Following on from my previous newsletter (see below) here is the next instalment of 15 things I've learnt about human beings and success in 5,000 hours. Last newsletter was  No. 4 Success - simple and uncomplicated?  

 

 No. 5 Commitment and Persistence Takes You to the Finishing Line

 

If we listed the things that make the difference between winning/losing and success/failure the words persistence, perseverance and commitment would appear. These are required to push through the inevitable obstacles that appear when we choose to be, do or have more in our lives.

 

The feeling of giving up or quitting is never the problem (everyone experiences those feelings). How we respond to those feelings is what's important.

 

I see this all the time when someone considers coaching. Some people quit before they even start. They see the obstacles and come up with excuses of 'I don't have the time', 'I don't have the money', 'I'm too busy', 'I'm not sure it will work' are just some of the barriers they perceive as obstacles. I know that if they were truly persistent and really committed to their own success, there is always a way around everyone of those excuses. Once a person has decided to follow through though, rarely do I see their expectations disappointed.

 

Ask any athlete or successful person. It's their commitment to their long term goal that enables them to push through the barriers that keep ordinary people in the comfort zone or to live in mediocrity. The choices are always ours to make.

 

Looking back over my life there have been many times I felt like quitting. That even included quitting on life all together.

 

There was a period of my life when I cruised. I cruised because I didn't have any really big goals in my life. I'd lost my sense of purpose. I became like a ball on the ocean, tossed by the circumstances of life, allowing them to dictate the direction I travelled, instead of being like a ship charting my own course on the ocean of life. Six years later I regained that sense of purpose and since then have weathered many a storm.

 

One thing I know from experience is that persistent and committed people are inspired and they inspire others.

 

The inspiration comes from the goal, dream or higher sense of purpose that is much larger than the barriers or obstacles that appear before them. They can realistically see that the reward of finishing the race is much greater than the reward of giving up before the finishing line.

 

You don't always have to win every race but you will always feel better if you at least finish.

BTW....Any questions? Feel free to email me anthony@anthonyvennbrown.com

Anthony Venn-Brown

Coach - Author - Speaker 

+61 (0)416 015 231