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Six Tips For Becoming More Persistent

November 12, 2012 By Lena 7 Comments

A couple of things happened last week that got me thinking about persistence. First, there was an amazing video on The Weather Channel of a beaver hauling a log across the road. Someone filmed it from their truck as they stopped and waited for him to clear the road, and it was really something to watch. My first thought when I watched it was, “Now that is a prime example of persistence!”

The other thing that got me thinking about persistence was a video by Tiffany Dow. She talked in one of her video blog posts about giving it your all when it comes to internet marketing and being in business for yourself. It always amazes me that so many people want success, but are really not willing to put in the effort to achieve that success. I know I’ve been guilty of that on occasion, and I’m sure I’m not the only one. Sometimes it’s just easier to mail it in, or say you’re tired and head for a nap. But that won’t get you the results you want.

For me, when I get like that, I think back to my University days. There were times when I went days without sleep because I knew the work had to be done. There were definite deadlines and penalties for not keeping up with the workload. When you’re self-employed, though, it’s easy to ignore self-imposed deadlines and not worry about it. If the only person you are accountable to yourself, then it doesn’t seem like a big deal to leave persistence by the wayside.

Unless you’re a beaver, and a lack of persistence means you don’t have any food to eat, or you don’t have a roof over your head. And when there’s no one there to help you or hold you accountable, you do it on your own because it’s a matter of survival.

I’ve changed my whole schedule around this week because I know that I have not been nearly persistent enough in keeping on top of things this year. And while I’m embarrassed to admit that I dropped the ball and will not meet many of my goals this year, I am not too proud to stand here and say it in the hopes that maybe someone else can take heart. It’s not too late to get going and make something out of what’s left of this year.

persistent flowers growing out of rocky bank

So in the spirit of starting over and creating success, here are my favorite tips for building persistence.

1. Get some clarity

The first step in building persistence is knowing what you want to accomplish. It’s really hard to stay focused on a goal if you don’t know what the goal is. So get clear on what you want to achieve and always “keep your eye on the prize”.

2. Use self-talk

It’s easy to say “Oh, I can’t be persistent. I’m so scatterbrained I would never be able to focus that long.” That’s an excuse, and one I’ve used myself as a way to justify moving from one project to another without ever finishing any of them.

You CAN be persistent. Anyone can be persistent if they put their mind to it. And if you really think you can’t, remember the beaver… think in terms of survival, and tell yourself that if you don’t persevere and achieve your goal, you won’t have a roof over your head or food on your table.

Harsh? Maybe so, but perseverance is in part about doing whatever it takes to get the job done. So if that’s what it takes for you to believe in yourself and get results, then do it! No one else has to know what self-talk you use to propel yourself forward.

3. Find a role model

While you are working on your own sense of self-belief, sometimes it helps to have a role model you can look at to keep you moving forward. Seeing someone else persevere and overcome obstacles to achieve their goals can be spur you on to do it as well. You might be surprised at how the spirit of competition can keeping you going. More than once I have used the “If she can do it, I can do it” method of motivation to keep me going when I’d rather take a nap.

4. Set your priorities

Setting priorities for your goals is important because it takes energy — mental, physical, and emotional — to achieve them. When you take the time to prioritize, you will gain more clarity about what you are trying to achieve and will know that you are willing to take the necessary measures and expend the amount of energy required to see the project through to the end.

5. Leave room for change

Don’t ever be afraid to make changes. There will be times when a goal you have set is no longer a priority in your life. When that happens, it’s okay to make changes and set new goals. Think of the saying, “Change is the only constant in life” and go confidently forward to set new goals and priorities for your life. Part of being persistent is in finding new paths to follow when the old one no longer works for you.

6. Never give up!

“Patience, persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for success.” ~ Napoleon Hill

I think this quote from Napoleon Hill really sums up what it’s all about.

The only reason you should ever abandon a goal is if it no longer fits your life. Otherwise, use these tips to build up your persistence, and know that whatever you believe you can achieve, you WILL achieve.

I believe in you! Will you believe in yourself?

Filed Under: Self-Empowerment Tagged With: , , , , ,

What Stops You From Living Your Passion?

