
Persistence is a critical but bitter virtue for success in life. My baby sharks have learnt to work it to their advantage going by their high success rate at having their way. The number of times I end up in the supermarket against my will to buy crisps and candy is more frequent than I’d like to admit. They know what buttons to press, and I give in because I delight in providing for them.
Yet as adults, we often struggle with persistence. Most of the good things we want to achieve or acquire come with persistence as a key ingredient. I met a pal on my trip to the gym (following through on my fitness goal for this year) last week. It’s taking all the effort to do this gym thing but no pain no gain ama. I asked my pal why she hasn’t recently posted her gym exercises on social media. She told me that she’s keeping off the gym till March. It’s crowded with New Year resolution folks and most are sure to have given up by March. It’s like she was warning me not to be part of those who give up too soon too quickly. Perseverance folks is when we keep going even after the excitement has died off. My first gym session was today. It felt strange but I did it.
I need to apply this persistence story to my coaching journey, especially halftime. Last week we had our year-opener social. My halftime boss Mathilda was in town. Our meet-up was a follow-up to our end-of-year webinar on transitions last December. We had more than 50 people show up. The plan was to explain the halftime program to folks in the hope that they would understand it and consider it for themselves especially if they were going through a midlife transition.
I was discouraged earlier that day as I reflected on the labour of love that has been the halftime journey since 2018 when I did the program after reading the halftime book by Bob Buford. I haven’t looked back since. I feel like halftime chose me from that point on. I didn’t choose halftime. Since then I have been like those doctors who claim to have found a cure for a rare condition but no one believes them. Or very few people do after many years.
I meet many high-impact folks who are panicking in private because they are at the end of a season and unsure of how or where to move next. Maybe I’m the one who’s not convincing enough. While I’m aware that most transitions are deeply personal and that could be why people prefer to go through them in the closet, it helps when we get the right kind of help. And that help is the halftime process if you desire to live a life of significance. One that’s marked with joy, balance and impact. I guess for now I will just continue hawking my halftime medicine for midlife transition patients hehe.
Mathilda did a superb job last Friday evening and we even got folks signed up for our roundtable next month. I’ve had numerous conversations with people since 2018 and can sniff out if they are at crossroads. They inquire about halftime and seem to be convinced that they have found the paracetamol to their transition fever but very few take the medicine (sign up). It’s frustrating keeping on preaching the transition gospel, expecting a landslide conversion and having only a few or no one come to the altar when the call is made.
After processing my moods last Friday, I had to get into the zone and host an event that would benefit all who attended. My persistence jab had to kick in, and that’s exactly what happened. Once we got into the program, the magic of halftime took over, and I forgot what I was moody about. I love taking folks through the halftime process and get excited when I see them get unstuck. My view shifted slightly after that event.
Could masses be converting in private and I’m here lamenting that I’m preaching to myself? Maybe we have helped many people without being aware of it. it’s like the majority of my blog readers are the ones who don’t like or comment on my posts. Perhaps success is not necessarily measured by the noise made after the fact. We might be doing stuff that impacts people and the fruits of it may show when we are long gone.
The Good Book urges us to persevere in prayer and not give up. Sir God’s answer could be yes, no or not yet. Maybe there is another way he wants halftime to unravel in Africa. The Good Book also says some of us will plant, others will water and others will reap. I feel like Mathilda and I are the planters of halftime in Africa. I’m not sure yet if I’m consoling myself with these thoughts or if I need a different perspective. Whichever the case this mind shift is helping me to keep going and just keep showing up and help folks find and live meaningful lives. That’s what I do.
Old habits die hard. While I know from experience that transitions don’t give you the luxury of knowing what the end result looks like, I’m still finding myself trying to figure out the outcome of what I do. This year I resolved to leave more room for detours along the way. That will help me be present and reduce my hyper achiever saboteur. We had a meaningful engagement last Friday and I was energized to keep helping folks get clear, get free and get going. The rest tunawachia Mungu (we leave to Sir God). I like that approach already. It’s like being hands off but eyes on. May we take more of this vitamin P (persistence) folks. We need it especially at our age hehe…
Lucas! This post on persistence truly resonates with me. I firmly believe in not giving up, and if one door closes, asking God to open another or even multiple doors.
As Calvin Coolidge said, “Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”
Your insights on perseverance, especially during transitions, are inspiring. Thank you for sharing your journey and encouraging us to keep pushing forward, no matter the challenges.
Lucas, It was a great event. It was clear what half-time is all about. Lots of people are in transition but in denial. Let’s keep talking about it, and maybe they will gain the courage to sign up. I believe the lines are still open, and they can join the first round table scheduled for 21 February 2025. info@cedarafricagroup.com. Why not come and see if you are at halftime?
Hi Lucas, I would love an invite to these events, I’m looking to connect with individuals also navigating this circle of transition.This is a good read, persistence! persistence! persistence! Thank you!
Thank you Lucas for sharing this insight. There’s room for growth in this. I was asking myself is persistence the same as determination. And I have been reminded that while determination (the strong drive or resolve to achieve a goal) is important, it must be backed up by persistence (the continued action needed to achieve the goal despite challenges or obstacles).
I’m among among those who don’t like or comment but still love reading your articles.
Life is so interesting. When I was going through the transition fever, I was lost in a maze. I couldn’t even explain why I am not happy yet everything on the surface looked okey. Where were programs such as Half Time to unstuck me? Unbelievable that solutions are Now Here instead of Nowhere of our time. Sign Up! it is better to walk the journey guided and in a collective.