I love the definition of perseverance:
Steadfastness in doing something despite difficulty or delay in achieving success.
I love this because I firmly believe that this is the hallmark of great leadership, individuals, teams, and organizations. I believe that success is the fact that they have persevered where others have quit.
Most startups fail because they do not have what it takes to persevere and to survive the inevitable conflicts and difficult decisions that must be made to survive.
Most relationships (and marriages) do not survive because they, as individuals and as a couple, have chosen to not persevere.
And even most aspiring authors, writers, creatives, and bloggers do not attain the level of success that they’d like to see because they quit too early – it’s perseverance that grants them access to those achievements and very little else.
I attribute a lot of my personal success in blogging (and a number of other things) to the fact that I have written and published every single day for the past 10+ years. I strongly urge other bloggers to do the same, schedule permitting of course, because I believe it is through the difficulty and the “grind” where you learn your own unique art and craft to this thing we call online publishing.
I still find it incredibly difficult at times to sit down and write and there are times where it’s the very last thing I want to do with my time. Yet, I know that the game I and the rest of the world really plays is one of perseverance and I’m in it for the long haul. I’ve seen it work because I’ve experienced it.
Success that matters, however your describe or define it, takes time. And success that makes a lasting impact on not only yourself but for the benefit of others is difficult by definition. Don’t quit now because you’re tired – you haven’t even really started yet.
Thanks for this post John. Gives some great perspective. I needed to be reminded of this.
I’ve been trying to pay attention to this for myself but what about quitting just because you’re bored or lose interest?
well, those things might be good to drop anyways! only you can determine if your loss of interest is legitimate or because you’re exhausted.
You are awesome John. Thanks for being here every day.
)
Perseverance is one of the things I struggl with mostly. I hate it. Need discipline.
Perseverance is one of the things I struggle with mostly. It’s terrible. Discipline is so important. Any body knows of anything that helps break unproductive patterns?
Truer words have never been spoken man!
I have perserverance but does it get in the way of making changes or knowing when to quit?
Great message, John. Perfect timing for me to read. You put the ‘severe’ in ‘perseverance!’ Keep up the God Work!
Great post John, and very timely. Incidentally, I just finished reading “Platform” by Mr. Hyatt, and it was good…as I expected it to be, and I liked that you got some “love” with a mention of your blog under his resources section =).
Perseverance is key to any endeavor, and having directions is imperative to achieving any goal, so in that vain, I’m reading “Write It Down, Make It Happen,” by Henriette Klauser (a book that was mentioned in “Platform”). I do believe in the power of writing things done, and the perseverance comes from actually following through with whatever goals you’ve set for yourself, because as we ALL know – it’s not easy! Keep up your good work. I’m also enjoying your guest bloggers too.
That should have been, “writing things down.” (typo – typing too fast, and missed that). =)
Hi John,
Thanks for a timely reminder to not quit or get lazy – that is exactly my temptation at the moment and this post has encouraged me to dig in and do the hard yards!