September 20, 2010 By Lena 1 Comment

A popular question in many personal development books and courses is “What would you do if you knew it was impossible to fail?” The answers are as varied and individual as we are. And yet so many people, myself included, don’t choose to follow their dreams or live their life passion. And it’s sad to know that life could be so much more if only we were willing to take the risk.

So what is that holds so many people, myself included, from following their dreams and living their life passion?

A lot of the time, the reasons why people don’t follow their dreams can be found within their mindset. It is vital to success in any area of life that we believe in ourselves and our abilities. Even before we take the first step on the path to making our dreams reality, we must have a belief that succeess is ours for the taking.

But we don’t know it. Or we do know it, and then we let all those pesky self doubts creep in. We question. Our resources, finances, abilities, and sometimes even our intelligence all come under scrutiny, and are usually found wanting. And then we let all those self doubts stop us in our tracks, sometimes for years — sometimes even for a lifetime.

The main culprit in all of this is fear. Fear that we can’t do it; fear that we’ll look stupid for even trying; even fear that every thing will go smoothly and we’ll succeed!

There’s no doubt that going after your dreams is a scary proposition for most people. We get so used to our comfort zone, and it’s risky to move beyond. There’s a whole new world out there, and it can be a very scary place. But, as the saying goes, the most successful people are the ones who feel the fear and do it anyway.

The first step in living your passion is to get over the fear. If you let the fear stop you from taking action, you will never achieve your dreams. But, if you face your fears and take action then no matter when you start, you will live your passion and achieve the success you deserve.

What holds you back from living your passion? Leave a comment and join the discussion.

Filed Under: Life Passion Tagged With: , , , ,

When Not Making a New Year’s Resolution Can Be a Good Thing

January 5, 2010 By Lena 1 Comment

0957yellowdaisiesI have always had a love/hate relationship with new years resolutions. There have been years when I’ve mad some really good ones and kept them. There’ve also been years where I’ve blown my resolution at about one minute past midnight on January first. Then there have been those years where my resolution has been not to make any resolutions at all. And as I’m learning quickly, there are times when not making any new years resolutions just may be a good thing.

New Year’s is such a stressful time of year. For me, it’s even more stressful than Christmas because it comes at the end of the holiday season. By this time many of us have spent a week or two (or more) eating too much, spending too much, perhaps indulging in too many cups of cheer, and spending too much time around people we’d normally avoid like the plague (aka well-meaning relatives). Sound familiar?

It leads one to ask the question — why did anyone ever think that New Year’s Day was the best time to start making lifestyle changes if they wanted a snowball’s chance in warm weather of success? That has to be one of the world’s unsolved mysteries, at least in my mind.

And let’s face it — for the majority of people making resolutions to do things like lose weight, get out of debt or quit smoking (three of the most popular new years resolutions) we are talking about serious lifestyle change.

This is something that should be done with planning, forethought, and clear intentions. It’s a true goal for improving your life and it should be given the consideration a major lifestyle change deserves. It’s not something you dive into because it’s the first thing that came to mind at the New Year’s Eve party when you were asked what your resolution for the new year would be.

Another reason why not setting a new years resolution can be a good thing is because it should be something that you choose for yourself. It’s very hard to set a clear goal about what’s best for your life when you’re being pestered and pressured by those well-meaning friends and family. Negative pressure to maintain the status quo can be just as damaging to your well-being as being urged to make changes. And we all know how hard it can be for others who are not ready to make changes to accept the fact that you want to do something to improve your life that might leave them behind.

The bottom line is, it’s okay to not make a new year’s resolution. Between the stress of the season and the pressure of people who “only want the best for you” (or at least their definition of it) sometimes you’re just better of waiting until all the hubbub from the holidays has died down. If you’ve thought about it, made your plans and decided that January first is the day you want to put your new plans into action, then by all means go for it. But if you don’t and you’d rather wait until you are clear on your intentions, then not making a new years resolution is a good thing.

When it comes down to it, every day gives you an opportunity to start a new year in your life. New Year’s Day as a holiday is just a mark on a calendar. Don’t get trapped into thinking that if you don’t quit smoking or start dieting on January first that you’re doomed to failure for the entire upcoming year. You can choose to make changes when they are right for you. Whether that’s January first or the middle of May, making a new years resolution is your choice and that’s definitely a good thing.

Did you make any new year’s resolutions? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Thanks for being here!
lena

Filed Under: Change Tagged With: , ,