PERSISTENCE
©Lee Wise 2002
I couldn't believe it I placed!
My first swim meet. I felt GREAT!!
In fact, I felt so great that I decided to
join South Bend's local AAU swim team.
Me, an AAU swimmer! The more I swam the more
I was enjoying myself. I could see myself
"winning."
One problem: I also made the freshman football
team. Normally, that would not be a difficulty
except for one thing...
I knew I couldn't be excellent in both sports.
A DECISION TO FOCUS
I said, "I'm going to swim and that's it. No
more football."
And that's exactly what I did. For the next
four years I swam. I swam in swim season and
I swam in the summer.
I was relentlessly persistent!
LET'S STOP AND THINK!
Persistence is a combination of these forces
working together.
Our desires.
Our commitment.
And a series of decisions to act!
Persistence is the "fuel" that propels us
toward achieving what we value most in life.
I KNEW WHAT I WANTED
Back to my story. I had a strong desire.
I wanted to win. I wanted to be on that
starting block, hear the gun fire, enter the
water...
And win!
I MADE A COMMITMENT
But I knew it would take one thing: commitment.
I made the commitment to work like crazy because
I wanted to excel at my sport.
And that's exactly what I did.
I FOLLOWED UP MY COMMITMENT WITH ACTIONS
Day in and day out I swam. I took a job in the
summer with my coach at a local country club so
I could work out under his guidance before my
actual work day began.
I decided to swim when I felt good.
I decided to swim when my gut hurt.
I decided to swim period.
AND I LOST!
Yep, I lost. I didn't get first in state.
I lost to the same guy by a tenth of a second
two years running.
I didn't like the second place medal at the
time. I have to be honest about that. But
I also realized something: I was in the top
three!
Why?
Because of persistence. There is great value
in being persistent.
LET'S REVIEW
Remember the three "forces" of persistence.
1. A strong desire.
2. A firm commitment.
3. A series of decisions to act.
GIVE IT A TRY!
Persist.
Don't kill yourself trying.
I call that nuts!!
But do try!
Persist.
Focus on what you value. What you want.
Make a commitment.
Decide to act.
Then...
Take one or more simple steps of action
toward that goal which is SO important
to you!
Today!
About the Author
Lee is a Seminary administrator, has a part-time
business at home, and writes his own motivational
mailing entitled "A Moment In Time." You may
contact him at lfwise@aol.com or by visiting
http://www.retirequickly.com/89863. Permission
is given to distribute article. This entire
paragraph must be included.