“You can avoid mediocre outcomes by refusing to take the path of least persistence.”
– JSP
I wasn’t always persistent; when I was young, I lacked discipline. My parents taught me the value of integrity and being persistent, even when it’s difficult. I also heard about the power of persistence from my favorite sports figures; it wasn’t until I was in my twenties that I began experiencing its value.
I realized that becoming intentionally disciplined and consistent in personal development brought growth in any area I persisted in and maintained my focus.
H. Jackson Brown, Jr. encourages, “Let perseverance be your engine and hope your fuel.” Basketball great Michael Jordan advises, “If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
The Sometimes Rugged Path of Persistence
“Diligence and discipline are not synonymous with success. Consistency is.”
– Jennifer Tracy
In John Maxwell’s “The Law of Consistency,” he states that “motivation gets you going; discipline keeps you growing.” I learned that persistence requires discipline, and the accumulative effect of positive repetitive action is growth.
Author and speaker Gregg Levoy says, “Discipline is a natural byproduct of your commitment to your own integrity and authenticity, to doing what you love and what you must do.” There’s no way around it; persistence requires discipline.
Maxwell often speaks about “The Rule of 5, ”I chose five activities that align me with my life purpose and practice those five every day. I believe success is a lifestyle, not a destination.
Five daily practices of your choice aligned with your purpose will change your life and your organization. These practices are by no means an automatic ticket to success. Persistence is foundational to personal and corporate growth.
Any daily practices that lead to successful living require personal transformation. We must begin changing what we’re doing now to position ourselves to do what our vision will require of us tomorrow. Jim Rohn said, “If you don’t change what you are doing today, all of your tomorrows will look like yesterday.”
Change Always Begins Today
“Small disciplines repeated with consistency everyday lead to great achievements gained slowly over time.”
– John C Maxwell
Below I’ve listed foundational areas I believe our five daily practices should rest upon.
Self-Control
Personal-Development
Intentional-Thinking
Moral-Excellence
Serving Others
I recommend reading “The Law of Consistency,” Discovering the power of persistence empowers you to design your future intentionally. Below is an excerpt from “The Law of Consistency” to guide you to begin planning your lifestyle of success.
“Align your methods of motivation with your personality type… Once you have a good handle on what makes your personality type tick, then develop a daily growth system that is simple and plays to your strengths.”
“Make a list of everything you like about personal growth. If your list is very short, really work at it. Anything you can find as motivation will help you to develop better growth habits.”
“The more whys you have for pursuing personal growth on a daily basis, the more likely you will be to follow through. Start compiling those whys. Think of immediate benefits as well as long-term ones… Any reason to grow is a good reason as long as it’s your reason.”(1)
“Success is all about persistence and doing the right thing for the long term.”
- Bruce Rauner
(1) The 15 Invaluable Laws of Growth by John C. Maxwell “The Law of Consistency”
*** This article was authored by John Picarello, Chief Leadership Officer at Lions Pride Leadership Co.***