Persistence

Persistence

“Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.” – Calvin Coolidge

Quotes carry with them nuggets of condensed wisdom from people who took the time to think and use the power of words to convey meaning for us to benefit.

Today we break down a powerful quote from Calvin Coolidge.

1.      Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Have the will to go to the end. Finish what you started. One thing leads to another and to another until a breakthrough happens.

2.      Nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. More true today than in the days of Mr. Coolidge. Intelligence is no predictor of success. Showing potential to doing great things is completely different than actually accomplishing something.

3.      Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Many get caught in the knowledge trap and stay there. Acquiring knowledge is fun, applying knowledge is profitable. Knowing and doing are two very different things. Avoid falling into the knowledge contentment trap.

4.      The world is full of educated derelicts. The proliferation of degree granting institution did it. The blind is teaching the blind. We often hear about the overqualified for a job. There are so many people out there with the wrong training. We don’t have enough people who are willing to take any available job and start from there to learn and grow.

5.      Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The world is full of example on how persistence pays off. Persistence and determination give us everything we need in the journey to success. It is a lot easier to fine tune something that is moving. Get into any endeavor and keep going planning, doing, checking, and adjusting until you get to where you are fully satisfied with the results.

6.      Example one. Colonel Sanders of KFC. He received 1,009 NOs and persisted until he got a YES. And, as they say, the rest is history.

7.      Example two. Thomas Edison. 1,000 tries before inventing the light bulb. And think of a world without the invention of the light bulb.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy