Jim's Gems: Persistence Power

In a recent conversation, the discussion got around to a list of leadership traits. Among the traits and the roles that they play in success were persistence and determination. There are many stories related to persistence and determination, which is sometimes interpreted as being stubborn or single-minded but, nonetheless, the result can be similar.

John Calvin Coolidge, 30th President of the United States, said, “Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

The textbook definition of persistence is the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people. Some define persistence as the ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings. You “press on” even when you feel like giving up.

Some people tend to have deep-rooted beliefs or perspectives on the issue of persistence that tend to affect the choices they make in very significant ways. In particular, it affects their levels of motivation and perseverance in the face of obstacles. Most success requires persistent effort.

When working on any big project or goal, your motivation will go through cycles of ups and downs like waves in a body of water. At times, you’ll be motivated while other times you won’t be motivated. However, it’s not really motivation that will produce results, it’s action!

Persistence, therefore, allows you to keep taking action even when you don’t feel motivated to do so. Consequently, persistence and determination drives you to keep accumulating results and, ultimately, leads you to success.

Persistence and motivation aren’t mutually exclusive, but they are mutually dependent. Persistence will ultimately provide its own motivation. If you keep taking action and moving forward, you’ll achieve results, and results can be motivating. For instance, if you have a daunting goal, break it down into smaller segments. As you persistently work to achieve each segment through purposeful action, you become more motivated to keep moving forward until the goal has been accomplished.

Persistence lays the foundation for the reliable path to whatever it is we seek. Persistence compels us to fully understand why we have chosen to achieve our objective.

When we solidly connect to the reason why, no mere obstacle can stop us. Act, and act, and act again, and you'll feel the purposeful power of persistence start to take hold.

Persistence is how we prove to ourselves that there is a sincere purpose in what we seek. Persist and, you can indeed, make it real. Historian and writer, Edward Eggleston said, "Persistent people begin their success where others end in failure."

Success is not always easy, but it comes to those who are persistent. Where would you rather end the journey: in success or failure?

Think about it…