How Long Must I Persist To Achieve Success?
In a recent interview my interviewer, who had done his research by reading many of my past blog articles, said that the outstanding quality represented in my life, as recorded in all my writings, was my ability to persist.
That statement caused me to pause for a moment and review my life. To be honest, until that point I hadn’t really thought about it much.
But the more I considered it, it started to raise a couple of questions in my mind’s eye.
- Is persistence something that you are born with?
- Or is persistence something that one needs to develop?
I really don’t have a definitive answer for such questions. All I know is this – that unless you persist you will never, ever succeed at anything.
One of the reasons that we often fail to persist is that when we set out to do a task or pursue a dream we are quickly faced with rejection.
But it is so important to recognize that in most cases rejection is simply another human’s opinion.
My Current Persistence Project
Currently I am embarking upon the pursuit of a literary agent and an international publisher for my works of fiction.
To date I have queried in excess of 100 literary agents and have received at least 60 rejections.
So what does that mean?
I have a more than 40% chance of success – and while I’m at it I will seek out other agents, improve my presentation of my creations and myself, and thus increase my odds for success.
Persist. Persist. Persist.
This skill of persistence is something that I have had to develop throughout my entire life – and it has taught me many things.
Persistence Taught Me…
Persistence taught me how to swim even though I nearly drowned.
Persistence taught me to play the piano although I was humiliated when I failed one of my piano exams.
Persistence taught me to self-publish and successfully sell 3 books although the previous 3 books had been rejected by just about every literary agent and publisher in my nation.
Persistence taught me to start a domestic/commercial cleaning business when I was retrenched. I have never worked for another man in a full-time capacity since.
Persistence taught me to start a web design company when I was neither a web designer nor a technician.
Persistence taught me how to sell profitable businesses when people around me said I couldn’t and that I wouldn’t.
Persistence taught me to purchase a hair salon when I had no experience in that industry.
Persistence helped me to overcome a debilitating bout of pneumonia and two crippling frozen shoulder afflictions – along with a dose of faith in someone much bigger and smarter than myself.
Persistence taught me that anything is possible, anything can be learned, anything can be overcome, and that anything can be achieved.
Steve Pavlina defines persistence as, ‘the ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings. You press on even when you feel like quitting.’
So Where Do You Find This Unbeatable Spirit?
Well there are a number of ways to strengthen the persistent streak within your being, but know this that it requires discipline – self discipline.
But know this. You have it within you to succeed.
So here they are.
1. Have a HUGE Dream
Your desire must be greater than your mire, and your BIG dream will shine as a beacon, even in your darkest night, to encourage you to press on and to guide you.
2. Read BIG THINKING Books
Books – from the Bible to motivational/inspirational books to biographies about overcomers. Fill your heart and mind with the fuel found within these books that will build belief within you and transport you all the way to success.
3. Associate with BIG THINKERS
Take them out to lunch. Shout them a coffee. Ask questions. Listen. Take notes. Interview. Watch or listen to recordings made by big thinkers. Success is contagious.
4. Discipline YOUR DAY
Productivity arises from a disciplined life.
As I currently work from my home office, and in fact it has always been my desire to do so, I find myself in a local coffee shop at 6am each morning where I spend at least two hours in meditation, prayer, study, journaling, writing (like this article you’re reading right now) and planning.
On returning to my home office I have, awaiting me on my desk, a written list of the 6 major things I need to complete that day in order to move my life and businesses forward.
I systematically work through that list until completion. If anything is not completed on that day it is simply transferred to the next day’s list of 6.
At this point in my life I am spending my afternoons at my local library where I am editing my latest book. Each day I tackle just one chapter. By removing myself from my home office for a few hours into a quiet environment, such as a library, it helps me to focus more effectively.
So let me encourage you to persist, and maybe you’d like to add your own answer to the question in the comments section below – ‘How long must I persist to achieve success?’
While ever there is breath in my body I will persist.
Tags: Discipline, Dreams, Passion, Persistence
Posted: 23/01/2012
23.01.12
Hey Peter,
I love how you go out of the office to do some of your work. It’s weird, but I tend to get really focused when I go out in public with my laptop. I get super productive when I travel and write at the airport, for example, or in a coffee shop. The public venue actually offers less distractions for me.
Persistence has been a major component in my life, as well. I like to joke that for everything I’ve accomplished, I fell down 99 times before succeeding on the 100th try. I’m like a pitbull with a bone when I want something. The key I’ve found is to be persistent in trying to get what you want, not in the way you think you’ll get there. Be willing to be flexible on that. If one way doesn’t work, just give that up and try a different way. I think people get into trouble when they lock themselves in on the “how” instead of the “what”.
Awesome post as always.
Huge hugs,
Melody
Melody | Deliberate Receiving recently posted..How To Stop Wanting To Slap Your Sister In Law
23.01.12
Great to hear that you follow some of the same productive methods as myself. Your advice Melody re. flexibility is so true. There are many hows, and we must always be willing to adjust our sails with every change in the direction of the wind.
24.01.12
Bulls-eye!
I loved this –> “in most cases rejection is simply another human’s opinion.” This was one of the most profound realizations of my life. Starting a few years ago, I reframed every rejection I got with “okay, they said no because I just haven’t COMMUNICATED how valuable this is for the other person. So I’ll do it again.”
And I’d say at least 50% of the time, the person says yes, simply because I improved how I communicated the idea.
PS: Have you read Chet Holmes’ “The Ultimate Sales Machine”? Your productivity system is nearly the exact one mentioned in his book.
24.01.12
Thanks Yongho – great minds think alike. Thanks for the insight on communication. My business coach used to teach me that ‘we get what we communicate’. So the challenge to all of us is to become better communicators.
24.01.12
Interesting post Peter. Two things here:
1. Persistence is useless if you’re moving in the wrong direction. So, purpose always comes first.
2. As you said, you gotta have a HUGE dream. In my seminars, I always share my personal story through which I came to the conclusion that, “Where there is a WILL there is a way” is not always true. Instead, I now believe that, “Where there is a HEART, there is a way”
To sum up, ONLY heart-based persistence is always good. Persistence without passionate direction is useless.
M. Tohami recently posted..Special Interview with Erin Falconer of Pick The Brain
25.01.12
i find that perseverance for me, became perfectionism, and it’s a tight balance. learning to persevere without beating myself up!
Noch Noch
Noch Noch | be me. be natural. recently posted..challenging my worries