“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men 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
Persistent. Tenacious. Determined. These are words I most want to hear used in describing my children—especially as they are still at a young age.
Talented. Smart. Gifted. These are great words, but without persistence and a corresponding work ethic, these and about $1.75 will get you a cup of coffee. There are more talented and well-educated people who are simply living on the successful side of mediocre. True some may do quite well compared to others, simply riding on their God-given talents alone, but I can certainly name a list of athletes and professionals who could have done so much more in their careers had they been willing to work harder.
I admire the person with persistence and the willingness to worker harder than the next guy to succeed. A number of great athletes come immediately to mind: Wayne Gretzky, Larry Bird, Rocky Bleier, Dan Gable, et al. Each was certainly talented, but their career accomplishments are underscored by the work that they put in—throughout their careers—to achieve what they did. Similarly, I could make a list of great individuals who have accomplished more than might have been expected despite barriers of race, gender, socioeconomic status, learning disabilities, physical limitations, etc.
We have one great decision to make when confronted with obstacles in life: quit or find a way. There are no other choices.
Napoleon Hill wrote: “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.” Here, he is speaking of permanent failure (i.e., resignation or “quitting”) rather than the failure that, with persistent effort, ultimately leads to success. “Failure”—the temporary obstacles which challenge our path—is the crucible that forges one’s will and determination. If one is unwilling to meet the challenge, one will take the easier path in life.
Teddy Roosevelt, well-known for his Roughrider attitude, once said that “It is only through labor and painful effort, by grim energy and resolute courage, that we move on to better things.” Sadly, we seem to have lost a bit of this willingness to struggle for what we want. Maybe it is a product of society’s emphasis on instant gratification, entitlement, and participation trophies. Maybe we as parents don’t say “no” enough. Maybe it’s…. Whatever the source—why bother wasting time playing the blame game—we need to embrace persistence.
“Grit” is a word that is finding its way into education discussions. I don’t know if it is a trait that can be learned. I do believe that it can be unlearned. I think it falls under the category of “use it or lose it.” As parents, educators, coaches, and employers, we need to encourage persistence. Let kids struggle. Let your children fail. Let them learn to overcome obstacles—to expect and, dare I say, welcome challenges (or as I prefer: “opportunities”).
Persistence must be encouraged. It must be exercised. Never give up. Never say “can’t”. Allow failure to be the stimulus for growth and personal success. Be your best today; be better tomorrow.
Carpe momento!
“Patience and tenacity are worth more than twice their weight of cleverness.”—Thomas Huxley