“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence.

“Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent.

“Genius will not; unrewarding genius is almost a proverb.

“Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts.

“Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.

“The slogan ‘press on’ has solved and always will solve the problems of the human race.” Calvin Coolidge

Wonderful isn’t it, to know that it’s sheer stick-to-it-I’ve-ness—even stubbornness—that can make the difference and win the day? If you can take any problem you have and stick to it like a bandaid to a wound, then eventually, you can solve it..

Persistence isn’t loud and attention-getting. It’s usually quiet and unsung. It doesn’t call attention to itself. It isn’t loud and demanding. It’s quiet and steady. You can think of persistence—of yourself and your determination—as water, steadily dripping on a flinty rock, and over time, wearing it down.

I find this very comforting. It’s soothing, somehow, to know that I don’t need a whole array of flashy tools on many life journey or writer’s kitbag. I don’t need to turn to talent, or generate a flash of genius, or rely on knowledge to see me through. All I need to do is to pull out “persistence and determination,” and I’ll be good to go. And so will you.

So let’s not fuss or worry about all the skills we might not have or which we have more of. Let’s call on the simple ones, the tried-and-true ones. Let’s pull persistence on one foot and determination on the other and start walking. Write on!

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