Persistence Pays

Over the years many people have asked me; "When do you stop trying and give up?" My reply is always the same, "You stop trying when you stop breathing" Just because what you are doing is not working, it doesn't mean that you cannot succeed at the task. Rather it may just be the approach you are taking isn't the right approach for that specific task, or it may not be the right approach for you and your personality. Of course I am not referring to things that are impossible for us because of mental or physical disabilities; those things we place our trust in God and then never give up on Him. I am referring to the realistic things that we are able to complete and for whatever reason can't. Loosing weight, quitting smoking, earning more money, exercising, finding a mate, finding that perfect job, and things like these.

Just because you tried something a few times and didn't succeed doesn't mean you can't succeed. All it means is you found another way that doesn't work for you. Why not try a different approach and if that doesn't work, try another and if that doesn't work another. Keep this up until you find what DOES work for you.

Be patient
Be patient with what you are doing as well. I know many people try something once or twice and weren't satisfied with the outcome and quit. Then use that old Cliche' "I guess it wasn't meant to be." Bologna!Remember the scripture: To whom much is given, much is required? The greater the task, the more effort we have to put into it. Keep in mind the authors of Chicken Soup for the Soul got turned down by over 145 Publishers before they found the right one, Thomas Edison found almost a thousand ways that a lightbulb will not work and Colonel Sanders was in his 70s when KFC became a success; the list goes on and on. Those who succeed at a task, whatever it is are only those who didn't quit and pressed on until the found what worked.

What have you given up on? Isn't today a great day to start trying again? Who knows, this may the time you get your breakthrough!

"I would rather try something and find it didn't work than try nothing and succeed"

Is that Really the Best you can do?

We have all said it a time or two in our life, "I did my best". But are we honest. Did we do the best we could do? Did we do all we could to improve what we are doing? Have we exhausted every possible situation , every possible resource? Have we learned all there is to learn. Or can we do better?

Those questions are what separates the top leaders in their field from everyone else. Most people do all they really desire to do and just say that it is their best. The top producers are never satisfied with where they are at. They ask themselves questions like; "Can I do better? Can I improve myself? Can my health get better? Can my financial situation get better or can I become better at this task? They constantly ask themselves; "Am I the best that can be in this area of my life?"

Today, ask yourself if you are doing the best that you can do at:

Your Job.
Are there things you can do that will make you more valuable? Can you learn more, or become more efficient at what you do? What can you do to earn more money. If you are not the top earner in your field you are settling for less than your potential and depriving yourself and your family from a better lifestyle. If you are a giver, you are also depriving those in need of additional blessings as well. If you are the top earner, is it not possible to push the top even higher?

Your relationships.
Are you the best spouse that you can be? The best parent, the best friend? Think about all of the broken families that might still be together if each spouse did what it took to be the very best husband or wife they can be? Think about the children that might still be home, off drugs and not thinking about suicide if every parent became the best. Think about all the friends we would still have if we didn't cut them off when they did something wrong and tried harder to reconcile our differences.

Your faith.
Are you the best Christian you can be? Do you really know enough about God, do you really know Him as well as He would like and do you really spend enough time with Him?

Your Health.
Are you really treating your body the best you can. Have you really tried your best to stop smoking, eating better or get on that exercise program or did you try a time or two and quit?

Todays exercize
Write on a sheet of paper the areas of your life that you feel needs the most improvement and then build a plan to become better in those areas. Attend seminars, read books, get advice or go to school. Don't stop until you've made an improvement in that area and then go onto the next. When you have finished, start all over again.

You owe it to yourself, your family and to your creator to become the very best you can be.

Isn't today the perfect day to start? After all why would anyone want to settle for something less than best?

If you need some pointers to get you going, drop me a line. bobwagner@bobwagner.org