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“Through perseverance many people win success out of what seemed destined to be certain failure.”
- Benjamin Disraeli (1804 - 1881) - British Statesman, Prime Minister

Let’s face it: life is tough. And guess what? It will only get tougher. So much for the facts. The question remains: will you rise to the occasion and meet the day-to-day challenges, head on, undaunted and without complaint? In essence, will you persevere? This is a question asked by Kirk Charles, America’s top motivational writer and speaker.

In the journey of life, perseverance is a virtue we all need to achieve greatness. One person that is often quoted for his perseverance is Abraham Lincoln. This is what Chief Bola Ige, Nigeria late Minister of Justice said of the two-time American President in his book Golden Quotes: ‘I admire him greatly for his persistence and never-say-die spirit. He experiences personal tragedy and career failure on a scale that few men ever experience. But defeat was obviously not a word that was not in his dictionary. He always persisted and throughout conducted himself with dignity and high moral standards. He ended up being one of the greatest American Presidents of all time.’

According to founder, Publisher, Writer, B. C. Forbes (1880 - 1854), ‘History has demonstrated that the most notable winners usually encountered heartbreaking obstacles before they triumphed. They won because they refused to become discouraged by their defeats.’

John Quincy Adams (1767 - 1848), sixth President of the USA) said, ‘Patience and perseverance have a magical effect before which difficulties disappear and obstacles vanish.’

The Swedish lawn tennis legend, Bjorn Borg, 2-time Player of the Year (1979 - 80), who won five straight Wimbledons (1976 - 80) and retired in 1983 at age 26 once said, ‘My greatest point is my persistence. I never give up in a match. However down I am, I fight until the last ball. My list of matches shows that I have turned great many so-called irretrievable defeats into victories.’

In my earthly journey, I’ve encountered tough times. It actually got to the point where I wanted to quite, cry, give up, raise the while flag of surrender and admit I couldn’t do it and had no heart. I reached an emotional low, the depth of which I didn’t think existed. Persevere? I didn’t have time for abstract concepts.

If you’ve been in this mental and spiritual disposition, I don’t envy you. However, I do have excellent news. There are corrective measures one can take to get back on the right track; corrective measures, which will assure that you, will persevere.

Top American Writer and Motivational Speaker, Kirk Charles, proposed a four-course line of action. The first is that, ‘you must immediately change your disposition. When you are in an unfavourable position, when you’re at the bottom, you’re also more powerful. Consider a wounded dog. When he’s hurt, he’s much more dangerous. If you dare touch him, you may have to pay a hefty price. When you’re wounded, the potency you possess must transform into a positive, internal energy flow. It should not be one that is threatening, but one that is electrifying and activating. Don’t fret and languish when times are tough; and especially don’t complain. You are in a powerful position because you probably do not have anything to lose. Take advantage of it and you will persevere.’

The second thing Kirk proposed is to take inventory of your assets. When you do this, it may surprise you how much you really have and how well you’ve done. This process will increase your morale. Get a pen and piece of paper and list all the positives you have in your life. Are you healthy? Do you have a family? Do you have skills? Whether you believe it or not, you possess something of vale. Years ago, I didn’t know I possessed writing skills. When I discovered it, I began to develop it. Consequently, I’ve been published. There is some dormant skill in you, waiting to be activated. Use those coattails to ride out of the current situation you’re in. When you decide to seek, find and develop whatever skill your Creator has endowed within you, you will persevere.

Third. You must understand cycles. During prosperous times, you must realise that tough times are going to come. Why? Because that’s life. Life, like the seasons, is cyclical. Every year, you can make a sure fire bet there will be a winter. You don’t know how severe it will be, but you do know that it will come.

But, winter doesn’t last forever. Spring, the season of new beginnings, follows winter, the season of despair. Spring is your opportunity to plant the seeds of success so, when winter comes around, you will be prepared for it. When opportunity knocks on your door, be prepared to embrace it and you will persevere.

The final according to Kirk is that you must pay your dues. Life is like going to the movies. You have to pay a price to enjoy the show. Inherent in paying the price is labour, struggle, uncertainty and risk. These components are the foundation of any worthwhile and rewarding endeavour. If you pay your dues, willingly, it will produce mental toughness, giving rise to strength and ardour, with which you will persevere.

