Today on my way to work I wanted to increase the temperature of the A/C in the car, but for some reason the nob that controls the temperature was just turning without any change. I tried for the duration of my journey (which is 30 minutes from my home to office) without any luck. On the way I was wondering whether should I stop trying, but I told myself “no” I must not give up I will try until I get it done. So I reached office, and hear I was, my car parked , still trying to change the temperature, Many at office were wondering why I am still in the car. Eventually it happened I was able to change the temperature as to my requirement. This inspired me to write this piece on Perseverance.If the "how to" for achieving success” had to be summed up in just one single word, that word would be perseverance. It is the one characteristic shared by all successful people throughout history. Perseverance is the true essence of success!
I find it quite ironic how similar persistence and insanity can appear from a spectator's point of view. Einstein said that the definition of insanity was doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Persistence is NOT insanity. Giving up your purpose or goal due to obstacles - that's insanity! The key to determination is the word "decision". You must decide what you want before you can get it. Despite the sanity and perfectly legitimate reasoning behind back up plans, I always admired those who refused to even think of a backup plan because they were so determined that their plan was going to work. Determination takes great self-confidence and decisiveness. You must be willing to completely disregard all alternatives to your decision and set it clear in your mind that you MUST and you WILL.
As Dale Carnegie says “Don't be afraid to give your best to what seemingly are small jobs. Every time you conquer one it makes you that much stronger. If you do the little jobs well, the big ones will tend to take care of themselves.
Do you finish what you start? Do you possess enough inner strength to go through with what you start doing?
How many times have you started to do something with enthusiasm and energy, and then lost your enthusiasm and energy after a while?
How many times have you made promises to yourselves and to others, with the intention of following them through, only to forget about them after some time?
How do you define success? This is how I look at it.
Persistence. - The act of holding firmly and steadfastly to a purpose, state, goal, or undertaking despite obstacles, warnings, or setbacks.
Determination. - The quality of mind which reaches definite conclusions; decision of character; resoluteness.
Perseverance. - Persistent determination.
Most of the time, we don’t finish what we start, we loose our belief , we lose interest, because we realize that,
- We don’t really want what we started doing.
- It requires too much time or money, than what we are willing to invest.
- We realize that there are more important things we want.
- We have a gut feeling that this is not the right thing to do.
Quite often, we make promises and start doing things without prior thinking and analysis. We start doing things due to temporary enthusiasm, in response to something we saw or heard, but when the enthusiasm wanes, so does the desire to follow through.
In all these cases, and other similar ones, our decision to quit what we are doing might be justified sometimes, and unjustified at other times. The problem starts when quit, due to lack of self-discipline and perseverance. If we lack self-discipline and perseverance, how can we achieve anything, even small minor, everyday tasks?
So what’s the Solution?
- Make it a habit to finish what you start.
- Whenever you feel that you are losing enthusiasm and interest, think about and visualize the benefits, and how what you are doing will benefit and improve your life, and other people’s lives.
- Develop self-discipline, finish what you start. Make it a habit. Have faith in yourself.
- Have daily affirmations, read inspiring quotes.
I won’t tell you, “Stick with what you are doing, no matter what”, because if you need to be told this sentence, it means you lack self-discipline and perseverance, and these words won’t help you. You will need to develop these skills, but how can you do so, if you cannot finish what you start?
With just some mind training, you will start to see results. You will begin to finish what you start doing.
“Look at a stone cutter hammering away at his rock, perhaps a hundred times without as much as a crack showing in it. Yet at the hundred-and-first blow it will split in two, and I know it was not the last blow that did it, but all that had gone before.” - Jacob A. Riis
