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Article: Perseverance Pays!
Perseverance Pays!
By Ian Horne
This is a parable of modern-day treasure hunters. Brother Johnny and sister Sarah grew up playing “Pirates of the Caribbean” and imagining the sparkle of silver and the glitter of gold. Johnny exuded great self-confidence and personal drive. Sarah was smart as a whip, though quiet and introspective. In spite of these differences they set out together aboard a virtual pirate ship to seek their fortune.
It was clear from the start that Johnny was the driver while Sarah seemed to follow in her brother’s considerable wake. While he blazoned from one business idea to another, she carefully gathered up the scattered pieces and pulled them all back together.
In their first year they managed to make enough money to support themselves, but Johnny was anxious to hit the mother lode. Sarah suggested that they seek the advice of a wise old sage; someone who had gone before and knew the way. Johnny liked the idea but was worried they were just as likely to be driven up on the rocks as directed through the safe passage. After considerable discussion and debate they decided to seek the wisdom of a modern day sage, the internet.
The internet gave freely of its knowledge returning 10 thousand hits. What to do now? Johnny just wanted “The Answer” not thousands of partial answers. Sarah knew that there were likely several golden nuggets amongst the hits so she devised a plan where Johnny would use his considerable charm to promote their existing efforts while she would use her persistence to sort through the treasure trove of advice.
With this newly defined focus, Johnny and Sarah had set a course and sailed off into the wild blue yonder slowly filling the hold of their virtual ship with valuable wares. Johnny and Sarah hardly noticed until one day under heavy seas, they observed how well their ship cut through the waves and held her course into the wind. Johnny went below decks to investigate and to his surprise found that the cargo holds were full. He was standing before the mother lode.
He excitedly returned to the bridge to tell Sarah the reason for their stability in rough water. She smiled and said, “Real treasure is rarely found, but it may be accumulated with perseverance.”
The lesson of this story is Perseverance Pays!
Ian Horne is a professional biologist and photographer who practices environmental impact assessment and permitting for mining projects in Northern Ontario. He also teaches Environmental Management for Mining at the Lassonde Mineral Program, University of Toronto. His hobby is public speaking and leadership, which he practices through Toastmasters International, and is currently the Sudbury Area Governor for Toastmasters District 86.
