Keep Going - Persistence Pays Off
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
- Galatians 6:9
Good advice. When we’re working towards an important goal, it’s easy to get discouraged. It may be lack of results, it may be results that are less spectacular than we expected or it may just be the sheer effort required to do the work. Regardless of the cause of our weariness, we must not give up. Anything worth doing is going to be difficult. As long as we persist in our cause, we will “reap a harvest”.
As leadership guru Robin Sharma would say, “Life’s timing just might not be the same as your timing”. We all occasionally need to be reminded that we may have to wait a little longer while keeping up the work we’re doing before things go our way. Although there are countless examples of persistence in action, with the Olympics at hand, one example that stands out is Michael Phelps, the American swimmer who has won more medals than any other Olympic athlete and broke numerous world records this time around. When asked what the US Swimming Team’s secret of success was, Phelps explained “I arrive at the training pool at 5am and spend most of the day in water. I’m interested in nothing except swimming”. It’s that persistence and determination that helped him win.
So remember, when the going gets tough, just keep working at it. Eventually, persistence pays off and you will achieve the goals, and rewards, you have set out for yourself.
- Dave