introduction

• the basis of persistence is the power of will
• willpower and desire, when properly combined, make an irresistible pai. people who accumulate great fortunes are generally known as cold-blooded and sometimes ruthless. often they are misunderstood. what they have is willpower, which they mix with persistence and use as the basis of their desires to ensure the attainment of their objectives
• there may be no heroic connetation to the word 'persistence', but the quality is to character as carbon is to steel
• the ease with which lack of persistence may be conquered will depend entirely upon the intensity of one's desire
• the starting point of all achievement is desire. keep this constantly in mind. weak desires bring weak results, just as a small amount of fire make a small amount of hear. if you fond yourself lacking in persistence, this weakness may be rememdied by building a stronger fire under your desires
• poverty consciousness willvoluntarily seize the mind that is not occupied with money consciousness
• without persistence, you will be defeated, even before you start. with persistence, you will win
• with persistence will come success
• there is no substitute for persistence
• those who have cultivated the habit of persistence seem to enjoy insurance against failure
• the hidden guide lets no one enjoy great acievement without passing the persistence test. those who can't take it simply do not make the grade
• those who can 'take it' are bountifully rewarded for their persistence. the receive, as their compensation, whatever goal they are pursuing. they also receive something infinitely more important than material compensatio - the knowledge that every failure brings with it the seed of an equivalent advantage
• like all stated of mind, persistence is based upon definite causes
  • definiteness of purpose: knowing what you want is the first and perhaps, the most important step towards the development of persistence. a strong motive forces you to surmount man difficulties
  • desire - it is comparativelyeasy to acquire and maintain persistence in pursuing the object of intense desire
  • self-reliance - belief in your ability to carry out a plan encourages you to follow the plan through with persistence (auto-suggestion)
  • definiteness of plans - organized plans, even though they may be weak and entirely impractical, encourage persistence
  • accurate knowledge - knowing that your plans are sound, based upon experience or observation, encourages persistence; 'guessing' insteand of 'knowing' destroys persistence
  • cooperation - sympath, understanding and harmonious cooperation with others tend to develop persistence
  • willpower - thehabit of concentrating your thoughts upon the building of plans for the attainment of a definite purpose leads to persistence
  • habit - persistence is the direct result of habit. the mind absorbs and becomes a part of the daily experiences upno which it feeds. fear, the worst of all enemeis, can be effectively cured by forced repetition of acts of courage. everyone who has seen active service in war knows this

symptoms of lack of persistence

• study the list carefully and face yourself squarely if you really wish to know who you are and what you are capable of doing. these are the weaknesses that must be mastered by all who accumulate riches
  • failure to recognize and clearly define exactly what you want
  • procrastination with or without cause (usually backedup with a formidable array of alibies and excuses)
  • lack of interest in acquiring specialized knowledge
  • indecision, the habit of 'passing the buck' on all occasions, instead of facing issues squarely (also backed by alibis)
  • the habit of relying upon alibis instead of creating definite plans for the solution of problems
  • self-satisfaction. there is but little remedy for this affliction and no hope for those who suffer from it
  • indifference, usually reflected in your readiness to compromise on all occasionsrather than being unavoidable
  • the habit of blaming other for you mistakes and accepting unfavorable circumstances as being unavoidable
  • weakness of desire due to neglect in the choice of motives that impel action
  • willingness, even eagerness, to quit at the first sign of defeat
  • lack of organized plans, placed in writing where they may be analyzed
  • the habit of neglecting to move on ideas, or to grasp opportunity when it presents itself
  • searching for all the short cuts to riches trying to get without giving fair equivalent, usually reflected in the habit of gambling or endeavouring to drive 'sharp' bargains
  • fear of critism, failure to create plans and to put them into action because of what other people will thin, do or say. this enemy belongs at the head of the list, because it generally exists in the subconsoius mind without being recognized
• the majority of people permit relative, friends and the public at large to so influence them that they cannot live their own lives, because they fear criticism
• huge numbers of people make mistakes in marriage, stand by the bargain and go through life miserable and unhappy because they fear criticism that may follow if they correct the mistake
• countless numbers of men and women, both young and old, permit relatives to wreck their lives in the name of duty because they fear criticism. (duty does not require any person to submit to the destruction of their persoanl ambitions and the right to live their life in their own way)
• people refuse to take chances in business because they fear the criticism that may follow if they fail. the fear of criticism in such cases is stronger than the desire for success
• too many people refuse to set high goals for themselves, or even neglect selecting a career, because, they fear the criticism of relatives and 'friends' who may say 'don't aim so high, people will think you are crazy'
• most ideas are still born and need the breath of life injected into them though definite plans of immediate action
• the fear of criticism is at the bottom of the destruction of most ideas that never reach the planning and action stage
• riches do not respond to wishes. they respond only to definite plans, backed by definite desires, through constant persistence

how to develop persistence

1. a definite purpose backed by a burning desire for its fulfilment
2. a definite plan, expressed in continuous action
3. a mind close tighly against all negative and discouraing influenes
4. a friendly alliance with one or more persons who will encourage you to follow through with both plan and purpose

• they are the steps by which you may control your economic destiny
• they are the steps that lead to freedom and independence of thought
• they are the steps that led to riches, in small or great quantities
• they are the steps that lead the way to power, fame and worldly recognition
• they are the steps that guarantee favourable 'breaks'
• they are the steps that convert dreams into physical realities
• they are the steps that lead, als, to the mastery of fear, discouragement and indifference
• as one makes an impartial study of successful people, one is drawn to the inevitable conclusion that persistence, concentration of effort and definiteness of purpose are the major sources of their achievements