Influence – Lesson 9 – By Perseverance

We are reviewing “Influence”, by Yoritomo Tashi, a Japanese Shogun who lived 800+ years ago.  One commenter said that Yoritomo didn’t write this book, but instead was written by an editor in 1915.  Well, the editor used Yoritomo’s letters to write this book.  The printing press was not even invented when Yoritomo lived. But a definition of leadership is to cause something to happen that would not have happened had he not existed.  Therefore, Yoritomo and his ideas are still leading you and me at this very minute.

Lesson 9 is about perseverance.  If we continue on our quest and do not give up, people will see that and be more likely to follow us.  Would you follow someone who gives up often and changes his mission every year or month?  Let’s see what Yoritomo says on perseverance –

“Perseverance is among, if not the most brilliant, at least the most active ingredients of influence.  It is a faculty borne with men conscious of their power, those who, by virtue of faith in their own merit, advance to achievement with that confidence which gives birth to all notable successes and all productive achievements.”

Check that out – those with ‘faith in their own merit’ he says.  People who believe in themselves and believe they can accomplish a goal will stick it out and persevere.  If you didn’t believe in yourself or that you could achieve your aim, you’d quit when it got hard or because it was taking so long.  So many of these qualities are interwoven and related.  Without one, the next would not be possible.  I think belief in yourself is the root.

He continues –

“Perseverance is the triumph of will-power over the weakness of the will; it is the result of a profound study of the determining causes, the combination of which is bound to end in success: it is in short, the slow but sure ascent toward a goal that assumes a more definite shape the nearer we approach it.”

“Few persons were born with a silver spoon in their mouths, but everybody can aim at conquering fortune by a series of continual and rational efforts.”

(A cubit is an ancient measurement based on the distance from the elbow to the fingertips.  It is about 18 to 212 inches.)

“The man who would spring up 30 cubits at a single leap would spend his life in ridiculous attempts, but if he wishes steadily to mount the steps that lead him to that height, he will attain it sooner or later, according to the dexterity, the agility, and the perseverance which he displays.”

“The steps it is true, are often made of shaky stones, they have gaps between them that make one dizzy, where they are so uncertain that it is difficult to keep a foothold on them.  This is the point where those who possess perseverance make themselves known; by their unshakable will, they can ward off every danger; they balance themselves on the shaky stones almost on tiptoe, and advance onto the next step; they feel fascinated by the giddy depths beneath them, quickly raise their heads, they proceed gazing on their star, and they guard themselves against possible slips by making sure of one foot before lifting the other from the ground.”

Success is not attained in one brilliant heroic stroke.  It is one small but sure step at a time.  It is habits.  It is staying organized.  It is thinking about where you are and what the next step is and taking action on that next step.  It is mostly an uncelebrated and often unglamorous series of steps put together, surely and definitely, that will yield the result you want someday – a day you have faith in.

He also talks about “the study” – you have to learn all about the factors that need to go into your success.  There will be much to learn.  Be good at learning.

When you are breaking new ground in your life, it feels shaky.  It’s unsure.  But keep thinking about what you want, and keep taking the next step.  Ambition, perseverance and faith.

More tomorrow…