Factors of Success: Persistence and Determination

Factors of Success: Persistence and Determination.

I am always excited when I meet a young man or woman who is highly talented and gifted in anything or one who has a high Intelligence Quotient, IQ, or one who has a great education and shows it in resourcefulness and civility. The reason I am so excited stems from the fact that the key to a truly great and productively functional Nigeria is in having these kinds of people in large numbers all across the country and then creating the conducive atmosphere they need to manifest.

In their manifestation lies the answer to most of the developmental challenges and difficulties we are faced with as a nation; whether it be economic development and economic diversification, manufacturing and industrialisation, science and technology, steel and mining, agriculture and livestock, fisheries and water resources, wildlife and forestry, culture and tourism, social services and social cohesion, social justice and social development, security and peace, law and order, sports and entertainment, women and youth, etc.

We will come into full development in all sectors of our economy and our life as a nation when we have individuals, our own citizens, in large numbers, who are highly talented, highly endowed and highly educated,  come into their element and take charge fully, in both public and private sectors, and push all the sectors up to world standards. We must replace mediocrity with excellence. We must replace quantity with quality. We must reach out for the best, do the best and be the best at all times. Otherwise, we will continue to wallow in poverty, with all its attendant evils, in the midst of gargantuan potential and wasted opportunities.

Two things need to happen simultaneously for this to come to pass: first, we as a nation must develop and promote the culture of excellence by lifting merit above all other considerations and, secondly, these individuals, all of our youth, must be highly motivated and keep going forward with their dream of a great country and keep doing the right things against all odds. I will address the first point in a different article. My concern in this piece is the second point: encouraging our youth to be highly motivated and remain highly determined and persistent in their pursuit of personal fulfilment and in their contributions to the realization of our national dreams and development, inspite of the huge institutional challenges and structural deficiencies and service inadequacies that plague our beloved country.

My young friend, yes, it is a good thing indeed that you are highly gifted, highly endowed and highly educated; but do not rest or depend on talent, genius or education alone to carry you to a successful and impactful life. Those are merely powerful vehicles that can do a lot of good but are going nowhere without fuel in the tank. And in a country like Nigeria where you have a lot of structural gaps and deficiencies, service inadequacies, subjective sentimentalism and pervasive corruption, you are going to need all the motivation you can muster to go against the tide and make a profitable impact. You are going to need your car serviced and fully fuelled.

DETERMINATION and PERSISTENCE provides the fuel that keeps your vehicle moving purposefully towards your desired destination. Without these twin factors of success working in your life and fuelling you forward, you are going to achieve very little, regardless the size of your talent, IQ or the quality of your education. 

This is what the 30th President of the United States of America, Calvin Coolidge, said about persistence and determination:

"Nothing in this 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" - Calvin Coolidge.

Calvin Coolidge knows what he is saying and, therefore, should be taken seriously. You do not go anywhere far or do anything great in life, without persistence and determination, no matter how gifted, talented, endowed or educated you are. You have got to motivate yourself to give the sustained push necessary to deliver your dreams and expectations and make a difference in this life. Like a pregnant woman on the labour bed, you have got to give the push yourself. Nobody can do it for you. That is where Persistence and Determination comes in.

Author, speaker, motivator and entrepreneur,  Les Brown, agrees with the conclusion of President Coolidge. He adds:

"If you set goals and go after them with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you places that will amaze you." - Les Brown.

Italian-born American former racecar driver and champion, Mario Andretti, puts it this way:

“Desire is the key to motivation, but it’s determination and commitment to an unrelenting pursuit of your goal - a commitment to excellence - that will enable you to attain the success you seek." - Mario Andretti.

Motivational counsellor, author, blogger and life enthusiast, Dr. Roopleen, agrees:

“ The world’s greatest achievers have been those who have always stayed focussed on their goals and have been consistent in their efforts." - Dr Roopleen.

My young friends, dream big. Be positively ambitious. Be fired up with unstoppable zeal and enthusiasm. Then go forward with focus and consistent effort. Go forward with great desire, determination and commitment. Go forward with persistence and determination. Go after the highest and the best in life. Stretch yourself beyond limits. Attain the fullness of your potential. Do great things in life. Achieve your dreams.

Your family waits for you.

Your clan waits for you.

Your tribe waits for you.

Your state waits for you.

Nigeria waits for you.

The World waits for you.

Be fully manifested through persistence and determination. Come into resounding success. Come into the place of influence and power. Come to the top. That is where you belong. There is enough room there for anyone who dares to dream big and push hard enough.

See you at the top.

I am Agoso Bamaiyi, your friend for a greater Nigeria and the best things of life.