Persistence - Use Good Judgment

Author: Scott Hepworth
5/13/2010

Nothing in the 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. The slogan “Press On” has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race. - Calvin Coolidge

As you work on almost anything, your motivation ebbs and flows. But motivation does not produce results — action does. Persistent action even when you don’t feel motivated will accumulate results. Even when you’re not that motivated, if you simply keep taking action, you’ll eventually get results, and results can be very motivating.

Once you’ve lost those first 10 pounds and feel your clothes fit better, you are likely to be more enthusiastic about eating better and exercising properly.

Regardless of your age or time or money invested, if the product you have developed or the service you offer or the skills you can provide are not in demand or not competitive and cannot be feasibly modified to cultivate demand or become competitive, cut the opportunity cost of wasting time and change course with something more promising.

How do you know when to press on or when to change course?

If your purpose is still right, your approach may just need to be changed. Your plan and your goal(s) may need to be updated. Clinging to a goal that no longer inspires, that no longer makes sense, may be unwise stubbornness. Let humility be the antidote for fruitless pride. Complete or delete goals to make room for better ones. New goals can be so inspiring and compelling that old goals have to be abandoned unfinished. Wise discernment and good judgment dictate when to stay the course or change course, when to switch gears, when to stop an unfinished pursuit or persist against all odds.

The value of persistence comes not from just stubbornly clinging to the past, but from a vision so compelling you would give almost anything to make it real. Persistence of action comes from persistence of vision. When you are crystal clear about what you want, your vision persists. As your vision thrives, it drives more consistent actions to produce more consistent results.

Examine your life and the lives of others to see patterns of persistence where purpose, passion, and self-discipline produced greater results.

Keep up the good work to fulfill your most inspiring vision and endure to the end.