If I could give you a gift today it would be “Perseverance”.
Dictionary.com defines Perseverance as “steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement” It takes Courage to have Perseverance: to keep on when all around you say, “Quit!” when things aren’t going the way you planned and the results are delayed or seemingly nonexistent.
How do you know when it’s perseverance and not obstinacy? I know someone who’s been basically unemployed or underemployed for 8 years, yet he continues to look for work, talk with recruiters, go on interviews and do the work he’s offered. He was offered the opportunity to live on Social Security Disability Insurance and could have taken it easy for the rest of his working years, but chose not to. When challenged about his disability he replied, “I’m not disabled! I can do everything anyone else in here can do!” So he perseveres in the face of opposition, age, and illness. He is courageous and persevering.
- Henry Ward Beecher (1813 – 1887) said, “the difference between perseverance and obstinacy is that one often comes from a strong will and the other from a strong won’t”.
- Samuel Johnson (1709 – 1784) wrote, “Great works are performed not by strength, but by perseverance.”
Is your business faltering? Do you wonder sometimes if you should quit? Been through or going through rough times? Is your dream worth the effort? Then if I could give you a gift it would be Perseverance.
Want to know ways to maximize this gift? Check in tomorrow for Perseverance – Part 2
