“If you are going through hell, keep going.” ― Winston S. Churchill
Easy for Winston to say, he had advisors and supporters helping him through his darkest hours. However, there is pure truth in this quote. Can you remember a time when you or someone you know truly wanted something and stopped moving forward at some point? How about a time when, no matter what, you or your friend just kept on going? Were the results different?
Woody Allen said, ‘Showing up is 80 percent of life. Sometimes it’s easier to hide home in bed. I’ve done both.’
This is such good news!
This means perseverance is only 20% of life’s effort. This aligns with the Pareto Principle (also known as the 80/20 rule) that says 80% of your results come from 20% of your efforts.
Can you focus 20% of your effort on what you want to achieve?
In this life many expect quicker and quicker returns. Businesses focus on quarterly results. Investors are looking for faster returns. Relationships move along quickly with less time to nurture and mature.
When you take the time to plant your idea, plan and cultivate your progressions, and prepare to weather the storms you create a result that is strong and lasting.
This means sticking with things long enough for them to pay off:
- It’s not quitting when things get hard
- It’s moving on when unexpected obstacles arise
- It’s remembering why you started in the first place
Some steps you can take in your life right now are:
- Set 1 to 2 goals every day. These are small achievable actions you can take toward your goal
- Monitor what you do achieve and review your results each week
- Select a role-model or guide who exemplifies perseverance and determine how you can mirror those actions
Perseverance involves that you make conscious choices every day regardless of the challenges and disappointments that you may face. This means you tap into that 20% effort to work on meaningful tasks over the long haul.
You reap the fruits of your labor
You plan and plant the ideas; you nurture, feed, and “weed” the continuous process; you defend and re-evaluate your focus and progress; and only after spending the effort to care will you reap the results of your work
You build confidence for your next goal
“Success breeds success” is what you are building here. The you experience success, the more you tend to be successful. This comes from confidence, this comes from learning approaches that work, and this comes from learning how to persevere. When successful people hit a roadblock they know they can continue forward and get past it, because they have.
You develop the skill and wisdom of self control
Keep on going when you’re ready to give up on a tough task. Take the time to evaluate and recognize that there are many benefits to sticking with it. Not every effort leads to success, but odds are that if you keep persisting at something you believe to be important, one of your efforts will pay off.
Success is there through perseverance right now. Create your plan, stay focused, and continuously make conscious choices that move you forward. All you do is take control, step into your own empowerment, and be aware that your actions are choices that belong to you alone. You know it’s time for even more.
If not now, when?
You don’t have to go there alone. You too can have your advisor and supporter helping you through your darkest hours.
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