Persistence and Success

Good Morning!

Success seldom comes to people on their first try...

As I think about real success...it seldom comes...to anyone!

The fact of the matter is...that most people actually compromise their initial dreams and settle...

There are a few special individuals who refuse to compromise...and persist despite the messages that life sends them...

Do you know what they are called?

FOOLS!

What do that thought mean for us?

If you are not successful on your first try...traditional advice is "Try and try again!"

The world references the persistence of Thomas Edison...and how many different materials he tried before he came upon a useful element for his light bulb...it is a nice story...but how many other legends reference this type of relentless persistence?

Then there are those who are "lucky"...and by chance happen upon the next greatest mouse trap...

True success and persistence is found in a balance...

But not in a compromise...

One must be smart about what they seek...and also about how they seek it!

There is a duality in seeking persistence...

Let me use a VERY simple example...

A friend is starting a business...

He makes great money when he is working...

But when he is not working (making money) he is working the other side of his equation...

Finding other clients...so he can make money!

He is working one side of his success equation or the other...

What he doesn't do is waste time sitting waiting for his next opportunity...

He asks himself...why am I not making money today?

and then he looks at what he did successfully and unsuccessfully....

He does those things that works...stops doing things that didn't work...and tries new things to see what else might work better...

This is not just the success equation for building a business...but also in every endeavor!

There are always 2 sides related to a success journey...

There is the destination side...

AND...

The journey side!

This may seem self-evident to many...

Actually I hope so!

During your journey...ask yourself...Are you fully experiencing the success that you aspire for?

If not...then keep working the other side of the equation...

DO NOT persist (in a bullheaded fashion) in efforts that have provided little or no return!

Persistence must be focused...

Thomas Edison was the epitome of persistence...but he was not stupid!  He did not use any material for his light bulb element that didn't work...

If he thought wool would work...and he tested wool over and over...all he would get from his efforts is an absolute confidence that wool doesn't work...

He persisted...but he found what didn't work...and he moved on!

Persistence must be intelligently directed!

Persistence is an attribute related to the goal and not the journey!

Think about it...

The ability to adapt and adjust during the journey is the secret of success...

FOCUS your persistence!

Do not dwell too long on efforts or people or whatever...

that do not return on your investment...

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I have days when everything goes great!

I have days when everything fails...

I have days when I want to just quit!

I have days when I can't be stopped!

The fact of the matter is...I persist...not on my journey...but towards my goal!

If I have a day or two that doesn't work...I lick my wounds and remind myself to avoid those situations that hurt!

Success resides in the phrase..."Note to self..."

"Note to self...do more of this...none of this and try this..."

If you must persist on something during your journey...

Persist with "Note to self..."

Enough Said!

Pura Vida!