound like endless grinding, the author shows how progress actually happens through reflection, small course corrections, and working with others. I really liked this. The tone is warm, encouraging, and full of experience. I recommend reading it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews