PERSISTENCE
©Lee Wise 2002

I couldn't believe it -- I placed! My first swim meet. I felt GREAT!!

In fact, I felt so great that I decided to join South Bend's local AAU swim team.

Me, an AAU swimmer! The more I swam the more I was enjoying myself. I could see myself "winning."

One problem: I also made the freshman football
team. Normally, that would not be a difficulty
except for one thing ...

I knew I couldn't be excellent in both sports.

A DECISION TO FOCUS

I said, "I'm going to swim and that's it. No more football."

And that's exactly what I did. For the next four years I swam. I swam in swim season and I swam in the summer.

I was relentlessly persistent!

LET'S STOP AND THINK!

Persistence is a combination of these forces working together.

*Our desires.
*Our commitment. *And a series of decisions to act!

Persistence is the "fuel" that propels us toward achieving what we value most in life.

I KNEW WHAT I WANTED

Back to my story. I had a *strong* desire. I wanted to win. I wanted to be on that starting block, hear the gun fire, enter the water ...

And win!

I MADE A COMMITMENT

But I knew it would take one thing: commitment.
I made the commitment to work like crazy because
I wanted to *excel* at my sport.

And that's exactly what I did.

I FOLLOWED UP MY COMMITMENT WITH ACTIONS

Day in and day out I swam. I took a job in the
summer with my coach at a local country club so
I could work out under his guidance *before* my
actual work day began.

I decided to swim when I felt good. I decided to swim when my gut hurt. I decided to swim -- period.

AND I LOST!

Yep, I lost. I didn't get first in state. I lost to the same guy by a tenth of a second
two years running.

I didn't like the second place medal at the time. I have to be honest about that. But I also realized something: I *was* in the top
three!

Why?

Because of persistence. There is great value in being persistent.

LET'S REVIEW

Remember the three "forces" of persistence.

1. A strong desire. 2. A firm commitment. 3. A series of decisions to act.

GIVE IT A TRY!

Persist.

Don't kill yourself trying. I call that nuts!!

But do try!

Persist.

*Focus on what you value. What you want. *Make a commitment. *Decide to act.

Then ...

Take one or more simple steps of action toward that goal which is SO important to you!

Today!

Lee is a Seminary administrator, has a part-time
business at home, and writes his own motivational
mailing entitled "A Moment In Time." You may contact him at lfwise@aol.com or by visiting http://www.retirequickly.com/89863. Permission
is given to distribute article. This entire paragraph must be included.