Persistence – The Down Side

Persistence has a down side.

stop Persistence   The Down Side

Photo by Erica Marshall


There is no question that persistence is a requirement for success.  That is very clear to anyone who studies success and successful people. It is also very clear that persistence alone will not ensure sucess.  What is very unclear is how you know when to switch tactics.  When is the right time to try some different way to accomplish your goal.  I know that I am unqualifed to give any guidance.  But still I want to complete this weeks focus on persistence with a full scope of coverage.  Searching the web brought me to Steve Pavlina and a post on Persistence from 2005.
Steve begins by defining persistence:
Persistence is the ability to maintain action regardless of your feelings. You press on even when you feel like quitting.
But he continues to address when to stop persisting:  When should you give up?
In answer he cites his own experience and that of Bill Gates.
There is nothing I can add of value to his experience.  I suggest that you read Steve’s post and use it to guide you in judging when to persist and when to move on.

Originally posted 2009-07-01 08:12:06. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Going on Your Own

3081123 d3e9e4e041 m Going on Your Own
Image by Jake Sutton via Flickr

How do you decide that you have to get out of a dead end job situation?  When do make the decision to learn about other opportunities, other business situations and begin to consider creating your own business?  When do you realize that the commitments and promises of employment sector- security, stability and a comfortable  retirement - are not realistic any longer?  And when you do decide, what do you do?  Where do you find the information you need to identify the opportunities and knowledge you need?  I have been around this block.  I retired twice without achieving the financial security to do what I want.  It is a tough world today but there are also opportunities for people who decide.

The realities of today’s economy affect people differently.  Younger people never expected a retirement system or lifetime employment but baby boomers were lulled into a false security.  They believed in secure jobs and comfortable retirements up until the system collapsed leaving them with reduced or lost retirement income and a stressed life stlye.  Boomers have lost the most and and find themselves strapped.  Many want more income but don’t know what to do or where to turn.  I understand.  I have been there.  I have chronicled some of my decision points and insight on this blog.

Dealing with change to begin with. Change is always difficult and threatening but there are ways to keep your head and make sure that you find the opportunities. Then, of course, there is the problem of deciding when things are bad enough that you just have to get out.

Assessing the situation in your job is difficult as well.  Looking at the five levels of organizations can give you a better idea if there is a reason to stay or leave.

And finally some wise counseling from Seth Godin helped me make the right decision for me- I Quit.

If you are a boomer moving along the same decision path that I followed, you begin to understand that multiple streams of income is the best insurance in the unpredictable future we face.  Maybe you know some vehicles and just need the nudge.  But maybe you need more information – both about how to create a business of your own and what some of the vehicles to use as well as background on the mindset you need and some good reading to get you ready.  For that reason, I created a resource to get you started, a compilation of the information I am using .  There are books that have helped me and background to help you identify what opportunities are available.  If you want to quit your job, supplement your retirement or find something fulfilling to do with the monotony of retirement, it is there for you.

 Going on Your Own

Originally posted 2010-03-31 08:21:57. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Revisiting Obstacles

A year ago I wrote about the proper way to think about obstacles.  They aren’t reasons to change course.  They may be lessons we need to learn or tests for our convictions.  If you are committed to reaching your goals then  you need to be  overcoming  obstacles instead of avoiding them.

If you would like to add your own experience with obstacles in life, please leave a comment.  And if you like the video then subscribe to get access to more.

Originally posted 2011-01-14 10:22:00. Republished by Blog Post Promoter

Stirring Things Up

crowd Stirring Things UpNiccolo Machiavelli: Make no small plans for they have no power to stir the soul.

I attended a leadership conference last weekend.  The key element I get from these weekends is vision.  In normal life, most of the people with whom I interact have modest goals and dreams.  Put in 30 or so years at their job and then retire.  Most are oblivious to the forces that are making those goals more and more difficult to achieve.  With a long-term vision of what is possible and some soul-stirring you can move forward in spite of the obstacles and criticism.  Last weekend, I was surrounded by people who don’t make small plans.  It is a big difference.  The audience was energized with big plans for financial independence, personal freedom and a mission to restore our country to the principles of the founders.  Souls were definitely stirred.

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Originally posted 2009-10-16 09:44:42. Republished by Blog Post Promoter