Cultivating Persistence

Persistence. What is it? The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines persistence as “the quality that allows someone to continue doing something or trying to do something even though it is difficult or opposed by other people.” I like how my Pastor defines persistence. He likes to say “I can not be defeated and I will never quit!” That’s persistence!

To me, persistence is taking another step towards your worthy goal despite what your circumstances appear like. In pursuing Your Purpose you must have persistence.

Persistence is what propels you to get up after you have fallen. Prov 24:16 tells us “The godly may trip seven times, but they will get up again.”

Your persistence fuels you to move forward when all your cards seem down. I just watched my favorite college football team play this past Saturday. I was very proud of the team. They trailed the whole game, but kept coming back and almost won the game. They actually were in position to win the game on the final drive but had two bad plays in a row – one dropped pass and one pass that was ruled incomplete after reviewing the play. The Huskies (my team) kept fighting until the end. They were persistent and did not give up.

In my own life, many years ago, I had a job canvassing for leads for a window company. In my last week with the company I needed to generate a certain number of leads or loose my job. On the final day, I did not have the numbers I needed to keep my job. However, I went out and knocked on the doors and believed that I was going to find the leads I needed to keep my job. By the end of the night, I came up short. I did not find the leads I needed to, but I did not quit. I kept persevering until the end.

In another case, I was selling insurance at the time and was doing out bound calls following up on some quotes that I had sent out. It was at the end of the day and I was ready to go home. I remember deciding to make one more call. I made that call and was able to make another sale. My boss commented to me that I had the right attitude that was needed to be successful. Persistence means making one more call. Taking one more step. Doing one more rep of weights. Taking one more shot at the basket. Asking for the sale one more time. I’ve heard it said from many sales trainers that in sales, the sale does not begin until the third “no”. Too many people give up on the first or second “no.” How many products and services have not been moved because of a lack of persistence in asking for the sale one more time? How many people are lonely because they did not ask that special someone for a date one more time? How many people have let their dream and their Purpose slip away because they did not take one more step?

Do you consider yourself persistent? If not, what needs to change? You do not need to be a “super star salesperson” to be persistent.

In fact one of the most persistent people I know is a former boss of mine. He is not the greatest salesperson in the world. In fact, his sales skills and speaking skills are quite low. However, his persistence is remarkable. He reminds me of the story of the tortoise and the hare. He most certainly is the tortoise and he most certainly has success because of his persistence. What he lacks in salesmanship and speaking skills he makes up in persistence.

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Your Purpose, Vision and Destiny Coach,

Andy