Persistence
Wrriten by Tony Aloise
“Nothing in this 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.” - Calvin Coolidge
When I think of the important things in life -- family, relationships, career, service -- you have to take a “long view”. Life is a marathon that requires resiliency, determination, faith and a general mindset to “never give up”. Persistence is an attitude. It is moving forward in spite of difficulty or obstacles.
Persistence is enabled by various things:
Energizing vision and goals. We need a vision that is bigger than ourselves, something that gets us out of bed or off our couches each and every day.
Seeing “mistakes” and challenges as learning experiences and opportunities for growth. If all we see are failures, then we feel beat up and de-energized.
Having a safety net of time and money. Setbacks will occur but we don’t want unforeseen events or emergencies to overwhelm us. If we live in the margins and every day is a crisis the tendency to make bad choices emerges.
Acting on our plans with discipline. Small accomplishments accumulate into big change if done every day.
Having a good support system. We need good friend and mentor who encourages and instills hope.
Do you have the necessary persistence to move you toward your vision?
About the Author
I am passionate about all things mentoring. I believe that “mentoring is the most powerful skillset a human being can possess.” I believe that volunteer mentors, managers, parents and friends become better people when we add new approaches and skills to our everyday relationships. These skills have already changed my life and continue to do so as I interact with many amazing people.
I am equally passionate about the topic of Purpose. This word guides us to know ourselves deeply, to have an intentional life plan and to live to our potential – all important to mentoring.
I am a dad of four amazing adult children, a grandfather of five, a very active volunteer and a retiree.