NEVER Give Up – How to Win the Long Haul

"More than skill or strategy, it’s perseverance that is required when things don’t go according to plan because even when the plan doesn’t work, a person with perseverance will just throw it out and create a new one."

How do the best of the best carry on when there’s no clear path to success? How do they make a way when there seems to be none? They have a quality that allows them to

• Stay motivated when others falter
• Keep positive when there’s nothing to look forward to
• Inspire others when they themselves feel weary

Perseverance is the ticket on the train of success. It’s the attribute we must have to stay for the long haul. Without that ticket, sooner or later we’ll be thrown off! This is what people who generate incredible results again and again year after year understand: Perseverance is what separates the master from the dabbler, the teacher from the student. With the right tools we can master perseverance and achieve the goals that are important to us as well. How do we do that in this distraction-filled, information overload, unfocused era? I believe there is a solution.

The approach achiever’s take is the practice of being patiently energetic. This strategy combines the staying power of consistency with the unique results that being energetic can create. If you can master being patiently energetic, you can achieve whatever goal/dream/vision you have for your life. Let’s unpack how to be patiently energetic so even when the worst obstacles come our way, we never, ever, give up.

1. Inspire yourself with human need

Caring for others is hardwired into us from birth. We all have people who we want to see flourish in life. If we can emotionally connect our ability to persevere with them flourishing, then staying the course for the long term becomes much easier. Who are those people you could use to motivate yourself? They could be

• People who rely on you financially or emotionally
• Clients of your business (current or future)
• People who could benefit from your charitable contributions

What if you don’t know those types of people right now? Well, luckily, it’s possible to use people you haven’t met yet for this exercise.

For example, if you run a business but you don’t have any clients yet to motivate you to work the long hours and do your tasks with excellence – you can actually make up a future client that can be the reason you’re working so hard right now.

Try this: create three, one-page profiles of people you care about flourishing (family, clients etc.). Write down their names, what wants/needs they have, and how exactly your perseverance will help them be successful. Include a picture of them if you can on their profile. Put these profiles where you can see them so you can be consistently motivated to do your best work.

2. Attach your goal to your identity

This one freaks some people out a little bit but bear with me. If you can understand and implement this concept it could easily cut the time to accomplishing your next goal in half.

Here’s the thing - most people when it comes to working on their life dream/mission live in the do my best zone. It’s where it’s okay to do a poor job because “I can only do so much you know!” A much smaller, more dedicated section of the population intentionally set standards for their work. They live in the personal standards zone. These people have chosen specific results or levels of excellence they hold themselves to. They’ve committed to these standards so come hell or high water they will hit or exceed their expectation for themselves. They do this because hitting these standards is not just something they do, it’s part of who they are.

This concept can be scary, daunting or downright disdainful to some people because once you start talking about linking a result to your identity the potential for failure to be catastrophic increases dramatically. What if you don’t deliver the results? What if you can’t hold to your standard? I’m sorry to say this risk is the price of being a high achiever. Almost no one achieved anything great without first risking considerable failure.

The good news is we can start with achievable standards and inch up our way up to consistent excellence. Think – what is one area of your life where perseverance is key? Then ask yourself: “What standard could I set for that area of my life that would ensure a minimum bar of solid results?” Start there and over time push the bar you hold yourself to a little higher. Soon you’ll be consistently crushing it while others wonder how you get it all done!

The beauty of this process is it automates perseverance in your life. Once you set high standards for yourself in the area of your work/life’s mission, maintaining perseverance is not a struggle anymore, it’s just part of who you are.

3. Be in community with those on the same path

No person is an island, at some point we’ll need good people in our corner to get us motivated or help us see a fresh perspective on a problem.

For long term success it’s critical you put yourself out there to connect with others. Don’t believe the lie that no one understands you, or that your problems/fears are unique. There are 7 billion+ people out there, someone can empathize with you and be a friend for your journey.

Facebook groups, networking groups like BNI, or even apps like Bumble where you can set your profile up to connect with other achievers are great tools here. Because of the sheer number of people, you could connect with, knowing who to spend your time investing in is important. Look for these qualities when choosing who to partner up with.

3 attributes of a good friend for your journey:

1. What you’re accomplishing is similar (e.g. you have the same goal for your business.)
2. You have a mutual “why” (e.g. you have similar values like desiring to create a better quality of life for your loved ones.)
3. They match or exceed your intensity (Their passion inspires you to do more quality work.)

These attributes will help you find good people who will be great comrades on the path to accomplishing your goals. They can be accountability partners, business partners, or just friends. These types of relationships will go a long way to ensuring you will win over the long haul.

So... 1-Inspire yourself with human need, 2- attach your goal to your identity, 3- be in community with those on the same path. Implement these tactics and you’re chance of giving up with drop dramatically. I’m cheering you on my friend, you got this! Keep pushing, growing, learning and adapting. The only time you ever have is the present, the past is gone, and the future will never be here. So get out there and take action!

Until next time, stay awesome! 

Joey