Persistence Is Key

1. By Material Gain - “At the end of life we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made, how many great things we have done. We will be judged by "I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless, and you took me in.” ~ Mother Teresa

2. By It Meaning You Never Fail -  “You may encounter many defeats, but you must not be defeated.  In fact, it may be necessary to encounter the defeats, so you can know who you are, what you can rise from, how you can still come out of it.” ~ Maya Angelou.  “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt

3. As A Destination - "Success is a journey, not a destination. The doing is often more important than the outcome." ~ Arthur Ashe.  "Focus on the journey, not the destination. Joy is found not in finishing an activity but in doing it." ~ Greg Anderson

4. As The Key to Happiness - "Success  is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what  you are doing, you will be successful." ~ Albert  Schweitzer

5. As Requiring You to Be Selfish - "Successful  people are always looking for opportunities to help others. Unsuccessful people  are always asking, 'What's in it for me?'" ~ Brian  Tracy Once you have a meaningful definition of success for yourself, I would submit that the key to being successful is persistence.  "Nothing  in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is  more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded  genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated  failures. Persistence and determination alone are  omnipotent." ~ Calvin  Coolidge. Here are a few more thoughts on persistence to inspire you on your journey: "Patience,  persistence and perspiration make an unbeatable combination for  success." ~ Napoleon  Hill "A  little more persistence, a little more effort, and what seemed hopeless failure  may turn to glorious success." ~ Elbert Hubbard "Energy  and persistence conquer all things." ~ Benjamin  Franklin "As  long as we are persistent in our pursuit of our deepest destiny, we will  continue to grow. We cannot choose the day or time when we will fully bloom. It  happens in its own time." ~ Denis Waitley "Ambition  is the path to success, persistence is the vehicle you arrive  in." ~ William  Eardley IV You don't have to win every effort to be successful. You don't even have to win a majority of the time! Most majorly successful people failed hundreds of times, but it only took ONE win to capture the shooting star! Define success on your own terms. Measure your progress only against yourself. Be persistent and never let up on doing what you love and loving what you do.