PERSISTENCE - What Children Know Best About Finding Success.
The majority of men meet with failure because of their lack of persistence in creating new plans to take the place of those which fail. — Napoleon Hill
How many Halloween candy bars does it take to satisfy a three-year old? My recent observance of Halloween has been a powerful reminder of the power of persistence; A reminder kindled by my children’s insatiable desire to binge on pillowcases full of candy, candy, and more candy.
Persistence is defined as a “Firm or obstinate continuance in a course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition.”
During the past few days, I’ve been fascinated to watch my kids revert to some very primal survival instincts. Without regard for the conditions, they trudge countless miles in uncomfortable costumes asking complete strangers for candy. They hoard, hide, cry, bargain, and fight over candy in an effort to create a perpetual fountain of suckers and mini-chocolate bars. Even the sight of a stray candy bar elicits an intense battle of will, whit, and occasional force. So what can we learn from our sugar-crazed passionate children?
Like committed trick-or-treaters, successful people are often relentless in their efforts. They are self-driven and highly persistent. They display commensurate levels of persistence toward their objectives. Even in the face of adversity, they press forward until they conquer.
You may recall the story of Hernan Cortez and his conquest of Mexico from 1518 to 1520. In an ambitious effort to conquer the Aztec empire, Cortex defied his superiors and defeated the city of Veracruz. To declare his commitment to his purpose, Cortez deliberately sunk his battle ships ensuring that his army of 500 would have no choice but to fight. This demonstration of commitment to his purpose ultimately led to his successful conquest of Mexico and the toppling of the Aztec empire in 1521. Like Cortez, the road to success is open only for those who are entirely committed and relentless towards their objective. Half-hearted attempts and back-up options will often squelch any initiative before it truly begins.
The journey toward your greatest ambitions in life can often be challenging and painful. Many endeavors require significant investment and present a staggering measure of resistance before you finally break through and find success. Being able to withstand the emotional toll of rejection and disappointment is critical. It’s not always easy, but you can and must do it.
Early in my sales career, I was an emotional head case. I spent far too much time in my own head worrying about bothering people and facing rejection. I worked myself into a frame of mind that gave me no chance of selling anything. I had to learn how to turn my negativity and self-doubt buttons off and focus on positive thoughts. I needed to push myself to a higher level of thought and reframe the failure that was holding me back.
Many of us struggle with confidence and inadvertently become roadblocks to our own success. Our limiting beliefs and fears prevent us from taking action. When our fears are validated by rejection, we find that it becomes even more difficult to press forward. Influential people are not immune to fears, doubts, and rejection. The difference is they learn what they can from any given situation, dismiss the discouragement it brings, and move forward, confident in a better result in the future. They have learned to find value in their struggles and adversity. Conflict can be a powerful teacher. With the right perspective, it can purify our desires and strengthen our commitment towards the things that we want most.
The truth is that we all have passions that we’d be willing to sacrifice almost anything to realize. Perhaps it was once candy, and hopefully today it is something much greater. Perhaps your passion is directed toward a spouse, a child, a career, or a meaningful contribution. When you consider the question, “If you knew you couldn’t fail, what would you do?” I hope your mind floods with the ambitions and contributions that define you. The most important question is, how committed are you? When you want success as intensely as my children want candy, I can assure you that your success is inevitable.
Remember: Aligning with your purpose will put you on the road to success, but persistence is the vehicle you will arrive in.
