THE SUCCESS DIFFERENTIATOR
(This article appeared in Hindustan Times 'Shine' Weekly paper)
"Persistence could communicate different meanings to different people, depending upon how it is interpreted, imaged and communicated - but by far it is the most singular differentiator and determinant for success in any endeavour. Just pick up any literature in goals and success - Brian Tracy, Robin Sharma, Tony Robbins or a Brian Mayne - and be sure that this is mentioned. And persistence is not about those huge and impossible tasks that we need to sweat it out to do. It is just having the mental strength and ability to 'persist' in doing that simple task that would lead to some accomplishment, set as a goal in one's life.
To be able to spend 30 minutes a day, consistently, in developing or nurturing a life skill, would lead to an achievement that would still be great and enough to make a life different. This could be hard exercising if one looks at a physical goal, writing 2 pages a day if it is a career and a passion goal or spending 30 minutes uninterrupted with spouse and son/daughter if it is a family goal. While it might appear to be a small thing at the outset, the key challenge here would be consistency - doing it everyday sans a break, and the same time, and most important, with a 'positive mental frame'.
Winning is a habig and outcome of persistence. And believe me, if one wants to win in life and all personal endeavours, being persistent will be the biggest differentiator.
Creating new habits is all about persistence. Just try to commit to a new habit - as trivial as waking up 30 minutes early every day - the mental challenge and the accompanying physical challenge will be immense. YOu will need the power of the mind and a diehard commitment - to ensure that this happens.
The easier side in this is that you need to stretch only for 21 days and then it becomes natural - a habit that stays with you for life - and most importantly facilities accomplishment in any area. I would suggest that everyone wanting to live life, read and commit themselves to The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari, the fable by Robin Sharma.
To make persistence a winning habit, I would urge - please, please strive to stretch your mind that extra bit to do something everyday. That something would be a key life skill or a winning quality in personal or professional life - anything you think is worth doing or trying.
Persist, create a winning habit and succeed. "
