Stick-to-itiveness

One of the most important attributes successful people possess is stick-to-itiveness. The ability to demonstrate persistence or perseverance is key to success. Certainly, all the great inventors like Thomas Edison and Nickola Tesla had stick-to-itiveness but the attribute applies to other vocations as well.

The late Earle Nightingale, writer and publisher of inspirational and motivational articles, related a story about a boy nick-named Sparky. For Sparky, school was all but impossible. He failed every subject in the eighth grade. He failed physics in high school. That doesn’t put him in elite company but getting a grade of zero likely does. Sparky also failed Latin, algebra, and even English.

Sparky didn’t do much better in sports. Although he did manage to make the school’s golf team, he lost his only important match of the season. There was a consolation match, but he lost that one as well!

Throughout his youth, Sparky was socially awkward. He was not respected or even liked by many of his peers. Sparky was surprised if a classmate spoke to him outside school hours. There’s no way to tell how he might have done at dating as he never once asked a girl out on a date. Sparky was too afraid of being rejected.

Sparky was what society would call a loser. Most of his classmates, teachers, and even Sparky himself, knew it. Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be inevitable mediocrity.

There was one thing, however, that was important to Sparky – drawing. He was proud of his artwork, even though no one else seemed to appreciate it much. In his senior year in high school, Sparky submitted some cartoons to the yearbook editors which promptly were rejected! However, Sparky had stick-to-itiveness when it came to his drawing. Despite rejection, Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist.

After completing high school, Sparky wrote a letter to Walt Disney Studios. He was told to send examples of suggested artwork. He spent a great deal of time on the artwork before sending his drawings to Disney studios. After some time, he received another rejection. Another loss for the loser!

But… Sparky had stick-to-itiveness. He decided to write his own autobiography in cartoons. Sparky described his childhood – a little boy loser and chronic underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide!

The boy who had such a lack of success in school and whose work was repeatedly rejected was none other than Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz. He created the “Peanuts” comic strip and Charlie Brown was the little cartoon character whose kite would never fly and who would never succeed in kicking a football.

Because Charles Schultz had Stick-to-itiveness, he became widely regarded as one of the most influential cartoonists of all time! He never gave up and became the creator of one of the most beloved characters that many people can easily relate.

Maybe becoming the next Charles Schultz isn’t likely but possessing stick-to-itiveness can lead to greater success and an enhanced sense of fulfillment. After all, nothing will be lost but a lot to gain. It doesn’t cost anything, so why not start today!

Think about it...