Perseverance

 Press on: nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful individuals 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.

- Calvin Coolidge

Perseverance means giving everything you have to whatever you're doing at the time you're doing it. It means doing the tough things and going the extra mile...committed to the process. It means hard work. Perseverance isn't a glamorous word; matter of fact, it's kind of old-fashioned. But very few people are successful without it. This was a lesson I learned early on, and for much of my life, I relied on my own ability to persevere and have developed some techniques that I now teach to others...but first, let’s start with some questions.

How well do you persevere? Answer these questions to get a better idea:

1. Do you complete what you start? Always? Sometimes? Never?
2. Are you discouraged easily? What happens then? Do you quit? Or do you fight back?
3. Do other people see you as an action taker?
4. Do you view opportunities as being behind you or ahead of you? Take a minute to write down exactly what opportunities you see for yourself now.
5. Do you change problems into opportunities? 

 Keep these techniques in mind to help you become more persevering:

• Tackle high-priority work first. Often people do low priority work because it is easier. They're putting off the harder tasks. Set your priorities every day based on the things you must complete, and stick to your action plan.
• If you fail at something, try again. Get some feedback on why you're failing. If it's something you should be doing, try again. If for some reason, it's not a task you should be doing at this time, put it aside, at least for now.
• If you feel you've reached an impasse with a problem, take a break. Change what you're doing or change your mood. Go back to it with a new perspective.
• Cultivate relationships with individuals who have goals similar to yours. These people can be inspirational, and they can help you persevere when things get rocky.
• Approach problems with honesty and logic. Any other approach makes the problem more difficult and makes it harder to persevere.
• Aim for excellence. Make excellence a habit. Having confidence in your performance makes it easier to persevere.

A moment of realization came to me when I was reading a popular paperback book in about 2004; I was only a few chapters in, but I just couldn’t get into the book or understand why it was such a hit. Normally, I would finish what I started, but this book made me question myself, think about the investment of my time to read it should I decide to continue, and wonder what would be a better use of my time. That’s the day I decided that I didn’t have to continue reading a book if it didn’t hold my interest. I gave myself permission to choose...to be more intentional with my time and selections.

This “aha” moment was the beginning of making decisions that would allow me to persevere in new ways...I could choose how I spend my time...cultivate the relationships I wanted in my life...manage my time. I gave myself the permission to live intentionally and take the opportunity to pursue my dreams.

There are many benefits once you learn to persevere...you’ll conquer new skills, make progress on goals, and live an Intentional Life. 

Until next time...

Lisa

P.S. Perseverance and courage have been the most common qualities in my life from a very young age. They have helped me manage my life, achieve many of my goals, and inspire me to continue to take risks in my personal and professional growth. This is why I’m stretching myself to learn new things and ways to have a greater impact on lives...a positive impact. I’m working on some great content for the membership, interviews with lifestyle experts, and masterclasses in the essential life skills we all need to live our Intentional Lives. I’m also getting ready to launch a new podcast! I am grateful that my 6 and 12 week coaching programs are booked (email me to be put on the waitlist) and because so many women are experiencing overwhelm, frustration, and craziness with the election, pandemic, and holidays, I’ve opened up my schedule to include some laser focused intuitive coaching sessions...appointments can be booked here: www.calendly.com/coachlisamcgrath