I suppose there are lots of words you could use to describe what Napoleon Hill calls definite purpose. A very applicable term would be persistence. Persistence is a key to financial success.
“How many people out there today have stopped just inches away from their goal because of some roadblock, some hurdle? How many people give up on fantastic business ideas because the first bank they approached turned down their loan application? How different would the lives of those people be if, rather than accept defeat first-off, they steeled themselves to rejection, thanked the Bank President for his effort, and instead sought an alternative investment route—Investment Capitalists, private investors, local Community Development programs—the list of possibilities goes on and on.
How often have we heard stories from the entertainment industry about the singer or actor living in near-poverty, packing their bags for home who stayed just one more day, and on that day got the fateful call from the record executive or casting call that catapulted them to stardom, fame, and fortune?
“Before success is found in any person’s life, that person is sure to be faced with more than his or her share of temporary defeat, and quite possibly some failure. When defeat overtakes somebody the easiest and most logical thing to do is to quit. And that is exactly what the majority of people do.”
Temporary Defeat
It’s true. Most people just quit in the face of what seems like hopeless temporary defeat; in fact, most of us are probably guilty of doing just that. The lucky among us learn early and limit the effect failure has on us. Those are the ones who build wealth early in life, but regardless of age, it is never too late to turn your financial life around. Any man or woman can be rich in their lifetime.
I will see you back here Monday and Thursday every week for the continuation of the Mindset Mastery series.
Sean Rasmussen
Success Communicator
SeanRasmussen.com © 2004 – 2008
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Hi Sean,
Yes, indeed most people never become aware of how close they come.
Interestingly, the harder something is to do, the closer you are to actually breaking through to the other side.
The reason is because our bodies become addicted to our thought processes. When someone is accomodating new thought processes, they have to in fact break the old habitual though processes, and this is what causes the pain, anxiety, fear, doubts and so on.
Just ask anyone who has tried to kick smoking, drugs etc – if anyone thinks this is different you are wrong – thoughts produce chemicals just like drugs do, and yes your body does become addicted to them if exposed to them enough. Take stock next time you react to something and ask yourself, how often do I react exactly this way? Hmmm something to think about!
So, the more painful something is, the more fear, doubt and anxiety you are feeling, means the closer you are to breaking a habit and forming a new one, and this is only done through persistance. I liken it to the banners AFL footballers run through before the start of a game.
Dean
Thanks Dean. Spot on! Though (some) AFL footballers don’t seem to achieve much by breaking the banner. At least not where I live at the moment
Dean,
) and I feel like that banner is within reach.
Thanks for yor post. I have just read it with great interest. I have a lot going on in my life at the moment (not bad stuff just busy and finding the road to wealth challenging) and I’ve noticed my mindset trying to go back to the “I quit” (and similar dis-empowering thoughts) and what you have said now makes sense to me. I’m not finding it easy but I am on the path to wealth if I persist. Those obstacles mean I am making progress toward my goal. No obstacles = no progress/movement/action. These posts and the books I am reading are helping to keep me on track. I value such posts (including Seans of course
Regards, Eileen.
LOL Sean! It’s amazing to think the Eagles won a flag only two years ago isn’t it, and I am perplexed as to a team on paper that the Dockers do have are struggling so much.
Eileen, I am so glad to hear you are recognizing the patterns going on – just keep going! BTW, I like your web site.
Dean
Hi Sean,
I am naturally persistent and tenacious but sometimes it’s to my detriment. The key is in knowing when you just need to stay focused and hang in there a little longer or when you’re flogging a dead horse.
I hate giving up on anything that I have started so lots of times I flog a dead horse. Hopefully I will find it easier to make better choices around what to be persistent with rather than continuing to persist with things that just aren’t working.
Hi Jazz, I do agree with you. We need to know when to move on. Maybe majority of people do it too early. And this is what Sean talks about.
I have read that you have to go through 3 rejections for nearly everything and most people give up after one or two rejections. Which is sad, as I guess very often we are really close to getting it.
But then I think it is also an indicator of how much we want something, if we are finding ways to realize our wishes anyway or if we just give up.
But I agree with Jazz, you have to stay open to see if you are maybe flogging a dead horse after all. Then it is time to re-think if there is another way to achieve your goal. And most of the time there is one that we just didn’t see before.
