As business practices and market trends evolve, a fine line has emerged between perseverance and pragmatism. A few decades ago, pioneers would inspire newcomers to build something that lives on as a legacy—an institution rooted in quality, values, and long-term vision.

Today, the narrative has shifted. It is more about numbers, valuations, and the velocity of growth. Many founders and business owners now stake lower profitability to chase higher market caps, larger customer bases, and broader reach. It’s perseverance of a different kind—pushing limits, capturing markets, and expanding aggressively, even if it means compromising short-term profits.

On the other hand, pragmatism calls for limiting the business within a scope that ensures high profitability, exclusivity, and controlled growth. It is about building a sustainable operation where each customer, each product, and each transaction adds significant value to the bottom line, rather than simply adding to the count.

Neither approach is wrong. But as the business landscape changes rapidly, founders must carefully reflect on what aligns with their core vision:

Do you want perseverance that expands your market cap while accepting lower profitability for now, in hopes of a future payoff?

Or do you choose pragmatism, focusing on high profitability and building a business that scales thoughtfully, without diluting quality or values?

The choice between these two paths defines not just how fast you grow, but how deeply your business can sustain itself over time.