The value of persistence!

 Are you one of those people who believes that success is merely the byproduct of one who has been “gifted” from birth in a certain area? Having a star quality, a talent or genius? If so, you might be surprised to learn this is only true of a rare few. Sure, there exists a sprinkling of prodigies among us, but most humans are meant to build our futures in decidedly more hands-on ways.

Persistence (with or without gifting) has a few, often overlooked, values that contribute to every area of our lives. Let’s look at a few of them in relation to speaking publicly.

First, persistence in practicing, offering to speak and following through will set a good example for those watching. We are communicating a message that says, “I’m serious about pursuing any/all speaking opportunities and you can depend on me.” As we move from one event to another, we are establishing our credibility. We are letting others know we are in for the long haul.

Second, persistence makes us aware of our weaknesses. There are certain speaking hurdles that can only be jumped by on-the-job activities. For example, you will only know how many times you throw out the dreaded “uh” by hearing yourself say it over and over. By focusing on these repetitions, you’ll be able to make the “uh” quietly move into that speaking no-no pile, never to be retrieved.

Finally, persistence shows us a measure of success. By attempting to meet a goal over and over, we develop a history of speaking. Persistence reveals how hard work and dedication can make things happen. The trick is never to give up. If we have a setback…aka give a lousy talk or hear “no” for the tenth time, it is often the voice of persistence that allows us to get back up, dust ourselves off and try again. After all, one never knows whether or not we are on the edge of our next big success.

Success is most often built by placing one foot in front of another, day-by-day, until we are able to gain traction. It is not an instant gratification pursuit, rather a slow-building flame, with embers ever burning. Don’t give up! Be persistent!