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or maybe we have to re-assess the goal itself… It is sooo hard not to be attached.
I totally believe this too – any many can be rich in his or her life but I also think that if you have experienced the blood sweat and tears to get there then the victory is much more satisfying.
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I do not agree that one has to experience blood sweat and/or tears to get what one wants and feel more satisfied. Wouldn’t be actually the opposite?
Feel cool when one doesn’t have to do much to achieve what one wants?
Do you remember that scene from Monty Pythons movie The Holy Grail where the king is trying to explain to his singing son how the castle was built on the swamp?
FATHER: Listen, lad. I built this kingdom up from nothing. When I started here, all there was was swamp. Other kings said I was daft to build a castle on a swamp, but I built it all the same, just to show ‘em. It sank into the swamp. So, I built a second one. That sank into the swamp. So, I built a third one. That burned down, fell over, then sank into the swamp, but the fourth one… stayed up! And that’s what you’re gonna get, lad: the strongest castle in these islands.
Hi Ray,
I love Monty Python. Very funny stuff. Now that is a lesson in persistence.
I have had setbacks but I an determined that I will succeed and I work each day knowing I will — I can see in my mind my rewards
I have had many setbacks over the years. However recently I have managed to move forward through them
How have I done this? By having a mentor. Well several actually. Someone to bounce ideas off, get support, get prodded from and finally celebrate the successes along the way.
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I heard that the best mentor is the one that made lots of mistakes. So we do not have to do them again…
Persistence is the key. No matter what gets in your way and tries to stop you from achieving what you have set out to achieve, if you have a burning desire for the thing that you want, persistence will help you get there.
I was reading recently that God uses our tough times to stretch us more than in the peak times of our life. In these tough times we have to seek more of Him to gain more wisdom and understanding, and in the end we grow because of it and although it’s painful at the time, we are blessed by it.
Danny
I believe that quitting is not an option. Sometimes we have set backs that make us stop to really think about what path our life is taking. Those times makes us stronger, and more determined to keep on the track of following our passion – dreams.
If there was no one to be determined to keep on going, then imagine what the world would look like today?
Riches are within all of us. Persistance is the key, a plan and a dream. Believe, Faith, Passion and staying power will achieve your end results. Keep on shinning.
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I believe that quitting could be very wise option sometimes… We have to put all our decisions into the Big Picture.
I am learning new and challenging info and methods by being part of YOTA and the forum, and by attending or watching the recordings of all webinars. Sometimes it is very tempting to turn on the TV and blob out because I feel a bit weary, but this is where my persistence kicks in and I end up working at my slower but persistent pace until the WEE SMALL HOURS.
Following is a quotation from USA president Calvin Coolidge. I once ran a phone sales team and had this printed and displayed on each person’s booth.
Nothing in the world can take the place of Persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. The slogan ‘Press On’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.
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Hi Sean,
Well, persistence does make sense because it’s impossible to win if you give up before the job is finished.
Having a plan will help to see a project through. If I am not careful I can have several unfinished projects at hand and not finish any of them. I will have to work on this. I possibly need to work on only one project at a time and see it through until it’s finished. This practice could improve my learning in the YOTA forum as well. I’m sure it will.
Jill.
(It’s true. Most people just quit in the face of what seems like hopeless temporary defeat) this used to be me but I’m proud to say that I’m getting better and better every day.
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According to Napoleon Hill’s philosophy positive thought is the essence of success , I learned first hand that it’s not possible to hold two consecutive thoughts, after the birth of our fourth child a daughter in 93 my wife started alternating within minutes from laughter to tears , she was extremely agitated that the nurse hadn’t taken her for a shower although it had only been a couple of minutes she insisted she’d been left for at least an hour, her perception of time had altered dramatically the medical staff hadn’t noticed, me being in the firring line .Some months later after I tired of wearing the furniture our GP informed us it was a chemical imbalance and ant-depressants would stabilize them which was the case within hours , but it did demonstrate that what ever thoughts we hold will have a direct effect on our lives.
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I think persistence comes down to how much you want something. How important your dreams are. Whether your “WHY” for getting it is big enough.
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What I feel sometimes is, I am not getting anywhere, When will the money start coming, All I seem to do is payout then I read something that makes sense to me and shows me I just have to keep persisting and the riches will come.