6 tips to achieve perseverance

On our journey towards achieving the goals we set for ourselves, we encounter countless obstacles. We continually search for the key that makes this path more pleasant, shorter, and less costly. Many new techniques and trends emerge to achieve this objective, and even more people cling to them in search of the formula for success.

However, we believe that there is an essential ingredient for achieving success at any level: perseverance, one of the most important values in our Fresh People decalogue.

Talent, intelligence, and creativity are incredibly useful values, but not as versatile as the ability to devise a plan, execute it, and persevere with it. In her famous study, Angela Lee Duckworth set out to investigate which characteristics—beyond intellectual talent—serve to predict success. Can you guess what she discovered? Exactly: the ability to persevere and remain consistent over extended periods of time is key to achieving good results.

It seems that conscious, methodical, and sustained work has much more to do with success than we think. Any “weakness” can be overcome with a few hours of work, and having a good capacity to respond to difficulties is even more decisive than the obstacles themselves.

Improving your ability to persevere will mark a turning point in the way you face any challenge in your professional life. But we understand that there is also a path to becoming perseverant, which is why we suggest applying some of the following tips to achieve it.

1. Know yourself

If you know your values, your strengths, and your motivations, it will be easier for you to know how to face challenges. Furthermore, if you identify and accept your weaknesses, you will be able to set more realistic expectations and reach them without any problem. The way you face challenges is more important than the results you may obtain.

2. Keep perspective

Frequently, what ruins our motivation is a worry that only exists in our minds. Keeping worries at bay is incredibly useful for moving forward and not going around in circles. The key is to minimize the time we spend eliminating them from our minds once we identify them. If you think long-term and with a broad perspective, you won't spend more time than necessary on everything that lacks importance.

3. Keep your goal in sight

What will your success bring with it? It can bring you wealth, recognition, satisfaction, knowledge… Create an image in your mind related to this reward (the more tangible, the better) and think about this image during the difficult moments throughout the process. This will generate a positive response in your mind and help you move forward. Remember that, although you are always moving towards your goal, it is your dominant thoughts that support you day after day in reaching it.

4. Stay one step ahead

Just as you visualize your success, it will be useful to think about which task you will carry out in the next step. Don't let your guard down; ask yourself what knowledge, skills, and experiences you need to be prepared and anticipate the next move.

5. Create procedures for repetitive tasks

You don't need to reinvent the wheel every day. If you know you will carry out a task more than once, create a ‘checklist’, a form, or a template. You will save a lot of time and improve the consistency of your work in the long run.

6. “Everything will be fine”

It seems like a cliché, but having a mantra helps. Have faith that things will work out even when, deep down, you are convinced they won't. How are you going to maintain motivation if you believe you won't succeed? Maintaining an optimistic attitude will improve your performance in any task and make it a little more comforting.