Persistence creates the power to easily do what we once found difficult and even “impossible.” It can give us the best hope we have for success. Persistence can produce amazing results in many fields of human endeavor, even when the situation seems hopeless.
After a bout of the flu in early 2006, I started exercising again. At first, I struggled to do up to 20 sit-ups; then I hit 30 and so on. As it persisted, the number of sit-ups increased and it seemed much easier to do.
Ralph Waldo Emerson explains why: “What we persist in doing becomes easy to do; it is not that the nature of things has changed, but that our power to do has increased.”
Most things are difficult to do at first and remain difficult if we give up too soon. When I tried water skiing in the warm waters of southern France, I dove into the water and was swept away like a submerged plank of wood instead of rising majestically above the surface of the waves like most people.
The ‘other people’ included a group of naive teenagers from the school where he was teaching. They didn’t seem to have a problem staying above the water!
But I only tried water skiing once. The cold water off the shores of the UK does not encourage water skiing unless you are very interested. No wonder I’m not a water skier after my only attempt in the Mediterranean.
The great inventor, Edison, sums up the problem:
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The surest way to succeed is always to try one more time.”
If you persist in reading articles and books, you will come across inspiring treasures like Edison’s words. It is easy to think that we have read everything important to read. Only persistent reading will reveal powerful new ideas.
Reading will also remind us of the power of perseverance in biography after biography. History is full of persistent failures in seemingly desperate situations that later achieved some kind of success or even came to be recognized as geniuses.
In 1936, Theodor Seuss Geisel (Dr. Seuss) was on a ship to Europe. The rhythm of the engines inspired a nonsensical poem that became the plot of the book “And To Think I Saw It On Mulberry Street.”
The book was rejected by the first 27 publishers to whom it was shown. Most people would give up after the first 2 or 3 rejections. Finally, in 1937, a friend published the book for him and it met with some success.
Geisel died in 1991. By then, his books had sold more than 200 million copies in 15 languages. Since his death, another 22 million of his books have been sold.
All over the world, children love the strange characters of Dr. Seuss. Geisel’s persistence in writing, despite early rejection, had paid off.
Like Geisel, JK Rowling, a divorced mother, was first inspired by her idea for a children’s book when she was traveling.
JK Rowling had a young daughter to support, as well as herself. She was forced to live on public benefits or aid. However, he kept writing and did a lot of this in the cafes of Edinburgh, where he could keep warm.
He continued to work bit by bit on the Harry Potter story for years. He didn’t think that many people would like his story and he never thought much beyond publishing it.
She commented, “I wrote the kinds of things I liked to read when I was younger.”
Several editors rejected the first finished manuscript before one was interested.
By 2004, Rowling had become a billionaire. Millions of children and adults lined up to buy his books. His constant persistence had turned his writing into his own Aladdin lamp. Harry Potter’s magical powers cannot be compared to the magical power of its creator’s persistence.
After its success, he said, “It was wonderful enough just to get published. The biggest reward is the enthusiasm of the readers.”
One of his greatest accomplishments was getting the youngsters and their parents to leave television alone for a while while they devoured the latest Harry Potter novel. It has helped millions discover or rediscover the pleasure of reading.
Persistent reading can also give us the power of an expert. Earl Nightingale said that one hour a day of study could put you at the top of your field in three years. 2 more years would make you a national authority and 4 more years would make you a world authority.
Brian Tracy writes (after quoting Nightingale):
“If you read an hour a day in your field, that will translate to about one book per week. One book per week translates to about 50 books per year. 50 books per year will translate to about 500 books for the next ten years. “
This all sounds almost too simple; but the simplest ideas are usually the most viable and effective.
Examples of the power of perseverance in the face of disappointment and difficulty can be found everywhere.
I currently enjoy watching the group stage of the 2006 Soccer World Cup in Germany. I have not made the effort to go to Germany. TV is fine with me!
On June 17, the US resisted with 9 men against Italy’s 10 men and achieved a very creditable draw. 3 players had received the red card (sent off) and two of them were Americans.
It would have been easy to give up, but the United States persisted to the end with just 9 players and now has a chance to move on to the knockout phase of the competition.
On June 18, South Korea faced a French team that included legendary players such as Zinadine Zidane and Thierry Henry. France scored a goal early on and it seemed they were in full control of the game. The South Koreans appeared to be in dire straits.
However, the Koreans persisted in trying to score a goal anyway. They failed time and time again, but they maintained their enthusiasm. Winston Churchill once commented:
“Success is the ability to move from one failure to another without losing enthusiasm.”
Ian Wright, another English commentator, exclaimed:
“They never gave up; they just kept going, they kept going and in the end they got something. They got something. I can’t believe they got something!”
The Koreans in the crowd also moved on. Even when their team seemed destined to lose, they continued to sing, dance, salute and cheer on their players.
The martial art, Choikwangdo, that I teach was founded and is led by a Korean Grandmaster named Kwang Jo Choi. Choikwangdo’s motto is “Pilsung”. Pilsung means “Sure victory, if you keep trying.”
The South Koreans were a great example of this motto. They kept trying and kept running in the hot summer air in Germany. As one commenter commented. “At least they are putting bodies in the area (the area near the goal) and they are trying.” In the end, they achieved their goal thanks to the sheer power of perseverance.
Perseverance allows us to easily do things that were once difficult for us. Of course, if we don’t persist, we will never find out. I still don’t know if I could have become a water skier who could stay on the surface of the water instead of a desperate underwater surfer!
Persistent reading will allow us to discover treasures of wisdom that we would not otherwise have. It will also provide us with great examples of perseverance to follow.
Persistent writing can help a desperate stranger produce a literary masterpiece, best-seller, or published book. Anyone with the persistence to keep writing to the end can now write and publish their own e-books.
Persistent study in your own field for just one hour a day over a three-year period can turn an ignorant into an expert.
Perseverance in a world cup competition can turn desperate failure into victory and bring joy and pride to the hearts of an entire nation. This can take years.
In England, we still remember with joy the 1966 world cup competition when we beat Germany in the final and won the cup! Normally England plays Germany and Germany wins!
Daily persistence can add the gold dust of magic to almost any activity we undertake. It can make us powerful and successful. It can even help us make a difference for the human race.
If you find yourself in what seems like a hopeless situation, keep trying and move on anyway. Who knows what magical changes persistence can bring?
