The Master of Business Administration designation—or MBA—was born at Dartmouth College’s Tuck School of Business more than 115 years ago with just four students. Now the MBA is the most popular post graduate degree program in the U.S., with more than one million students currently enrolled and 156,250 graduating each year. What was once a point of distinction in the business world is now a necessity in many fields. In a marketplace crowded with qualified individuals, it’s tougher than ever to stand out.

Today, Promotional Consultant Today reveals the most critical formula you need to know to differentiate you from others on the same career path, according to sales coach Dave Martin.

In summary, he says to stand out, you need “integrity plus hard-working tenacity.” Whether you are an exceptional leader or outstanding employee, these factors will help to distinguish you from thousands of others in your field.

Martin explains that half of this blueprint for success is based on who you are—your integrity. The other half is based on what you do—learning the importance of and mastering the practices of persistence and perseverance.

Persistence means you continue with an opinion or course of action in spite of the difficulty or opposition that you face. In the working world, persistence is the act of making calls over and over. Persistence is directing your team again and again until excellence becomes ingrained. Persistence is working your plan even when you don’t see immediate results. Persistence is consistent effort, maintained daily. Persistence is not giving up, or giving in, or giving way. Although processes and systems should be continually evaluated for improvements and for effectiveness, persistence is not reorganizing your structures every three months when you see someone else’s success and think you should emulate them.

The other key trait—perseverance—is doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success. Perseverance is continued persistence. Martin explains persistence and perseverance like this: Persistence is the athlete, working out each morning in the gym. He continues to get up, get to the gym and work his routine, even when he is tired, even when his friends are still sleeping, even when his schedule is interrupted. Perseverance is the lifestyle of working out week after week, month after month, year after year. In short, persistence speaks to continuing in a course of action even against opposition, and perseverance connotes longevity in that persistence.

Do you have these traits of persistence and perseverance in your professional life? In some areas you most likely do. What specific discipline have you consistently performed week after week, month after month, year after year? Perhaps you make a point to turn in your reports a day early. Or, you are mentoring less experienced salespeople. What standards have you set to make you stand out? Are you meeting these standards with both persistence and perseverance?

This formula is applicable not only for those starting out in their careers but for anyone who wants to set himself or herself apart from his competition and peers. Give it a try!

Source: Dave Martin, Your Success Coach, is a world-renowned speaker and the international best-selling author of 12 Traits of the Greats and Another Shot. For over 25 years, Martin has been a mentor, inspirational speaker, coach and business leader sharing timeless truths wrapped in humor and delivered with passion, and teaching people how to pursue and possess a life of success.