“Nothing in this 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.” ~ Calvin Coolidge ~
In any discussion of the attributes of successful people, persistence is always mentioned, often as the, or one of the, most important factors in success. Major success seldom comes easily or without a great deal of effort. Often the only difference between those that succeed and those that quit the race, are those who keep going long after the rest have dropped out. It is relatively easy to persist when things are going well and we see progress. Highly persistent people, however, have found ways to keep going despite major setbacks and a lack of evidence that they are moving closer towards, or are ever going to reach their goals.
Here are some of the things that persistent people have that keeps them going long after most people have given up.
An all-consuming vision
Persistent people have a goal or vision in mind that motivates and drives them. They are often dreamers and visionaries who see their lives as having a higher purpose than simply earning a living. Their vision is deeply ingrained and they focus on it constantly and with great emotion and energy. They often think of this vision first thing when they wake up and last thing before they go to bed. Reaching this goal becomes the focal point of their life and they devote a major portion of their energies and time towards reaching it.
A burning desire
“If you really want to do something, you’ll find a way. If you don’t, you’ll find an excuse.” ~ Jim Rohn ~
Persistent people want it bad, really bad, and never look for an excuse or a way out.
What keeps highly persistent people going is their powerful level of desire. Repeated failures, dead ends and periods when it seems like no progress is being made, often come before any major breakthroughs happen. Persistent people have the inner energy and intensity to keep them motivated and going through these tough times.
Inner Confidence
People who overcome the odds and achieve greatly are often described as “marching to the beat of their own drummer”. They know what they want and are seldom swayed by the opinion of the masses. Having a highly developed sense of who they are allows them to continue on without being greatly affected by what others think of them or not; being understood or appreciated by those around them. While that inner confidence gets challenged and shaken, it never gets destroyed and constantly acts as a source of courage and determination.
Highly developed habits
“Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.” ~ Jim Rohn ~
Highly persistent people know it is very difficult to stay continually motivated, particularly during difficult times and when it appears that no progress is being made. They have come to rely upon their self-discipline and developing habits they can count on to continue down the path towards their eventual goals. They believe the results of the efforts they make today may not be seen for a long time, but strongly believe that everything they do will count towards their outcome in the end.
Ability to adjust and adapt
Persistent people have the ability to adjust and adapt their action plan. They do not stubbornly persist in the face of evidence that their plan is not working, but look for better ways that will increase their chances of success. They see their journey as a series of dead ends, detours and adjustments but have complete faith they will reach their final destination. They are not tied into their ego and are quickly willing to admit when something is not working. As well, they are quick to adapt the ideas of others that
have been shown to work well.
Committed to life- long learning
Persistent people realize that any goal worth reaching will take time, effort and continuously learning new skills and thinking patterns. They welcome change and new ideas; looking for ways they can incorporate these into their lives. Ongoing learning is seen as part of a process through which they continually expand the range of tools that they have to work with. Naturally curious, persistent types not only see learning as a way to reach their goals more quickly, but see self-development as a way of life. For them learning and continual growth do not end at a certain age or stage of life but are the essence of life itself, and therefore never ending.
Role models that act as guides and mentors
While it may appear that highly persistent people act alone and don’t need anyone, most have a carefully chosen group of people who they admire and emulate. These can be people who are actually involved in their lives as mentors/confidantes or they can be figures who they have read about and who have deeply impacted them. You will know who these people are as persistent people will often quote them as they are very familiar with their teaching and writing. Persistent people often stand out from their environment and are often misunderstood or ridiculed as they can make those around them feel uncomfortable. Having strongly ingrained models helps persistent people sustain and motivate themselves in an environment that is not always supportive.