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“No matter how talented people are, there is no success without perseverance.”

A thought by John C. Maxwell from his book, Beyond Talent (p. 128). HarperCollins Leadership. Kindle Edition. (Click on the book title to go to Amazon.com to buy the book.)

It seems that perseverance is a key besides talent in a person’s success.

John says, “World War I flying ace Eddie Rickenbacker said, ‘I can give you a six-word formula for success: Think things through—then follow through.’ Many people like to think things through; few follow through.

John goes on, “Green Bay Packers coach Vince Lombardi said, ‘The difference between a successful person and others is not lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of determination.’ The greatest achievers don’t sit back and wait for success because they think they deserve it. They keep moving forward and persevering because they are determined to achieve it.”

He says, “You can see this determination in successful people in every walk of life and in every age. Hannibal, the Carthaginian general who fought the Romans during the Second Punic War, asserted, ‘We will either find a way or make one.’ He lived out that attitude of perseverance when he led an unexpected campaign that took him over the Alps to defeat the Romans.

“Talented people who succeed show similar determination. Joseph Lanier, one-time chairman and CEO of West Point-Pepperell, Inc., stated, ‘We are determined to win the battle. We will fight them until hell freezes over, and then, if we have to, we’ll fight them on the ice.’ That kind of determination serves people well whether they are running an organization or pursuing a profession.”

He later says, “Inventor Thomas Edison asserted, ‘Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.’ It’s the last step in the race that counts the most. That is where the winner is determined. That is where the rewards come. If you run every step of the race well except the last one and you stop before the finish line, then the end result will be the same as if you never ran a step.”

So, will you keep running, will you preserve, will you?

Yes, yes!
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