Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently – Henry Ford

Successful people are usually blessed with many qualities but the most important among them is the quality of persistence. It requires that one remain on course even in the face of all adversities and opposition, not to be demoralized by any difficulties or hurdles. Successful people never give up.

History is filled with people who failed innumerable times, but driven by their vision and passion they persisted against all odds and finally got the taste of success. Take the examples of Colonel Sanders, Thomas Edison, Howard Schultz, J. K. Rowling, Michael Jordan and many more like them. They all have one trait common among them and that is the power of persistence. These are the people who had the tenacity to stand up every time after repeated failures they faced, but they never accepted defeat rather they learned from them.

Here are some of the steps to develop persistence:

1. Set Clear Goals

At the very outset be absolutely clear about your goals. What is that you want to accomplish and even more importantly why do you want it? When faced with obstacles, which everybody does for sure, your reasons will pull you through. You need to have clear, unambiguous goals. It is always advised that you write them down so that you can refer to them on a regular basis, preferably daily. Your goals will act like the lighthouse to show you the direction during the storm of difficulties and adversities.

2. Plan Out The Path

Before you start with your task it is wise to have a plan ready. Planning beforehand prepares you for the efforts that you have to put in. When you are in the thick of the things and overwhelmed by the challenges, it is very difficult to think rationally but if you already have plans chalked out, it makes the job so much more easy. Keep in mind that there are always multiple ways, even thousands to do the same job. Be prepared, anticipate obstacles and have contingency plans with you in advance. Keep reviewing your progress analytically and adjust your approach accordingly. If you persist with your endeavor in this manner you will be successful, for sure.

3. Just Do It

Nothing could be said in better words than how Nike says it, JUST DO IT. Take action towards your goal without any procrastination or any fear. Nothing will be achieved unless and until efforts are done towards the fulfillment of your goals. It is always better to start with an imperfect plan and adjust it as you move ahead rather than not doing anything at all in search of a perfect plan. The world we live in is continuously changing and everyday there are new challenges and we need to adapt accordingly, so don’t wait, just make a start.

4. Develop Positive Attitude

Huge volumes have been written about the importance of the development of positive attitude. Motivational speaker Zig Ziglar said, positive thinking won’t let you do anything, but it will let you do everything better than negative thinking will. Our attitude towards work determines our approach and efforts. If we are positive and hopeful, we will be more energetic and focused. On the contrary if we are fearful or think negatively we are sure doomed for failure. It is said that we become what we think.

5. Seek Help

There is no shame in asking for help. Seek advise from those who are experienced and have done it before you. You can save great time and effort if you get the benefit of other’s expertise. Bear in mind that you don’t need to invent the wheel again. Learn from other’s experiences or from books, this may give you a head start. If you get to know about their struggles and how they came through, it will give you great courage to persist when you face the difficulties.

6. Focus

One thing that has a huge bearing on increasing your power of persistence is your ability to focus. All activities that you do are not definitely productive, many things just keep you busy, and due to this in the long run you get frustrated when results are not achieved. Successful people persist because they have this unwavering focus on the goal. For your own benefit depend on the famous Pareto principle. It says that 80% of our results come from only 20% of activities. For significant success it is important that you find out what are your vital few tasks that gives you maximum quantifiable results. Stick to those vital tasks and success will be yours. As Dr. Steven Covey has advised in his book Seven Habits Of Highly Effective People, to focus on the activities that are important though they may not be urgent right now. He described them as quadrant II activities. Learn how to make best use of 4 Quadrants Of Time Management  Make it a purpose to first focus all your time and energy on these vital few things.

7. Motivate Yourself

In your journey towards the goals, rest assured there will be some occasions that will test your patience. Develop the habit to motivate yourself with positive literature and affirmation to keep your morale high. Nothing can be accomplished with a demoralized spirit.

If you follow these steps, it will lead to the development of the power of persistence in you. Keep in mind that without persistence your achievements will be insignificant compared to your true potential. Failure is not a permanent state, if you have the tenacity to get back on your feet when life knocks you down with it’s challenges, then you already are a winner.

Don’t lose heart, don’t ever give up for you don’t know how close you might be to your goals.

Related article: How To Have A Winning Attitude