Persistence

“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. “ Calvin Coolidge

I had this on a plaque, placed on top of my piano as a Young Person. I struggled, as I was studying the piano to support my singing aspirations and therefore needed that extra encouragement to practice, to attain the much required exams. My persistence in my goal allowed me to experience my musicality and the joy of playing a piece once firmly under the hands.

I could be stubborn at times, but this quote gave me an internal dialogue whereby I could put a goal in front of me to persist upon; this supported a burgeoning emotional intelligence.

What has this given me over the years? A pursuit for the right thing is great, but persistence to achieve it is quite another. In a world of agenda-driven promises that are not always wholesome, there is a need to hold up a mirror and say: “am I being stubborn” or “am I being persistent”. It has given me a reliable ability to be resilient and solution focused.  Through persistence it really is possible to develop new skills, whilst learning so much about yourself

So what if someone else is being persistent too, at a work meeting for example? This is where your listening skills come into their own. What is at the heart of what they are trying to achieve? How does it relate to your goals so you can find common ground? How can this work together in collaboration to achieve both ends? Is it time to re-evaluate your own goal ensuring that you haven’t lost your way?

Coming back to the quote - it really is the instinctive driver that is the guide. So what do you need to bring this clearly into cognisance? Headspace, however that best presents itself in your life - a break for coffee, a walk in the fresh air, music… If this is a built-in feature of your day then persistence is stress free, so while you may experience some pressure, there is a wholesome understanding that you are on the right track and this will inform your strategy and actions going forward.

Reflect and consider how persistence could work in your life for the better.

JC