There is always some measure of success in persistence. But giving up offers none. Regardless of the outcome, persisting through tough times and overwhelming odds becomes part of the victory. Here are just a few reasons to persist:
- Persistence gets results. Few things in life worth achieving are gained without persistence. Nearly all successful people we look up to have a long, hard trail of failures and severe challenges behind them, through which they persisted. Had they given up along the way, they would have experienced failure just before their breakthrough occurred. The harder you work, the luckier you get.
- Persistence sets you apart from everyone else. Anyone can quit. Quitting is the easy way out. Quitting is the coward’s way out. Quitting becomes addicting. Persisting puts you in a whole different class of the elite.
- Persistence builds character. Giving up takes no effort. Giving up gives one a false sense of relief that ultimately feels more like defeat. Any growth of muscle or character requires resistance training. It takes courage and strong character to persist, and in persisting, your character becomes even stronger.
- Persistence always offers some measure of success. Just by hanging in there, you’ve accomplished more than most. But in quitting there is no success. Abraham Lincoln, a man all too familiar with failure, said, “If you are resolutely determined to accomplish some thing, the thing is more than half done already. Always bear in mind that your resolution to succeed is more important than any other thing.”
But when the bills are piling up and everyone is telling you to hang it up and get a “real job,” it’s hard to persist. How do you maintain persistence in the face of so much apparent failure and resistance? Here are 5 Strategies for Boosting Persistence:
- Believe in yourself and what you have to offer. This requires a realistic, but optimistic view of yourself, not to be confused with flippant arrogance. Sylvester Stallone was rejected by more than 600 casting agents before developing his Rocky screenplay. His first film took in $117 million (in 1976 dollars) and made him more than $5 million. If you have something worthwhile and valuable to give to others, keep believing in yourself and never quit.
“Belief is the thermostat that regulates what we accomplish in life. A person is a product of his own thoughts. Believe BIG! Adjust your thermostat forward. Launch your success offensive with honest, sincere belief that you can succeed. Believe big and grow big.” – David J. Schwartz, The Magic of Thinking Big.
- Keep trying new things. Maybe you’re not sure yet what your product or service is, but you desire successful entrepreneurship desperately. Then keep trying new things. The Wright Brothers experienced thousands of failed experiments before getting it right. Discover your niche. Experiment. “The way to succeed is to double your failure rate.” – Thomas J. Watson, founder IBM.
- Redefine failure. View minor failed experiments as learning experiences. Now you know one more way not to succeed. Instead, view quitting as failure. As long as you persist, you haven’t failed.
- When you fall, keep getting up. If you have ever watched a baby learning to walk, they fall a thousand times before they can walk. You’re no infant, but your business may still be in its infancy. Expect to fall, trip, and stumble, but keep getting up. And soon you’ll find that your business is not only walking but running like a gazelle!
- Don’t listen to naysayers. When Mark Victor Hansen and Jack Canfield wrote the Chicken Soup for the Soul series, they were rejected by 140 publishers. Publishers told them the book wouldn’t sell. Those publishers were professionals. They’re supposed to know what they’re talking about, right? But when the two authors finally landed a contract with a publisher willing to take a risk, their books sold over 100 million copies! Don’t listen to naysayers. Instead, find and spend time with those who believe in you, support you, and encourage you.
Persistence is a key ingredient for success. So, keep at it. Don’t give up. Persist, because success is right around the corner.
