Persistence is the Key to
Achievement—Or Is It?
According to research, we’re more likely to
carry on when we’re losing than when we’re
winning. We try to recover our losses. Maybe
this isn’t such a good idea.
As a stubborn achievement-oriented
individual I have a tendency to be
invigorated by a challenge. Failure means
keep going, you’re only getting stronger. I
sometimes, however, become so focused on the
destination that I lose track of the
journey.
We become cheerleaders for ourselves (others
may do this as well) and get so riled up
with “Go, go, go!” that we forget to stop
and ask, “Where am I going again?” and “Why
is it important?”
What if all of those difficulties along the
way are yellow flags? Or even red flags? We
ignore them because we are passionate about
our goal and want to prove to ourselves and
others than we can do it.
Maybe persistence, in some cases, is
ignorance. We get goal obsessed and lose
track of the bigger picture.
So how do we know when persistence is our
most important key to success and when it’s
obsession and useless?
Of course the answer to that gets at the
real art of decision making and personal
achievement, which is tough to cover in a
short article. I will, however, share some
ideas based on the science of
decision-making and perseverance.
- Learn From Those Who Came Before
Interview people who have a similar
passion and purpose to you. Ask them
about persistence: How did you know when
something was the beginning versus a
dead end?
- Take the Fork
The challenges may not be a sign of
a dead end, but rather a fork in the
road. You may be able to learn from the
rocky path you were on and use it take
the fork or to forge a new path
altogether.
- Listen to Intuition
We reason, think analytically, and
weigh decisions and future possibilities
with a part of a brain called the
frontal lobe, and in particular, the
prefrontal cortex. This part of the
brain is distinct to humans. On the
other hand, we inuit with a deeper,
primitive part of the brain (the basal
ganglia). It’s survived through
evolution for a reason. Listen to it.
- Proceed Slowly
You’ll be better able to gather
information and make decisions about
whether or not to persevere if you
proceed slowly at times. Don’t go so
slow that you get stuck, but don’t jump
the gun and rush into action when it may
not be the best idea.
- Put Your Idea on Hold
Putting something on the back burner
to simmer can allow you to come to new
conclusions and insights. You know how
you remember something as soon as you
stop trying? It’s like that.
- Persevere in a Completely New Way
Most great inventions have been the
product of persistent efforts. But the
great inventors were not trying the same
thing over and over. Ask yourself, “What
additional resources can I use to do
this totally differently?” This is like
stopping your hike down a rocky path,
changing out of your flip flops and into
hiking boots, getting a walking stick,
getting a guide or a map, and changing
your mindset (from “This is horrible!”
to “This is an adventure!”).
When you persevere with a purpose, your
passion, and a strategic plan, you’ll
know whether to stick with it or scrap
it and find a new direction.
Need assistance following through with
(or quitting and finding a new
direction) an important change in your
business or career? Learn
our approach
to change.
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