You have to be persevering in other to achieve greatness in life. You must not attempt to run more than your legs. In all of life, there are sequential stages of growth and development. A child learns to turn over, to sit up, crawl and then to walk and run. Each step is important and each one takes time. I have a strong belief that if you can persevere, you will eventually get to your destination.

Dayo Olomu is a UK-based Motivational Speaker, Writer, Business/Life Coach, Trainer, Media Entrepreneur and Competent Toastmaster. His core belief is that we are all endowed with seeds of greatness, and his mission is to help individuals and organisations achieve their full potentials. He is the author of best selling “4 Indispensable Strategies for Success” and the President of Croydon Communicators Toastmasters. Get his FREE monthly Rise to the Top ezine by sending a blank email to subscribe@dayoolomu.com or visit his website at: www.dayoolomu.com

“Things is either done, or they ain’t done.” Marlon Sanders

Some of the greatest truths are the most obvious. But they are also the most overlooked. Many of us need to take a look at the importance of facing the facts and accepting that more usually needs to be done to complete whatever we are doing.

It is very easy to kid ourselves that we have done something or finished something when we haven’t. We need to be motivated by taking a thorough look at whatever we are doing to check that it really is finished and finished well. If you are tired and think you have already done a good job it is tempting to stop work before the job is properly completed.

Whenever I mowed the lawn and considered it mown, I could guarantee that my mother would be able to point out long grass at the edges of the lawn that had not been properly mown.

She was right; the lawn had not been properly cut at the edges. The job was not done. No job can ever be completed perfectly but it should be completed well enough to pass some scrutiny.

Recently, a parcel sent to me at No 19 arrived at No 9. The postman had not bothered to read the number properly. The people at No 9 had to finish his job for him. He had not delivered the mail.

A few months ago, I came across a great account by Martin Avis of a talk given by Marlon Sanders, the great internet guru, in Birmingham, UK in January 2005. My thanks to Martin for giving me permission to copy his account of this talk.

I heard Marlon myself some years ago in London and he knows how to hold an audience. Before he even started his talk, he arranged to have the whole audience blowing bubbles. By the time he started speaking everyone was relaxed and ready to listen.

In Birmingham, Marlon told his listeners to remember:

“There’s only two things that matter:

‘Things is either done, or they ain’t done.’

As Marlon spoke his voice became louder and louder:

“When sumthin’s done you gotta product, you gotta promotion, you got sumthin’ that’s gonna make you money.

“When it ain’t done, it don’t matter if its half done or nearly done or gonna get done someday - IT AIN’T DONE.”

The volume reached the point where people in the hotel next door started paying attention.

“And if it AIN’T DONE, it’s jack.

“DONE equals making money, sitting on the beach, taking long vacations and havin’ fun. DONE equals a smiley face.

“AIN’T DONE equals nothin’. No product, no vacation, no beach, no money and no fun. AIN’T DONE equals a sad face.”

Marlon smiled and knew his point was made.

He said a whole lot more in four hours of sessions over that weekend, but from that day forward the 35 people there will always think in terms of DONE or AIN’T DONE. (Martin’s account ends here.)

Simple but powerful stuff. As usual Marlon goes right to the heart of success.

Success has been described as both doing what you plan to do and also not doing what you plan not to do. It could also be described as “getting it done and not half done.”

Success and failure could be summed up in the immortal words “DONE or AIN’T DONE.”

John Watson is an award winning teacher and martial arts instructor. He has recently written two books about achieving your goals and dreams.

They can both be found on his website www.motivationtoday.com along with a daily motivational message.

The title of the first book is “36 Laws To Ignite Your Inner Power And Realize Your Dreams Now! - Acronyms, Stories, And Pictures…Easy To Remember And Use Everyday To Grab Your Life And Soar With The Eagles”

The book can be found at this URL: www.motivationtoday.com/36_laws.php

The book uses acronyms, stories and pictures to help readers remember 36 laws that can gradually transform your life if you apply them.

You are welcome to publish the article above in your ezine or on your website so long as you do not alter it and keep in the words about the author and the 36 Laws.