The Power of Persistence: How to Keep Going When the Going Gets Tough

The Truth About Persistence: Why Grinding Harder Isn't the Answer

What if the thing keeping you stuck isn't a lack of effort, but the wrong kind of effort?

In this episode, George and Liz dig into persistence as the third cornerstone of the superhuman framework. Not the "grind until you collapse" version. The kind that actually gets you somewhere without burning you out along the way. If you've ever wondered whether sticking with something is worth it, or felt like you're running on empty while going nowhere, this one's for you.

What Persistence Actually Means

Most people hear "persistence" and picture grinding endlessly. Pushing through no matter what. Walking through the muck because there's no other option.

That's not how George sees it.

"Persistence isn't about exhausting yourself to the point of burnout. It's about resilience. It's about adaptability. It's about making deliberate choices to keep moving forward even when things feel hard, are hard, feel uncertain, are uncertain, or just look downright impossible."

Persistence is the cornerstone that holds everything else together when life throws curveballs. Passion lights the fire. Purpose guides the way. Love sustains you. But persistence? That's the quiet, steady force that keeps you walking toward your goals even when the fire flickers and the path isn't clear.

Here's the reframe that changes everything: Persistence isn't loud or flashy. It doesn't look heroic. It's showing up for yourself when no one else is watching. It's the hundredth rejection letter and still deciding to send out that hundred and first.

"If I had to define it simply, persistence is the willingness to keep showing up imperfectly, patiently, and consistently because what you're working on, what you're doing, who you're doing it with or for matters."

The Misconceptions That Cost Us

George calls out three myths about persistence that do more harm than good:

Myth 1: Persistence means brute force. Just keep going. Push harder. Grind it out. This mindset leads to burnout dressed up as ambition. If you're sacrificing yourself on the altar of your goals, that's not persistence. That's self-destruction with a motivational poster.

Myth 2: Persistence means never quitting. Sometimes real persistence is knowing when to pivot. George calls it being a "transition specialist." It's recognizing when to step back, reassess, or redirect your energy toward something that aligns better with your purpose and values.

Myth 3: Persistence requires massive leaps. People think it's about grand heroic acts. The reality? Small, consistent steps. One percent better each day. That compounds over time into something meaningful, even when progress feels invisible.

The Explosion Rule

Liz shared a personal framework that got her through one of the hardest years of her life.

Fresh out of a divorce, she'd thrown everything into a storage unit and landed in a short-term rental in New Haven, Connecticut because she couldn't functionally make decisions. A friend asked how she was still working and keeping it together.

Her answer? The bomb rule.

"When things get dark or challenging, I ask myself one question: Are you physically going to explode? No? Well, then you're gonna get up tomorrow, and you're just gonna keep going. In whatever shape you're in, you have to keep moving forward. That's all you can do."

It's not glamorous. It's not inspirational poster material. But it works.

The PERSIST Framework

George introduced a simple framework to help shape persistence that's both effective and sustainable. Write this down:

P - Purpose: Start with your why. Ask yourself: What's the bigger picture I'm working towards? How does this goal align with my values?

E - Evaluate: Regularly check in with yourself. Ask: What's working well right now, and what's not serving me anymore?

R - Rhythm: Honor your pace. Some days call for big leaps, others for small steady steps. Ask: Am I honoring my natural pace, or am I forcing progress at an unsustainable speed?

S - Small Wins: Celebrate every step forward. Ask: What's one small victory I can celebrate today that brings me closer to my goal?

I - Intuition: Trust your gut. Ask: Am I continuing because it feels right, or am I pushing through out of habit or fear?

S - Support: Surround yourself with people who understand your journey. Ask: Who in my life can I lean on for encouragement or support right now?

T - Tenacity: Stay committed to your goal while remaining flexible in your approach. Ask: How can I stay committed while remaining open to new methods or paths?

When Persistence Becomes the Problem

Persistence becomes unhealthy when it stops serving your purpose and starts draining your well-being.

Red flags to watch for:

• Pushing forward out of habit, fear, or pride rather than intentional effort
• Burnout creeping in
• Neglecting important relationships
• Compromising your values

George's advice? "Sometimes the bravest form of persistence is knowing when to pivot or pause. That's how you protect what truly matters."

Liz added a sharper edge: "My guess is we already know when persistence has become counterproductive. The real question is why are you denying the truth? The cost you feel like you're not willing to pay is much less expensive than the one you're already paying."

The 80-Pound Lesson

Liz demonstrated something powerful during the episode. She's about 80 pounds lighter than when she and George started working together over two years ago.

But here's the thing: she didn't lose weight by chasing weight loss.

"I didn't start losing weight or actually getting healthy until my flavor of persistence was, I am not going to chase weight loss. Weight loss is not the goal. I'm not gonna step on a scale. My flavor of persistence was showing up and committing to new systems and habits."

Her rule? Be inside the gym for 30 minutes. That's it. She could sit there and stare at a wall for 30 minutes if she wanted. But she had to be there.

"Sometimes when you have big things that you need to do, the only thing you should be doing is looking at the steps that are right in front of you and not obsessively looking at what's on top of the mountain."

Rest Is Not the Enemy

Here's a truth that feels counterintuitive: Rest isn't the opposite of persistence. It's the fuel that makes persistence sustainable.

"Without rest, we risk burnout. We lose perspective. We drain the very energy we need to keep going. Recovery isn't stepping away from the goal. It's stepping toward it with renewed clarity, renewed focus, renewed strength."

Think about running a marathon. If you sprint the entire way, you'll run out of steam long before the finish line. Rest allows you to recalibrate, rehydrate, and reconnect with why you're running in the first place.

Liz finished her first ever race, a 10K across the Bay Bridge, 35 minutes faster than her goal. The hardest part wasn't the three-mile incline up the bridge. It was the last three-quarters of a mile. Rest and pacing made the difference.

Quotable Moments

"Persistence is the willingness to keep showing up imperfectly, patiently, and consistently because what you're working on matters."

"Burnout dressed up as ambition is not persistence."

"Sometimes the bravest form of persistence is knowing when to pivot or pause."

"Rest isn't the opposite of persistence. It's the fuel that makes it sustainable."

Your One Thing

Liz's takeaway: Persistence is the most important promise you can keep to yourself. You can't keep promises to other people until you learn how to persist for yourself. Once you start keeping those promises to yourself, life doesn't get easier, but it gets more fulfilling.

George's takeaway: True persistence is sustainable only when it's fueled by clarity, balanced by rest, and adaptable to change. It's not about how hard you push. It's about knowing when to move forward, when to pivot, when to pause, when to recharge. Stay connected to your why, celebrate your small wins, and honor your individual rhythm. That's what keeps you moving forward no matter how tough the road gets.

Reflection Questions

1. What's the bigger picture I'm working towards?
2. What's one small, manageable step I can take today to keep moving in that direction?
3. Am I honoring my natural pace, or forcing progress at an unsustainable speed?
4. Where might letting go or pivoting actually move me closer to my goals?

Ready to go deeper? Press play above and let George and Liz walk you through the full conversation. This one's worth the time.