per·sist·ence (noun): firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.
“I will persist until I succeed.” -Og Mandino
“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people 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
"Energy and persistence conquer all things." -Ben Franklin
The universal power of persistence has been proclaimed in self-help books and motivational speeches for hundreds of years. Persistence, put simply, is a refusal to give up. The talented may give up, the educated may give up, the genius may give up. The persistent one does not.
I am a persistent person. For as long as I can remember, whether in school, sports, or sales it seemed to take me longer than others to gain an understanding of the critical elements of a given discipline. Once I "got it", I would often surpass my peers. I always attributed this to persistence.
However nothing in any definition of persistence speaks to intelligence, innovation, or being strategic. It may be implied that if we continue to push long enough we will explore creative ways to succeed, but this is by no means an automatic element of persistence. Persistence without thought can lead to staying too long in a relationship or job, beating a dead horse, stalking…
When the economy turned in 2007, I was persistent. I pushed. I put myself out there. I went on many sales calls. Companies and industries that previously generated tens of thousands of dollars for my business yielded little or no revenue from my efforts.
But I was persistent. I refused to give up. I made more phone calls and booked more meetings. I tried harder. My "obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition" was undeterred. And eventually... things got worse. I continued to produce dismal results. My company lost more and more money. I became increasingly frustrated. I was persistently sucked into the quagmire of mediocrity.
Recovery of any kind begins with the admission that you have a problem. In this case I had several. It took some time before l began to see the light at the surface of the muck. The turning point came when I finally accepted the fact that what I was doing was not working. My persistence had failed me.
Faith, humility and a re-commitment to growth eventually augmented my persistence. I asked for help. I let go of behaviors that weren't serving me. The Ripple Effect highlights some of the personal struggles, lessons, and ripples that followed during this very challenging time in my life.
“As long as we are persistent in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It happens in its own time.” -Dr. Denis Waitley
Professionally, there were lessons to learn as well. I went "back to school" and educated myself on how to survive and thrive in the "new normal." My studies were focused in the areas of:
In the next few weeks I will be sharing some of the best of what I have learned and applied in these areas over the last four and a half years. If you are not sure whether or not you are opted in for my blog, take a moment to do so now (scroll up and to your right). And be sure to share this article with the people in your life who can utilize it.
Persistence, like many other attributes, can be a liability. Sometimes we need to slow down and reevaluate. Other times we need to let go of what's not working and do something different.
Please leave a comment- I really want to hear from you!
Do you want to:
• Play the guitar? Sing? Do stand-up comedy? Book an open mic night.
Although I have been performing music in my trainings for over a decade, I had never played an open mic night... until recently.
In 2011 I wrote four original songs, three of which aren't particularly suited for my speaking engagements and seminars. The thought had crossed my mind on more than one occasion that I should practice what I preach.
I was running an errand in Midtown Atlanta when I noticed a flyer on the door of the Red Light Cafe, "Open Mic Night every Wednesday". You gotta be kidding me. I didn't even have to look for it.
Wednesday rolled around and I showed up, banjo in hand with a couple of friends. To my surprise a few more arrived within the hour. The room was a mix of several people I know and 40+ artists, performers, and spectators.
10:55pm: "Next up, Doug Grady!"
I know what you're thinking. I got a standing ovation and booked a multimillion-dollar record deal. Not exactly. The first two songs, Saturday Morning and Is it Time to Let Go were a little off. These songs had never been performed for more than a couple of people and my nerves got the better of me. Of course The (unofficial) Tough Mudder Song had 'em clappin', snappin', hootin' and hollerin'.
My 13.5 minute open mic performance was nerve-racking, uncomfortable, and at times a little off key. It was fun, exciting, and inspired. It was a growth experience unlike any I have had or ever will have while simply practicing.
Put yourself out there. There simply is no substitute for putting your butt on the line.
Please leave a comment- I really want to hear from you.
You know the one. The one that lets you off the hook. That makes it OK to not do what you said you would do.
According to statistics, 75 to 90 percent of New Year's Resolutions are broken by February. Roughly 60% of smokers who attempt to quit fail their first time. Up to 80% of the people who buy gym memberships do not use them. The voices in their head said it was OK.
