Persistence

The Sustained Effort Necessary To Induce Faith

The Eighth Step Toward Riches

Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Persistence and Determination alone are omnipotent. 

In psychology, persistence is a personality trait. It is measured in the Temperament and Character Inventory(TCI). 

Persistence is an essential factor in the procedure of transmuting desire into its monetary equivalent. The basis of persistence is the power of will. 

Will-power and desire, when properly combined, make an irresistible pair. There may be no heroic

connotation to the word "persistence", but the quality is to the character of man what carbon is to steel. 

Lack of persistence is one of the major causes of failure. Moreover, experience with thousands of people has proved that lack pf persistence is a weakness common to the majority of men. It is a weakness which may be overcome by effort. The ease with which a lack of persistence may be conquered will depend entirely upon the intensity of one’s desire.

The starting point of all achievers is desire. We have to keep this constantly in mind. Weak desire brings weak results, just as a small amount of fire makes a small amount of heat.

If you find your weak in persistence, center your attention upon the instruction contained in the chapter on “Power”, surround yourself with a “Master Mind” group, and through the cooperative efforts of the members of this group, you can develop persistence like this. You will find additional instruction for the development of persistence in the chapter on Autosuggestion.

Your subconscious mind works continuously, while you are awake, and while you are asleep. Spasmodic(occasional) effort to apply the rules will be one of no value to you. To get results, you must apply all of the rules until their application becomes a fixed habit with you.

If you have ever experienced a nightmare, you will realize the value of persistence. You are lying in bed, half-awake, with a feeling that you are about to smother. You are unable to turn over or to move a muscle. You realize that you must begin to regain control over your muscles. Through persistent effort of will-power, you finally to move your fingers, you extend your control to the muscles of one arm, until you lift it. Then you gain control of the other arm in the same manner. You finally gain control over the muscles of one leg, and then extend it to the other leg, and then extend to the other leg. Then with one supreme effort of will, you regain complete control over your muscular system, and “snap” out of your nightmare. The trick has been turned step by step.

                You may find it necessary to “snap out of” your mental inertia, through a similar procedure, moving slowly at first, then increasing your speed, until you gain complete control over your will. Be persistent no matter how slowly you may, at first, have to move. With persistence will come success.

 Persistence is a state of mind; therefore, it can be cultivated. Like all states of mind, persistence is based upon definite causes, among them these: --

a.       Definiteness of purpose => Knowing what one wants is the first and, and perhaps, the most important step toward the development of persistence. A strong motive forces one to surmount many difficulties.

b.       Desire => It is comparatively easy to acquire and to maintain persistence in pursuing the object of intense desire.

c.       Self-reliance => Belief in one’s ability to carry out a plan encourages one to follow the plan through with persistence.

·          Self-reliance can be developed through the principle described in the chapter on Autosuggestion.

d.       Definiteness of plans => Organized plans, even though they may be weak and entirely impractical, encourage persistence.

e.       Accurate knowledge => Knowing that one’s plans are sound, based upon experience or observation, encourages persistence; “guessing” instead of “knowing” destroys persistence.

f.        Cooperation=> Sympathy, understanding, and harmonious cooperation with others tend to develop persistence.

g.       Will power=> The habit of concentrating one’s thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose leads to persistence.

h.       Habit=> Persistence is the direct result of habit. The mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upon which if feeds. Fear, the worst of all enemies, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. Everyone who has seen active service in war knows this.

Here you will find the real enemies which stand between you and noteworthy achievement. Here you will find not only the “symptoms” indicating weakness of persistence, but also the deeply seated subconscious causes of this weakness.

A.      Failure to recognize and to define clearly exactly what one wants.

B.      Procrastination, with or without cause.

C.      Lack of interest in acquiring specialized knowledge.

D.      Indecision, the habit of “passing of bucks” on all occasions, instead of facing issues squarely.

E.       Self-satisfaction. There is but little remedy for this affliction, and no hope for those who suffer from it.

F.       The habit of blaming others for one’s mistake, and accepting unfavorable circumstances as being unavoidable.

G.      Weakness of desire.

H.      Lack of organized planning.

I.         The habit of neglecting to move on ideas, or to grasp the opportunity when it presents itself.

J.        Wishing instead of willing.

K.       Searching of all the shortcuts to reaches.

L.       Fear of criticism, failure to create plans and to put them into action, because of what other people will think.

M.    The habit of compromising with poverty instead of aiming at riches.

There are four simple steps which lead to the habit of persistence. They call for no great amount of intelligence, no particular amount of education, but little time or effort. The steps are;

         I.            A definite purpose backed by a burning desire for its fulfillment.

       II.            A definite plan, expressed in continuous action.

     III.            A mind closed tightly against all negative and discouraging influences, including negative suggestions of relatives, friends and acquaintances.

    IV.            A friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage one to follow through with both plan and purpose.

These are the steps by which one may control one’s economic destiny.

They are the steps that lead to reaches, in all small to great quantities.

They are that lead to freedom and independence of thought.

They lead the way to power, fame, and worldly recognition.

They are the four steps which guarantee favorable “breaks”.

They are the steps that convert dreams into physical realities.

They lead, also, to the mastery of fear, discouragement indifference.

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