Perseverance Pays

Perseverance is defined as: steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.

Synonyms: tenacity, determination, staying power, persistence

Grit= passion + perseverance

“Don’t give up when the cookie crumbles”. There’s a special ingredient in Mrs. Fields’ cookies that won’t be noticed if you love those famously rich, buttery cookies sold online and at franchises throughout the country. But it’s there in every bite. And it is perseverance…she achieved success despite bankers who wouldn’t give her loans. “Quit is a magical word,” Fields said. “It’s something you can do any time, any day, at any moment, and I decided it was the last thing I would do. No — I was not going to give up.” “Don’t give up, the instance you say ‘I can’t’ you are defeated.” Mrs. Debbi Fields

How many times have we felt like we just couldn’t go on or the assignment was too big or lasted too long and we were sure we would never make it?  Have you ever wanted to throw in the towel and say – I quit, this is just too hard? It’s not worth it, why did I ever think I could do this? I have. You have. We all have.

Through many experiences, I have seen over and over again, that the darkest hour is just before the dawn. Success is getting closer when things are at their most difficult.  If you can imagine pushing a ball up a hill and for some reason you just can’t see where the hill will crest.  Then, imagine your surprise when you reach the top of the hill and the ball starts rolling down of its own accord.  That’s the feeling of almost wanting to give up and not  knowing that the top of the hill is one day or just weeks away, and all this will change when you least expect it. You have persevered through the hard part and now you aren’t striving anymore. The difficulties are over and you coast to the successful conclusion! The one you saw from the beginning, but almost lost sight of!

Most of us recognize the importance of persevering in physical pursuits. For example, runners talk about hitting “the wall.” This is the moment when they feel like they can’t take another step, and the urge to give up can be overwhelming. But somehow, if they keep going, they break through and find the strength to continue. They get their “second wind” and run even harder to the finish line.

Many people start the race, but not as many finish. The key indicator of success is not talent, or looks, or intelligence or wealth or education or family connections. It is perseverance. We can accomplish whatever is set before us, if we don’t quit.

My mother repeated an old saying handed down from our German heritage.   Whenever she heard one of us say, “I can’t.” She said, “Can’t is a coward, too lazy to try.” I can’t keep going, or I can’t finish is not in our vocabulary. To persevere is to say, “I can and I will and now I am glad I did”.

Before we start, we need to have full confidence that what we are doing is the “right thing to do”. Then, the strength of passion merges with the character trait of perseverance to give us the strength and will to finish what we start.