Aspen Edge Consulting

View Original

The Power of Persistence

Guest User

As I sat down to write the blog this week I realized something new about myself. 

I have several programs in progress and/or nearing completion:  the online version of my Managers Edge program, my new podcast: The Inspiring Leader and the finishing touches on a presentation for a new 3-hour course called Creating a Culture of Learning, not to mention a handful of other projects partially finished. 

I have been wanting to write a book and last weekend the ‘bug’ finally hit me, and I got excited about starting this new project.   That seemed so much more exciting than finishing one of the 10 open items that I have. 

I realized I really enjoy starting more than finishing!  Is it just me or do you feel this way too?  This was a big awareness that I just discovered about myself.  Despite my preference, I knew I needed to forge on with all of the open items and to slate the book at a later date in to my calendar. 
 
Persistence is an attribute that’s needed for most people in business today.  It’s an emotional intelligence competency.  One of the benefits of persevering is that you can feel the triumph from finishing and can let go of the ‘noise’ in your head with unfinished ventures.

Important to note, persistence is a choice.  It’s about believing in yourself and finding a way to reach your goal when your first attempts were thwarted.

Here are 4 tips that keep me going when I feel like throwing in the towel:

  1. Know the “why” behind the work.  Reminding myself of the importance of this “piece” of the work within the greater “whole” helps me find motivation.

  2. Never give up-nope not today.  Taking 1 day at a time (and sometimes each hour) helps me maintain perspective.

  3. Inch by inch- make some progress every day.  The collective daily routine makes big advancement overall.

  4. Sprinkle in some fun- Find a way to enjoy yourself while you work.  Set an alarm for an hour and reward yourself with a mini break afterwards.  Play some music while you work. Take the laptop outside and feel the sun on your face and listen the birds sing.