“Persistence can grind an iron beam down into a needle. Dripping water can pierce a stone.”
— Chinese Proverb
“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 will always solve the problems of the human race.” — Calvin Coolidge
“If you falter, and give up, you will lose the power of keeping any resolution, and will regret it all your life.” — Abraham Lincoln
Persistence is the key to all success. There may be those examples of instant successes, but they are few and far between. The one guaranteed route to failure is to give up.
The Grand Canyon was created by the persistent effect of water eroding rock. This action, over time, removed billions of tons of rock to create this gigantic gorge.
Suppose you didn’t know about the existence Grand Canyon. You wondered what effect, if any, water would have on rock. As an experiment, you poured a pitcher of water on a section of bedrock. Nothing would happen. Even if you repeated your experiment daily for a year, the results would not change.
Anyone with a basic knowledge of science could predict the uselessness of pouring water on rock. Yet this is the exact approach too many people use when attempting to solve problems, overcome obstacles, or achieve goals. They make a few half-hearted attempts, only to give up when success isn’t immediate.
There is no success without perseverance. Those who give up and fail will be passed by those who persevere to success. Stubborn persistence will compensate for deficiencies in other areas. Successful people are not necessarily the most talented, educated or intelligent. They are the most persistent.
The best students in school are the ones who are the most persistent. They study as much as necessary to understand the material. If they don’t immediately comprehend something, they go over the subject until they do. Ironically, smarter students often don’t do as well as the persistent ones.
Why don’t more people persist? Because they expect instant results. These people think a canyon is formed by pouring a jug of water on rock. When their first attempt doesn’t work, they abandon their quest. After falling down once or twice, they stay down.
The founding of our great country was the result of persistence. The invention of the light bulb took thousands of attempts before it worked. Many successful businesses were started after previous failures. Babe Ruth achieved great fame because he kept swinging. Although known for hundreds of home runs, Ruth also had thousands of strikeouts.
Persistence means never giving up. It means doing whatever it takes for as long as it takes. Persistent people make mistakes. Persistent people fail. Persistent people get frustrated. Persistent people get tired. But persistent people always get back up and keep going.
It’s very simple to be persistent. It’s just not easy. Being persistent has to be a way of life, not something that’s done occasionally. Persistence is not just one way to be successful, it’s the only way.
Anyone can be persistent. Even someone who is not used to being persistent can begin today. Start by purging your vocabulary of concepts such as “I can’t do it,” “It won’t work,” “Nothing is happening” or “It’s too hard.”
When facing any challenge, tell yourself, “I can do it. I will do it. I will never give up. I will do what it takes. If I stumble and fall, I will always get back up and keep going.” Persist until you succeed.
NOW AVAILABLE: “Dare to Live Without Limits,” the book. Visit www.BryanGolden.com or your bookstore. Bryan Golden is a management consultant, motivational speaker, author, and adjunct professor. E-mail Bryan at bryan@columnist.com or write him c/o this paper.
