Sunday, February 05, 2012
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The Power of Perseverance

Keeping going, despite the stress, pressure, setbacks and personal costs is what separates the also-rans from the winners. If you struggle to stick with it, it's unlikely you'll achieve anything of significance. This may help you. Perseverance is defined as persisting in or remaining constant (standing fast) to a purpose, idea or task in spite of obstacles. T

his means you don’t necessarily have to be a genius or brilliant person to achieve something great, because many important achievements have been made by not very talented but persistent and committed people. Unpack this fascinating quality>>

"Many of life's failures are people who simply did not realise just how close they were to SUCCESS when they gave up."

Thomas Edison

The majority of people on the planet today have dreams and aspirations. Anyone that has any sense about them wants to make the most of their lives (although some would say they are ‘trapped’ by their circumstances).

So what is the difference between those who achieve their dreams and those who just walk around with their heads in the clouds? Why is it that some people work hard and reach their goals and see their dreams become reality, but others give up (often losing energy, time and money). The bridge between the two is called perseverance. If you have it you’ll go far, but without it... beware!

"Half-hearted attempts don't produce half-hearted results, they produce NOTHING!"
Frank Lloyd Wright
If you honestly want to succeed, you should never give up. Perseverance will help you make your dreams come true. When you persist in doing everything it takes to make something work, you will eventually reach success.

One of the greatest (and possibly shortest) speeches of all time was given by Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1941 when he visited a school. It is reported he stood before the students and said, 'Never, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, give up. Never give up. Never give up. Never give up.'

Then he sat down. Actually, the speech was longer than that and towards the end he tells them never to give in – in nothing, great or small, large or petty. The greatest thing about the speech was that he practised what he preached. Churchill was accustomed to setbacks. Three times his career was apparently over but three times he came back and eventually led his country. He truly was a man who never gave up.

"When the world says, 'Give up,' Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time'."
 Author Unknown  

Rob's Top Tips

If you're still not convinced about the power of perseverance, here is an incredible statistic:

A survey published by a national sales organisation revealed that 48% of salesmen quit trying to sell to a customer after their first visit, while 25% called a second time before quitting. Only 15% made three visits – and then they gave up. The remaining 12% kept on calling – and they did 80% of the total business!

Great skill, abundant passion, well-laid plans and bags of confidence may just get you in the game and get you in the lead. But it's perseverance that gets you over the line. Here are my top six tips to help you develop your perseverance:
  1. Use People! Lean on friends, mentors, coaches, colleagues and family when you need that extra bit of encouragement, belief and re-focusing.
  2. Stay Healthy! Perseverance is a high energy activity! If you're run-down, you'll struggle. Legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said 'fatigue makes cowards of us all.'
  3. Talk Yourself Up! Careful what you say to yourself. Negative self-talk can undermine your best efforts.
  4. Celebrate Wins! Doesn't matter how small. It's vital to keep yourself motivated along the way.
  5. Be Courageous! You may need to take some risks. You may need to be out of your comfort zone. But there are few things in life worth having that don't lie on the other side of a risk.
  6. Have A Vision! Whether you have a dreamboard, a grandplan or an ultimate goal, it helps you keep going throughout the tough times.
If you want to achieve anything in this life the key is perseverance. Never give up. Try it one more time. Perseverance pays off!

© Rob Brown 2009. All Rights Reserved. To publish or reprint any Rob Brown article, the following must be included:

Rob Brown is one of the UK's leading authorities on business networking and referrals. He is an inspirational conference speaker and author of over 40 publications, including Amazon best-seller How To Build Your Reputation. Go to www.rob-brown.com for your free 60 page copy of ‘The 13 Commandments of Turning Relationships Into Profits', or get in touch on (44) 115 846 21227 or rob@rob-brown.com for details of his motivational presentations, business winning programmes and relationship-building resources.