Dr. Samuel Johnson was an English writer who is described by the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography as “arguably the most distinguished man of letters in English history”. He is a perfect example of perseverance.

Dr. Johnson is best-known work is his ‘Dictionary of the English Language’. The task took eight years, and Johnson employed six assistants, all of them working in his house off Fleet Street.

The dictionary was published on 15 April 1755. It was not the first such dictionary, but was certainly the most important at that time. In Johnson’s lifetime five further editions were published, and a sixth came out when he died. Dr. Johnson’s contribution to the English language took perseverance.

Perseverance is a steady persistence in a course of action in spite of difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. Most individuals who contribute to humankind persevere. After thousands of efforts to make the electric light bulb, Thomas Edison said, “I haven’t failed, I’ve identified 10,000 ways that it doesn’t work.” Helen Keller, Abraham Lincoln, Marie Curie, and an endless list of other great achievers found that success inevitably arrives for everyone who perseveres.

Do you persevere?

My research on life career development described in Questers Dare to Change Your Job and Life identified a combination of traits that persevering individuals possess.

Purpose

Having a sense of purpose gives meaning and direction to life. Persevering Questers have a vision that expresses their life purpose which enables them to focus on desired goals. For every activity in which they engage, they ask themselves: “Is this activity in harmony with my purpose?” Their goals are consistent with their purpose, values, needs and other traits.

Desire

Questers have a strong desire and intention to attain their goals. They persist despite internal and external setbacks. They focus on goals daily at regular intervals and ask themselves whether the activities in which they are engaged are moving them forward toward goal attainment.

Imagination

Questers visualize themselves living their goals today.  They hold their desired outcome firmly in their minds. They see, smell, touch and hear aspects of their goals. Each morning upon arising they review their goals and repeat the process before falling asleep at night.

Confidence

Inner confidence enables Questers to persist with determination regardless of setbacks. They know what they want and are not influenced by the opinions of others.

They acknowledge their accomplishments and judge these against personal standards of excellence. They have the courage of their convictions, and don’t change for others or compare themselves to others.

Optimism

They tend to look on the more favorable side of events or conditions and expect positive outcomes. When Questers are confronted with hard knocks, they perceive these as challenges to be met. They expect good things to happen!

Resilience

Persevering Questers have the ability to adapt to changing circumstances. They do not stubbornly persist in the face of evidence their plans are not working, but look for better ways to increase chances of success.

Creativity

Questers imagine familiar things in a new light, finding connections among unrelated phenomena and digging below the surface to find previously undetected patterns.

Genuine

The Encyclopædia Britannica defines genuine as “free from hypocrisy or pretense, sincere.” Genuine people are real, true to themselves. Their thoughts and actions are consistent.

Lifelong learning

Ongoing learning provides persevering Questers with knowledge, strategies and other tools needed to continually adapt to changing circumstances.

Support

Formal or informal networks of goods, services, personnel, and organizations sustain perseveres and enable them to continue growth and productivity.