Persistence means never giving up. Even when it seems that all is lost, the persistent person will press on, convicted by the necessity of their actions. These are people unwilling to concede defeat. They don’t let a lack of ability, money, resources, or time dissuade them from trying. 

If you’re unsure about the importance of persistence, consider this short thought experiment. Imagine a large container filled with ping pong balls. All of the balls, save one red, are white. Without looking, your goal is to pull out the red ball.

It’s a challenging, time-consuming task, to be sure. Will talent help you? No, the process is random. How about vision? Not at all. Can you just throw money at the problem? Not if you’re going to abide by the rules of the game.

Only persistence will see you through. You just have to keep pushing forward, pulling ball after ball. Your success is guaranteed as long as you keep at it. 

Starting a business is a similar challenge. You have to do the work necessary to realize your dreams. You may not be the most talented entrepreneur, your idea might need work, and your funding may be insufficient. But if you’re persistent and keep pushing for success even when all signs are pointing toward defeat, you can surmount any of your deficiencies. Coolidge was right. Persistence is critical.