Influence is leverage. We can only do so much. But if we can influence others to follow us, we can get so much more done. We are exploring a book written by a Japanese Shogun 838 years ago on Influence.
Here, Yoritomo is talking about perseverance. He now turns inward and is talking about what has to happen in a person before he/she can persist outwardly. After all, from the inner, the outer – right?
Weak minds can only with difficulty concentrate themselves on a task that requires a little application (work) they are the slaves of instability of their impressions.”
So he is saying they can’t concentrate for long on one thing. Next he talks about people who start, but don’t stick with it.
“Beginnings, however arduous, always find them full of enthusiasm, but this fervor soon grows cold, and if success does not present itself immediately they will hasten to give up their project and devote themselves to another which will soon have a like ending.”
We all know people who start a project with great excitement, only to give up soon enough.
If you do that, you will not carry much influence.
When I start a project – I finish. You have to finish. You have to stay with it, and finish. If I am building a building, people can see if I don’t finish. The same is true in all your projects.
Do you finish?
Just finishing is not enough though, we must finish well. We must start with the end in mind and know what finishing well looks like. Then we must persist until we get there. Never give up!