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5 Steps for Increasing Your Perserverance.

Jack Perry | Articles > From the section: Leadership and Motivation

December, 2014 |

The Respect Factor

When Winston Churchill was a young boy, many people considered him intellectually challenged. Perhaps because of that perception, he pushed himself to extraordinary heights, going on to become Britain's Prime Minister and to lead the country through its darkest hours. He delivered a commencement address in which he said simply,"Never, never, never quit." And then he sat down.

You can sum up Churchill's four word formula for success in one word: Perseverance. Most great successes cannot be attributed to talent alone but to the invisible, immeasurable"X" factor of determination and commitment. When you persevere, you never lose sight of the goal. You refuse to quit until you've reached it, no matter how big or small it is or how intimidating the obstacles in your way might be.

Winners Never Quit and Quitters Never Win

People tend to respond in three ways to the issue of perseverance. Some are "perseverance no-shows." They never try, so they never fail. They also never push themselves to greater heights, so they never truly succeed, either. They take the easy way out, and in the short-term, that's probably more fun. While others are working on a Saturday or taking a class to help reach a goal, the"no-shows" relax but certainly never achieve. In the long-term,"relaxed" becomes"stuck." With this type, when the going gets tough, they get going alright—in the other direction!

The"perseverance wanna-bes" will give a goal a shot, but they tend to quit difficult tasks. Former presidential candidate H. Ross Perot said,"Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown." Wanna-bes might almost get to their goals, but they just don't have the dedication it takes to see the project all the way through to the end. Though not necessarily lazy or unmotivated, they're not fully committed to themselves and their goals, so perceived obstacles might seem too overwhelming and distractions from their good intentions too great. When the going starts to get tough, this type finds the easiest available alternative route.

“Perseverance champs" are hungry for success and will do whatever it takes to get it. These people are real heroes, who find the inner resources to overcome overwhelming obstacles by giving their determination full reign. They hold themselves fully accountable for their actions and offer no excuses in their drive to fulfill their dreams. They understand that you do not achieve greatness through brute strength or innate skill alone, but through the power of focus and diligence. When the going gets tough, these champs are"the tough" who get going.

Perseverance Pointers

Revolutionary War commander John Paul Jones ,during a naval battle with the British, was urged to surrender by the British captain who had crippled Jones' vessel in a bloody battle. The defiant Jones while hanging with one arm from the mast of his sinking ship , shouted back ,the immortal words, "I have not yet begun to fight!" and went on to win the battle.

How can you find that same ferocious tenacity and enable yourself to persevere in the face of even the most daunting challenges?

Have a can-do attitude.

Even if you're in an entry level position, or in a circumstance that's completely alien to your experience, the right attitude can make all the difference. Finding the inner resources to persevere might be as simple as positive visualization and self-talk. See yourself as a persevering individual. Tell yourself,"I don't quit. I love challenging situations.I keep going. I persevere. The tougher it gets, the more I like it!" When you have the right attitude, you're more likely to stick with even a distasteful task, not necessarily because you enjoy it, but because you see yourself as a person who follows things through to the end.

Look for role models.

Spend time with people who are leaders and heroes to you, people who've accomplished goals in the field you want to pursue. Ask them for help, especially when you need a push to remain focused on your goal. If you tell others, especially those you admire, what you're determined to accomplish, they'll help you to stay committed and hold you accountable for those goals. You'll also find that, when you commit, providence will bring people and events into your life that will speed you on your journey.

Take on big tasks, but achieve them with small steps.

You need not attack the whole mountain in order to begin your ascent. The ancient Greek writer Plutarch said,"Perseverance is more prevailing than violence; and many things which cannot be overcome when they are together, yield themselves up when taken little by little.“ Slow and steady wins the race. If you want to lose weight, commit to losing one to two pounds per week. If you're determined to obtain a degree, start with one class. If your goal is to get"X" number of new accounts this year, create goals for this month. You'll find it far easier to persevere if you're not overwhelmed by the enormity of the task. And be prepared for temporary failures when you take on big tasks, but recognize them as short-term setbacks, not as a reason to abandon the project altogether.

Focus, focus, focus.

If you're willing to put blinders on and focus solely on the task at hand, the naysayers won't be able to de-motivate you. Stay positive and keep all of your attention on your goal….don't lose sight of your targe. Refuse to let the negativity of others distract you, even if it's disguised as concern.

Be open to change. When your goal becomes less important to you than it once was, or you come to the realization that perhaps your initial goal was unrealistic for your levels of skill and experience, be prepared to modify the goal, but don't abandon the effort. Never , never, never quit! But if you feel, deep down, that even your best efforts won't get you where you want to go, and people you trust agree, alter your goal somewhat. Rather than conquering the highest mountain—real or metaphorical—vanquish its smaller sisters, first. It's only a defeat if you throw in the towel after the first try. And modifying your goals might just give you the extra push you need to go back to that larger original goal in the future, once you see that you were able to accomplish the smaller, altered goals.

The Value of Perseverance

Your reputation will flourish when clients, co-workers, and superiors know that you are a person who will persevere. Your dependability will make you an even more valuable asset. As you rise to meet challenges, you'll be given the tougher assignments, which will, in turn, enable you to stretch even farther and learn more about what you're made of, what your true potential is. You will find yourself advancing to the next level of creativity or energy, developing new strengths as you persevere.

Commit to your future dreams and goals or you're destined to settle for mediocrity. The path of perseverance is a great one. Remember what the great writer Johann von Goethe said:"Whatever you can do or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it. Begin it now."

About Jack Perry

Jack Perry is a renowned leader, coach, and author with over 45 years of experience."Jack, You're Fired," is his book on effective sales, goals and motivation techniques. Jack climbed to the top with a District Sales Management position at IBM, then became CEO at a national financial services firm. Jack is an expert on sales, motivation, leadership and retirement planning.

Visit his site to read more articles: http://www.respectfactor.com

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