Master the 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. The slogan 'Press On' has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

PERSISTENCE AND SELF-ESTEEM

In general people with higher self-esteem are more likely to persist on a difficult task than people with lower self-esteem. This seems intuitive. If you believe you are a competent person with a good chance of succeeding at most things, you are less likely to quit.

What seems less intuitive is the following finding: People tend to persist longer at solving problems when they are told that what they are doing is difficult as opposed to easy. Why? Failing at a task that everyone else finds easy can be humiliating and damaging to self-esteem. In contrast, there is a minimal shame when one fails a widely acknowledged difficult task

A pernicious phenomenon called self-handicapping is a particular instance of failing to persist. Most often the term is used in the context of a failure to be persistent at practice or in preparation for a major task. Again, self-esteem comes into play. If one fails to persist in studying before a major exam, then failure can be explained (and self-esteem preserved) by blaming the failure on lack of practice rather than low ability.

PERSISTENCE AND REWARDS

When individuals have been rewarded in the past for effort (sticking with a task), they are more likely to persist on a future task-even if that future task is not directly related to the first, Remember this if you are an employer or a parent! But also remember that some rewards are better than others.

Certain extrinsic rewards undermine persistence. People who perform tasks for money, prizes, or awards tend to lose interest in performing a task for its own sake. If the reward becomes unavailable, then persistence drops off sharply. In contrast, persistence is encouraged when a reward conveys positive feedback about competence and increases the intrinsic motivation for doing the task.

SYMPTOMS OF LACK OF PERSISTENCE

1. Indecision, the habit of “passing the buck” on all occasions, instead of facing issues squarely.

2. The habit of relying upon alibis instead of creating definite plans for the solution of problems.

3. Failure to recognize and to clearly define exactly what one wants.

4. WEAKNESS OF DESIRE, due to neglect in the choice of MOTIVES that impel action.

5. Lack of ORGANIZED PLANS, placed in writing where they may be analyzed.

6. The habit of compromising with POVERTY instead of aiming at riches. The general absence of ambition to be, to do and to own.

7. FEAR OF CRITICISM, failure to create plans and to put them into action, because of what other people will think, do or stay. This enemy belongs at the head of the list, because it generally exists in one’s subconscious mind, where its presence is not recognized.

8. WISHING instead of WILLING.

HOW TO BE PERSISTENT

1. DEFINITENESS OF PURPOSE

 Knowing what one wants is the first and perhaps, the most important step toward the development of persistence. A strong motive forces one to surmount many difficulties.

2. DESIRE

It is comparatively easy to acquire and to maintain persistence in pursuing the object intense desire.

3. SELF-RELIANCE

Belief in one’s ability to carry out a plan encourages one to follow the plan through with persistence.

4. DEFINITENESS OF PLANS

Organized plans, even though they may be weak and entirely impractical, encourage persistence.

5. ACCURATE KNOWLEDGE

Knowing the one’s plans are sound, based upon experience or observation, encourages persistence; “guessing” instead of “knowing” destroys persistence.

6. CO-OPERATION

Sympathy, understanding and harmonious cooperation with others tend to develop persistence.

7. WILL-POWER

The habit of concentrating one’s thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose leads to persistence.

8. HABIT
Persistence is the direct result of habit. The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upon which its feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage Everyone who has seen active service in war knows this. 

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