I was talking with a business associate earlier this week. He said on day 3 of an exercise program he did not fulfill his commitment. I prodded, "How did that happen? What was the voice that let you off the hook?" After a few minutes we got to it. It was kind of a one-two punch. His voice said, "I'm too tired tonight and I'll make up for it by doing two workouts tomorrow."
What does your little voice tell you? What are the specific words that make lying to yourself OK?
Justification, rationalization, reasoning. Call it what you will. It is one of the voices in your head. This voice has been with you a long time. Think about the last time you let yourself off the hook. How did it speak to you? If you don't remember, no worries- this voice will be back. Pay attention next time. Awareness is the key. Feel it coming. Hear it. There is power in knowing the exact words you listen to right before you break your commitment.
They are just words. You can hear them; feel them; even consider them; and then let them go. You can choose another voice to listen to. The voice that holds you to your word and encourages you to stay the course. The one that keeps you committed.
"I have many voices in my head. The key is choosing which one to listen to." -Doug Grady
That little voice is always telling you something. If it's inconsistent with who you are committed to be, choose a different voice. It is in there also, anchored deep inside you. You just have to listen.
Please leave a comment. I really want to hear from you.
Achievement: inspiration, personal growth, perseverance.
My first experience with Tabasco was in New Orleans as a freshman at Tulane University. A couple of drops and I was hooked. Rarely a meal goes by these days without reaching for that familiar bottle of pepper sauce.
Did you know the ingredients of Tabasco are aged up to three years in white oak barrels before they fulfill their destiny? The barrel gives them an environment to come together, to develop, to mature. It provides a proven structure for the fulfillment of their potential.
The ingredients are not enough.
Even if you have the right potential ingredients for achievement, it is not a given. Inspiration can be fleeting. Personal growth is often painful. Perseverance alone can lead to banging your head against a wall. Put them all together, and you're off to a great start, but it is not enough. High Achievers consciously put themselves in an environment where they can grow, mature, and consistently progress toward realizing their full potential. They learn from others who have been there. They have a support system. They realize it probably won't happen overnight.
The ingredients are not enough.
Check your environment. Does it empower you? What messes do you need to clean up? How's your support system? What simple choices can you make today to nurture your potential for the long term? Who can you count on?
Ingredients: inspiration, personal growth, perseverance
Think of High Achievers as your own personal white oak barrel. Our mission is simple:
To help you embrace a lifestyle of high achievement.
What would happen if you fully embraced a lifestyle of high achievement right now? What would be possible for you in the upcoming months? In a year? In three years?
Bring your inspiration. Be willing to grow. By all means persevere. Join us in embracing a lifestyle of high achievement. Your destiny awaits.
I thought I was just tired. I was reading a book with fine print and found myself pulling it further away to make out the words. My vision was better than 20/20- this must be a mistake. I delayed the inevitable for over 2 1/2 years. Last weekend I faced the facts and bought my first pair of reading glasses.
"It is a terrible thing to see and have no vision." -Helen Keller
What are the factors causing us to resist simple shifts that can significantly improve the quality of our lives? Here are some that have popped up for me:
Resistance to change/comfort zone. Sometimes I like to hold on to my old, comfortable way of looking at things- even if it doesn't work so well anymore.
Blind spots. I got so used to reading with obscured vision, I almost didn't notice it.
Self comparison. Comparing myself to how I used to be can be a recipe for frustration. While it is true that I am continuing to improve in various areas of my life, apparently eyesight is not one of them.
Denial. I simply did not want to accept my limitations.
Pride/ego/vanity. Glasses, when I got right down to it, represented weakness in my mind. I didn't want to rely on something outside myself to get results I was used to getting on my own.
I just happened to be with a trusted friend who reminded me how absurd my stubbornness was. Without this gentle prodding, it is likely I would still be vision impaired. As I write these words (glasses on) I am wondering what took me so long.
Where there is no vision, the people perish. -Proverbs 29:18
Tools, resources, and strategies are all around us. They come in the form of books, trainings, people... and glasses. What are you doing today to improve your vision?
