By Dr. Ari Bernstein
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to succeed at almost everything they attempt? Meanwhile, you might be struggling and unhappy with your achievements. The differentiator in those who seemingly always succeed may simply come down to one factor, and that’s PERSISTENCE.
We’ve all heard that the squeaky wheel is the one that gets the grease because it is the one that gets notice. Too often, many of us worry that others will think we are annoying or trying to get too much attention if we practice persistence. Sadly, instead of persisting, many of us will give up, shrug our shoulders, and call it a day when we come upon a roadblock.
Persistence Is a Skill to Develop and Master
While we all have the capacity to set goals toward success, not all achieve what we set out to do. This is because not everyone is willing to stick it out and continue to do the work until success is reached. After all, we may run into hardships or let our doubts or fears stop us from persisting. If this sounds like I am preaching to the choir, then there is something important I want you to know.
Persistence is actually one of the most admirable traits that you can have. It means you are determined to achieve your goals regardless of any setback you might encounter. It can be the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t — and it doesn’t come easy. Persistence is a skill you need to develop and master, and I am going to tell you five ways to effectively do just that.
1. Have a Clear Picture of What You Want
The first step to developing the persistence you need to achieve success is that you need to know what it is that you ultimately want. If you do not have a clear picture of what that is, you are going to find it challenging to gain focus. The funny thing is that all you need to do is write down all the things you want to have or accomplish, even if they seem impossible at this moment.
2. Find Your Motivation
Next, you need to understand the motivation behind what you want. If you know why you want to achieve your goals, then you have more fuel to back up your reasons to persist in your endeavor(s). For example, maybe your goal is to get a promotion at work. In order to get it, though, you need to get a little more education under your belt. Think about all the benefits that are likely to come with that promotion — added income, added respect, job security. These can act as your motivators as you do the work you needed to secure that promotion at work.
3. Identify the Actions You Need to Take
Okay, now that you know what you want and why you want it, you need a plan to figure out how you are going to achieve it. Having a plan and knowing what steps you need to take to implement that plan will give you a roadmap to achieve your goals. This may take a lot of research and planning on your part, but the good news is this hard work will pay off in the end.
4. Maintain a Positive Mindset
If you are going to develop persistence and succeed in your goal(s), you need to maintain a positive mindset. It is too easy to lose your way with negative feelings and thoughts. Keep your eye on the prize, no matter how challenging the road to success might be.
5. Make Persistence a Habit
What if all the great leaders and inventors of the world gave up each time they hit a roadblock? The world might look vastly different than it does today. All your hard work will go to waste if you do not learn good habits and discipline. Having these two things in your toolbox can help you weather any storm and pers