Persistence in thought and action are critical factors in your movement toward a successful life.  While sitting in your chair, lift your right foot slightly off the ground and move it in clockwise circles. Now draw the numeral "6" in the air with your right hand.  Your foot will involuntarily reverse direction.   This is a key demonstration of how action affects your end result.

Calvin Coolidge (1872-1933), 30th president of the United States, said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.  Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent.  Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb.  Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.  Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.  The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.”

If you search through the annals of history for mentors, you will discover that those who attained great success displayed a high level of persistence.  Greatness does not come through a sudden rush of, "Hey, World!  Here I am!" but as the result of methodical, persistent action toward a goal.

A reporter asked Thomas Edison, American inventor, how it felt to fail 2,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb.  Mr. Edison replied, "I never failed once.  It just happened to be a 2000-step process."  

If you reflect upon those who are most recognizable in history, it is those who have persevered for years who are of greatest notability. 

People like Benjamin Franklin - did he write only one book?  Viktor Frankl - whose last two books were published the year of his death at 92.   Margaret Thatcher - years of dedication as a civil servant.  Frank Sinatra - persistence throughout the competitive music industry.  Bill Gates - software development is one of the most competitive businesses in the world today.

The list is endless, but the core quality of persistence is obvious in every case!

Saint Francis de Sales, bishop of Geneva (1567-1622) wrote, "Have patience with all things, but chiefly have patience with yourself. Do not lose courage in considering your own imperfections, but instantly set about remedying them — every day begin the task anew." 

This is probably the most important lesson in the development of persistence.  All human beings, from time to time, look into the mirror and see the flaws.  We are all terribly flawed in some way.  We also have extraordinary talents unique to ourselves.   Develop persistence in seeing the talents, then acting on those abilities that you know exist. 

Act with constancy and commitment, over a lifetime.  You will soon see the map of your life taking shape in extraordinary ways that may not have been apparent to you in the past.  American actress Mary Pickford said, "If you have made mistakes, even serious ones, there is always another chance for you.  What we call failure is not the falling down, but the staying down."