|
Through the ages of time we can all agree that the majority of the most persistent individuals have had the most success and the most impact on others. These individuals had a desire that the intensity level was one that which consumed them to a point there was nothing else, to a depth that there was no room for failure. Their persistent mind took complete control over their every day interactions from when they got up to when they went to sleep, but still their sub conscious mind still articulated ways to succeed as they slept. They touched the lives of many and still continue to touch us today as their legacy is still talked about and studied today. Learning from your failures The persistent mind realizes that a failure is just a snapshot in time; it is not the end of all, just a step closer to success. The persistent mind continues to analyze the situation over and over again until any failure is turned into success. So many times we may know of people that try a new project, take on a new educational platform or a new hobby. We watch as these individuals struggle with this new addition to their life and hear them start making excuses and just give up. I have heard excuses like "I don't have the time", "it's too complicated ", "Johnny down the street tried it and it didn't work, so it won't work for me either". Although most give up, we have all witnessed the one or two individuals go the extra 500 miles that we nickname a "trooper", because they just don't give up. As I write these words it reminds me of how we all had learned to walk as a young child, one step at a time. At the age of about twelve months we all started to learn to walk, while we did learn this once monumental task, it took time, we had the occasional fall but we were persistent. Why do you think we were so persistent; the reason is because we did not know what quitting was or that is was even an option for us, but aren't you glad you didn't. We all started by lifting ourselves up, take a step and fall flat on our face or bang our head against a coffee table or chair, and oh boy did we get mad, this pissed us off enough to do it all over again. We continued to put ourselves through this torture because of our determination and persistence to be able to walk. Walking meant freedom, freedom meant possibilities; possibilities lead to success, and success leads to more freedom. So I challenge you to get pissed off and keep doing it over again until you are "walking". After 12 No's why stop? A great example of being persistent is John Grisham and how he started writing his first book in his part time after witnessing a testimony of a 12 year old girl. John spent three years on the title known as "A Time to Kill" once finished he submitted his work to roughly 12 different publishers, which none of them were very excited about the content, they turned him down. John was not going to give up, he knew he had a good story so he kept trying and he came across a publisher named Wynwood Press and they bought it on a whim and took it to market with 5000 copies. This was a beginning of one of the most sought after authors that we know, his work is now known worldwide, and he has touched all of our lives with his many titles. He continues to fascinate us with his ability to write a good book and portray a world that you feel you are part of, just imagine if he would have given up after 12 no's? Think about this, you may be thinking of giving up, but if you give up, there is the possibility that you are not only affecting yourself but others as well, maybe thousands or millions. John did not give up his passion to be a writer, just like him you have the ability to touch others lives, be persistent and don't give up. The Battle of Thermopylae While many of us know this story well, others have the look like my wife, not a clue if I was speaking a foreign language or named a body part; this is an historic example of courage and persistence against all odds. This is a story of a great army lead by a group of 300 Spartan's which were known for their military training and education that began at the age of seven. This great battle is known for the extreme odds, courageous mentality and persistence to protect their way of life. Around September of 480B.C. at the pass of Thermopylae they were confronted by an army of numbers in the millions, an army so large that whispers rolled through the hills in the wind saying they were unstoppable. An army so large that as they marched stories were told that it sounded like the gods destroying worlds that we have never seen just heard of. For a total of seven days the Spartans fought against odds that were never in their favor, except one; persistence, and they would have won this great conflict if it would have not been for betrayal of one of their own. Their story is still told and referenced today as one of the most memorable conflicts ever, and will continue to inspire each and every one of us to keep going even when the odds are stacked against us. Persistence wears Resistance We have all heard this saying time and time again, but many of us think about it differently. Every time I think of this saying or hear someone reference it I think of water on a constant drip on a bed of rocks, seems a little odd, yes I know but think about it. The drops of water are the persistence force that continues to strike against the bed of rocks (the resistance).If you find it hard to believe how water that continually strikes a rock will have any change, just look at the 1885 miles that runs from Colorado to Texas. You got it, the Rio Grande is a prime example of water forming rock and earth with continuous persistence. Talk about not giving up, the Rio Grande has been forming for 100 million years, it doesn't get a chance to think about quitting and giving up, just like when we were learning to walk, a way was found no matter how long it took. While you may not 100 million years to build your business the philosophy is the same; never give up, even against the most unforsaken odds. Don't dare tell me you are too old While I am very reluctant in telling this next section I feel I have too as it is very relevant to this article in being persistent and not giving up. See I grew up having a very rough childhood, not having much, but feeling fortunate that I was alive and not in a position as so many other children were in third world countries. Since there wasn't much monetary support in or around my family, we went without many things, for example one of the most coveted gifts that a child could receive is a bike. Well as I said money was not growing on our tree in the back yard so I went without a bike, without for many, many years. I never had the opportunity to learn to ride a bike until a good friend named Steven lived in a apartment below me and had a bike, he was getting bored riding by himself and asked me to buy a bike. As you could imagine the fear flooded my body, here I was in my 20's and never had the opportunity to learn to ride a bike, what was I to do? Lie to my friend, tell him I wasn't interested in riding with him and having the chance to hurt his feelings or tell him the truth, well I took the high road. I told him my story and we went together and bought me a bike, we started riding around the neighborhood, then the park and then farther. While this was not an overnight feat, it was accomplished. It was accomplished because I was persistent and knew I wanted to learn to ride a bike and knew I could, also for all the people that could not ride a bike. I did it for them also knowing if I didn't use my abilities to the best of my ability I was being ungrateful and didn't deserve the opportunity. In telling my friend the truth and being persistent I learned to ride a bike and have a very strong friendship with Steven, we taught each other many things and am grateful for the experience. While you may think you have no way of being successful, don't give up. You can be like the 97 percent of people that give up if they the odds are stacked up against them, or you can make a choice. A choice to continue until the end where you are successful and you have built a legacy as one that never gave up, as one who inspired others and gave back to the world in such a positive manner. As the late Confucious said "Our greatest glory is not in never falling but in rising every time we fall". Wishing you everlasting success, Your friend and mentor, Robert David Strong If you are truly tired of the mundane 70+ hour work week, lost time with the family and feel there has to be a better way – I’m here to tell you there is.
Related Articles -
time, mind, persistence, persistent, bike,
|
