When I reflect on the common traits shared by successful people, two qualities consistently stand out—one empowering the other.
The first is faith, which makes perseverance possible. For me, that faith is in God. For others, it may rest in themselves, their idea, their product, or any number of sources. Wherever it is placed, faith is what allows a person to push forward through hardship, uncertainty, and challenge.
I am keenly aware of my own limitations—my skill set, my lower–middle-class upbringing, and the reality that I am no different from millions of others with similar abilities and resources. That is precisely why my faith is in God. It gives me courage, and that courage allows me to persevere. I often tell people that if you don’t believe in God, starting your own business can be incredibly difficult—because there’s a lot of praying required through startup and growth, and it helps to know who you’re praying to.
I was reminded of this while reflecting on the Pilgrims, the pioneers who headed west, and countless others who found the courage to begin a journey—whatever form that journey took—and the perseverance to see it through, survive, and ultimately thrive.
To borrow (and slightly bastardize) a famous movie line:
May the Faith be with you.
