A river cuts through a rock with persistence

Let’s say that your chances of success for anything are 50/50. Then in one trial there are two possible outcomes, one of success and one for failure. Okay, do it again for a second trial and include the first trial. Now there are four possible outcomes, two of success and two for failure. You get the idea now right? No matter how many trials, it is still 50/50 whether you are successful. However, many people focus on the fact that there are numerically more chances for success without realizing the odds haven’t really changed. They’re confusing the situation for something like the lottery where if you buy two tickets you double your minuscule chances of winning. That’s where the myth of persistence is always successful comes from.

Although, there’s nothing wrong with persistence if it in some way improves your odds. I’ll leave it to others to say whether or not that’s the case. I personally don’t see how that would work unless you have blind faith in Lady Luck. I like to think about the tale of the tortoise and the hare. In my own life, persistence has gotten me more than any other thing, so my feeling is that if I don’t achieve something despite my persistence, it simply isn’t meant to be. But I can say one thing, persistence or consistent work leads to improvement which can only be good for one’s internal satisfaction and self pride.

Now imagine for a moment that you can only have two conditions: 1. I succeeded, and 2. I’m still trying. Then, persistence is (indeed!) what is needed. Of course, what if what you’re trying to do is impossible? Then, everyone is in Group 2, still trying. There’s an old saying: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.” I have a better, more realistic version: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again…and then give up. There’s no reason to be an idiot about it.” I’m not sure where I heard the second version, but it makes sense. Making sense is much more important than dying trying.

As an inventor, Edison made 999 unsuccessful attempts at inventing the light bulb. When a reporter asked, "How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?" Edison replied, "I didn't fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps. We can also say that only perception enabled Abraham Lincoln to overcome a hurdle of obstacles that would have halted the momentum and self belief of many long before he saw his dream realized. If that were the case the landscape of whats known as the USA would be quite different from what it is today. Here is a brief summary of the challenges he faced on his way to becoming President. He was born into poverty, had lost 8 elections earlier, failed in his business twice and also suffered a nervous breakdown but then went on to become one of the greatest U.S Presidents in history.

Perception defines our response to adversity, it will either be flawed, which leads us to bask in negativity or positive, which enables an individual to learn from the experience, adjust and continue with an additional layer of knowledge, safely tucked under their belt. Attitude transforms the experience into one of two things, a stumbling block or a stepping stone, the choice is ours alone to make. Cheers!