Thought of the Day - Benefits of Persistence

Just watched The Pursuit of Happyness and it got me thinking about the value of persistence. In the film the guy decides he wants to do something and in spite of many and varied setbacks he reaches his goal.

My calendar at work says; "Give Up: At some point, hanging in there just makes you look like an even bigger loser." and while in films the plucky hero who keeps trying always wins, in real life i wonder what the percentage is?

There is a certain level of persistence that is required to achieve your goals but how do you know when you have crossed the line from persistence to stupidity, or is stupidly pursing BHAG's (Big Hairy Audacious Goals) the only way to really succeed?


It also made me realise i have never really been strapped for cash. Sure i've lived on pasta and baked beans for a few months at uni but there was never any danger of me starving or ending up on the street. As with many 'extreme' circumstances portrayed in film and on TV you have to wonder how you would cope. But it wouldn't be a true representation, the consequences wouldn't be there and if they were, would you really want to risk not being able to cope?