Stick-to-it-iveness

The Earth has made another trip around the sun as we welcome in 2023 in hopes that this year we will experience easier times and better versions of ourselves. Lofty goals and promises are made and desires to experience only happiness sets in. However, more often than not the full spectrum of life experiences and emotions become the reality and resolutions are broken, just like every other year. 

When life gets challenging, which it will because without challenges, we would never evolve.  When these opportunities of growth set in, this is where Stick-to-it-tiveness is critical. In fact, this is one of the most important attributes of successful people. Stick-to-it-tiveness is the quality that allows someone to continue trying to do something even though it is difficult or unpleasant.  Another way of saying it, is that we adopt the mindset that even when we don’t feel like it, we continue in the direction of our initial intentions. Maybe this attribute is stubbornness, committed or determined, but most importantly it means you are internally inspired and motivated by a higher calling to reach your destined outcome. 

That overwhelming feeling of motivation and excitement as you begin a new goal or new adventure eventually fades off into the sunset. The trick is to uncover your internal motivation – your “why.” Why are you doing this? Why do you want it? How will your life be different once you have it? When you understand the deep connection to your why, your stick-to-it-tiveness will become a steadfast trait.  

And that’s not all, the goal has to be deeply meaningful to you *and* you have to believe in your ability to make it happen. Here’s an inspirational story about a boy named Sparky….

Sparky failed every subject in 8th grade. He failed physics in high school. He also failed Latin, algebra, and even English. School clearly wasn’t his thing. Sparky was also socially awkward and wasn’t respected or liked by his peers. He never dated or even asked anyone on a date for fear of being rejected. Sparky wasn’t any better at sports. He got on the golf team, but lost the one important match of the season. There was a consolation match, but he lost that as well. 

Sparky was what society would call a loser. Most of his classmates, teachers, and even Sparky himself, knew it. Sparky had made up his mind early in life that if things were meant to work out, they would. Otherwise he would content himself with what appeared to be inevitable mediocrity.

However, there was one thing that was important to Sparky – his drawings. He was proud of his artwork, even though no one else seemed to appreciate it much. In his senior year in high school, Sparky submitted some cartoons to the yearbook editors which promptly were rejected! However, Sparky had stick-to-itiveness when it came to his drawing. Despite rejection, Sparky was so convinced of his ability that he decided to become a professional artist.

After high school, Sparky spent many hours on artwork and sent some of his drawings to Walt Disney studios. He, of course, was rejected… again.  However,  Sparky had stick-to-itiveness. He wrote his own autobiography in cartoons – describing his childhood – a little loser boy and chronic underachiever. The cartoon character would soon become famous worldwide! This boy who had been rejected most of his life is the one and only Charles Monroe “Sparky” Schulz; the creator of “Peanuts” comic strip! 

Imagine if Sparky would’ve given up in High School…we wouldn’t have a Charlie Brown. What would this world be without Charlie Brown? His work transformed the lives of children around the world! If he wouldn’t have had a deep connection to his art, intense belief in himself, and the stick-to-it-tivness attribute – his success and his impact would’ve ceased to exist. 

As you approach bumps in the road this year, or perhaps even completely fall down a cliff, ask yourself “what would Sparky do?”

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