When all is said and done, the only quality that separates achievers from non-achievers is perseverance.
Now, my relationship with this term is sort of interesting. First, it was a boring term that wasn't part of my vocabulary, couldn't even spell or pronounce it properly.
But then, the number of times the quality of this term paid me a visit was astounding.
Besides, when you're going through a tough time and decide to seek guidance or inspiration, it's not uncommon to come across stories of perseverance that challenge your perception of what's humanly possible.
I think part of the reasons why success can be so elusive for many is because one must go through the route of failure to reach success. This is as true as the sun rising in the east, although it's a hard pill to swallow for many people.
Failure As A Source Of Knowledge
When seeking knowledge, you have to tap into different sources and then synthesize them together to come up with practical actions to execute.
For example, when I started my own business, I read books, took courses, and sought mentorship from experienced entrepreneurs.
And from the outcomes of the practical actions you've taken, a feedback loop and learning process emerges.
Continuing with the example above, I now need to evaluate what worked and what didn't, adjust my approach based on real market feedback, and implement those lessons in my next attempt.
Arguably, one could say the feedback from our experiences is what knowledge is really composed of and tapping into different sources is merely collecting information.
I wouldn't rule out other paths to knowledge. Because I've heard experiences can be acquired vicariously, but the thing with failure is that it's as much a direct experience towards growth and understanding than any theoretical learning could ever be.
Failure forces us to confront our weaknesses and misconceptions, provided we approach it with humility and a genuine desire to learn.
When we succeed immediately (which hardly ever happens), we learn little about ourselves or the process. But when we fail repeatedly and continue anyway, we earn insights that success alone could never teach us.
Simple Yet Profound
The beauty of perseverance is in its simplicity yet profound impact.
Simple because it doesn't require extraordinary talent or exceptional intelligence. Just a willingness to continue when everything within and around you is screaming to stop.
In a way, perseverance transforms our relationship with failure, viewing the latter not as the end of a journey, but merely a checkpoint where valuable data on what doesn't work is gathered.
It's a profound insight to realize that most successful people throughout history weren't necessarily the most talented or privileged, but rather those who developed an almost irrational persistence in the face of setbacks.
Thomas Edison's thousands of attempts before inventing a working light bulb, J.K. Rowling's multiple rejections before publishing Harry Potter, or Michael Jordan being cut from his high school basketball team.
To me, not only does these stories reinforce that perseverance often trumps natural ability but also, when you witness perseverance at its finest, you're seeing the human spirit in its most resilient form.
Which refuses to bow down to obstacles despite overwhelming odds, pushing through pain even when there's no guarantee of success, and then emerging stronger on the other side as if the struggle itself was the necessary ingredient for transformation.
Who knows, maybe the struggle itself is the point of the journey, or maybe not.
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