Who doesn't want to be successful in areas that are important to them? But how do you do that? Certainly most of us learn how to set goals to help us toward achieving success. But just setting goals and studying motivation theories, goal-setting books, and the theory of goal setting are not enough. All of the goal-setting theory and practice are for "naught" if this one crucial ingredient is not included in your repertoire. What is that all-important ingredient? The number-one trait that successful people list in how to reach goals is persistence.

Would you categorize yourself as persistent? Or are you one of those people who give up too quickly when circumstances do not work out the way you had wanted? Do you have that intrinsic motivation, the power of motivating yourself to persist when circumstances are not going well?

To be successful, to achieve what you want, especially if what you want a high-level goal, you must foster the personality trait of persistence. Without it, your chances of gaining that path to success are minimal. This article examines the importance of persistence, cites examples of those who have persisted and been successful, and addresses ways you can embody this success factor in your own life.

So continue to study goal-setting strategies, goal-setting ideas, and goal-setting theories, but make sure you incorporate this one vital ingredient into your planning: persistence.