Monday, October 24, 2011

"Change Takes Persistence, Not Brilliance"

A school principal I met in Tennessee this summer made this statement to me.  She said, "Making change takes persistence, not brilliance." This simple, but profound quote sheds its truth in all areas of our lives.  If I want to get in shape, the consistency of the workout matters most in the long run.  If I am looking to learn a new skill, the persistence with which I practice and study the skill will lead to mastery. 

Sometimes we avoid undertaking what seems to be a daunting task because we feel we lack the intellectual capacity to complete it.  Sometimes we have to venture into the land of incompetence.  Of course, intelligence does play a major role, but so does the relentlessness with which we pursue the undertaking.  In the end, I think the persistence wins out.