Persistence as a Superpower: What It Really Means and How to Cultivate It

byrichardgb

2.1K followers

Updated 1 month ago

Many successful people prioritise persistence as their secret weapon.

It sounds straightforward, even obvious—but what does that really mean?

And how do you actually do it?

We often associate persistence with grit, toughness, and never giving up. While those are vital elements, they aren’t the full story

Persistence isn’t about blindly pushing forward; it’s a thoughtful process.

To make persistence work for you, you need more than sheer determination. Let’s break it down.

1. Clarity of Purpose: The Foundation of Persistence

To persist, you must first know what you’re aiming for.

That might sound simple, but here’s the catch: many people only have a vague idea of what they want. Without clear goals, it’s easy to drift or give up when things get hard.

Most adults are familiar with he SMART or even the SMARTER framework I wonder ho many actually use one or the other?

Why clarity matters

A well-defined goal gives your persistence a direction.

Imagine trying to plan a journey without knowing precisely where you want to end up.

You could waste much time and energy wandering aimlessly.

The courage to define your goals

It can be intimidating to decide exactly what you want, especially when tackling something unfamiliar.

What if you fail?

What if it’s not the right goal?

But without clarity, you’ll struggle to move forward.

Owning your goals

The good news is that you’re in charge of your outcomes.

A double edged sward for some perhaps because ownership requires responsibility.

The thing is that if your required outcomes stop making sense or you learn something new, you can adjust them.

Persistence is not about rigidly sticking to a plan that no longer serves you.

2. The Process of Persistence: Learn, Adapt, Repeat

Persistence isn’t about doing the same thing repeatedly and expecting a different result, and it's not just a cliché.

It’s about trying, learning, adapting, and trying again.

Start with a plan

Once you know what you want, map out the steps to get there.

Even if the path is unclear, begin with what you do know.

Trial and error

Action is key.

The faster you act, the sooner you discover what works and what doesn’t.

This iterative process—try, fail, learn, improve, try again—is where persistence takes root.

It requires a seemingly mixed, yet balanced mindset of confidence and humility:

• Confidence
  It's essential to believe in your ability to succeed whether the odds seem for or against you.
• Humility
  Stay open to feedback and willing to adjust your approach.

Persistence thrives on balance—confidence keeps you moving, and humility ensures you’re moving in the right direction.

3. True Grit: The “Never Give Up” Part

Persistence inevitably involves obstacles.

Setbacks, doubts, and even failure are part of the journey.

True grit is remaining committed to your goals when the going gets tough.

The decision to persist

Success often boils down to a choice—quit or keep going.

Realise, every small effort adds up whether it works, or doesn’t and you learn from it.

The key is to keep moving, even when progress feels slow or or even invisible.

Unexpected outcomes

Persistence doesn’t just help you achieve your original goal.

It often leads to outcomes you couldn’t have imagined when you started.

Why Do People Struggle with Persistence?

Persistence is challenging because it goes against human nature.

We’re wired to avoid discomfort and uncertainty.

Combine that with external pressures and unrealistic expectations, and it’s no wonder people give up too soon.

Here are the main obstacles:

• Lack of clear goals.
• Fear of failure or criticism.
• Believing success should come quickly or easily.

So, be realistic!

How to Cultivate Persistence

Anyone can develop persistence. It’s not a talent you’re born with—it’s a skill you can build.

Here I’m at risk of repeating myself a bit:

Start with a Clear Goal

• Be specific
  Instead of “I want to make money online” try “I want to make £5000 per month within twelve months by building an affiliate business online.”
• Break it down
  Chunk it down! Divide your goal into manageable steps. Each small win will build momentum.

Embrace Continuous Learning

• Learn from others
  Seek advice from people who’ve achieved what you’re working towards.
• View failure as feedback
  Mistakes aren’t the end. They provide data that help you refine your approach.
• Track progress
  Regularly review what’s working and what isn’t, and adjust your plan accordingly.

Build Resilience

• Manage setbacks
  When things go wrong, take a step back. Reframe failures as feedback; part of the process.
• Develop emotional strength
  Practices like mindfulness or journaling can help you stay grounded.
• Lean on support
  Surround yourself with people who encourage and inspire you.

Celebrate Progress

• Recognise small victories
  Actually, I haven’t said the before but it’s important. Achieving milestones helps keep you motivated.
• Focus on improvement, not perfection
  Persistence is about consistent effort, not flawless execution.

FAQs: Persistence As A Superpower

Why is persistence so important?

Persistence bridges the gap between effort and achievement. It allows you to overcome challenges and uncertainty, turning potential into results.

How do I stay persistent when things get tough?

Focus on your "why," break the challenge into smaller steps, and remember that setbacks are temporary.

What’s the difference between persistence and stubbornness?

Persistence involves adapting and learning; stubbornness is clinging to a failing path.

Can anyone develop persistence?

Yes. By practising clarity, resilience, and adaptability, anyone can become more persistent.

What if I feel like giving up?

Take a break, reassess your strategy, and seek inspiration. Remember why you started.

Is persistence more important than talent?

Talent can help, but persistence often determines success. It’s what keeps you going when talent alone isn’t enough.

Summary

Persistence is about knowing what you want, taking action, learning as you go, and refusing to quit.

It’s a skill you can develop with clarity, courage, and resilience.

Just get on with it: start today.

If you haven’t already, define one clear goal, take a small step towards it, and keep going.

You’ll be amazed at what persistence can achieve.

Now tell us what you think. What works, what doesn’t, have you learned anything, what could I have said differently, and most important, wlll you do anything different from now on?

;-)

Richard

PS. By the way, to create this post I:

• first wrote a kind of synopsis of a couple of hundred words
• then asked ChatGPT to create an outline and I edited the outline
• then asked ChatGPT to write a draft
• I then used about 1 hour to read the draft out load, editing as I went using my natural language.