This document discusses the importance of perseverance and courage for achieving success. It defines perseverance as "staying in power" and "finishing", and argues that talent provides hope for accomplishment but perseverance guarantees it. It identifies common enemies of perseverance like making excuses. The document also discusses how courage tests our talent, such as when our convictions are challenged or when we must face our weaknesses. It provides examples of qualities of courageous leadership like having convictions stronger than fears.

1. Talent Plus Perseverance and CourageLesson 4 – Talent is Never Enough Series

2. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage ; do not be afraid , nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” ( Joshua 1:9)

3. Perseverance Sustains Your TalentPerseverance can be defined as “ staying in power”.Perseverance is about finishing.Talent provides hope for accomplishment ; but perseverance guarantees it.

4. About PerseverancePerseverance means succeeding because of determination.The greatest achievers don’t sit back and wait for success because they think they deserve it. They keep moving forward and persevering because they are determined to achieve it.About Perseverance2. Perseverance is needed to achieve victory.The winner is determine at the finish line. If you run every step of the race expect the last one and you quit just before the finish line, then the result will be the same as if you never ran a step.

5. About Perseverance3. Perseverance draws sweetness from adversity.Giving up when adversity threatens can make a person bitter. Persevering through adversity makes us better.4. Perseverance has a compounding impact on life. Great success lies just beyond the point where you are convinced you cannot succeed. Keep going . Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.

6. About Perseverance5. Perseverance means you don’t quit when you become tired.Perseverance comes into play when you get tired. When you are fresh , excited and energetic, you approach a task with vigor. Only when you become tired do you need perseverance.

7. About Perseverance6. Perseverance demands all that we have.Perseverance does not demand more than you have, but it does require everything you have.

8. Five Enemies of PerseveranceA lifestyle of quittingA wrong belief that life should be easy.A wrong belief that success is a destination , not a journey.A lack of resiliency.A lack of vision.

9. You must take the following steps:Find your purpose.2. Eliminate excuses. 3. Develop stamina.

10. Persistence is stubbornness with a purposeRemember !

11. Biblical Case Study (Ruth 1:1-22)Ruth and her sister in law, Orpah, both widows, face an important decision.Will they remain in their homeland or go with their mother in law. To Judah?Naomi insists that they stay in Moab , Oprah retuned to her family in Moab , but Ruth declared stubbornly that she would not leave Naomi

12. Ruth persistence paid off.She found work in a difficult time.She made friends in strange land.She gained a new husband.God included her in the lineage of Christ.

13. DiscussionThink about this statement: Ninety-nine percent of failures come from people who have the habit of making excuses. What are common excuses you make when you fail?

14. Courage Tests Your TalentWhen we must face the truth about our own weaknesses.The truth we most need to hear is often what we prefer no to hear.2. When doing nothing is more comfortable than changing.We will never take action if we love the comfort zone more than the faith zone.

15. Courage Tests Your Talent3. When our convictions and values are challenged. We cannot really live unless there are things for which we are wiling to die.4. When taking action will display our weaknesses.We must learn to move forward even when we are most afraid.

16. Courage Tests Your Talent5.When we take the high road even as others are treating us badly.6. When leading the way makes us an easy target.7. When we face obstacles in our pathway.8. When we move forward while our friends are retreating.Don’t flow with the crowd; they are usually wrong.

17. Take these steps to become more courageous:Look for courage inside, not outside of yourself.Grow in courage by doing the right thing instead of the convenient thing.Take small steps of courage to prepare you for greater ones.Recognize that a leadership position won’t give you courage . Start developing your courage in your daily decisions where you are.

18. Discussion:1. What recent failure could you revisit? How could you use courage to tackle the project or situation again with renewed perseverance?

19. Qualities of Courageous LeadershipConvictions are stronger than fears.Vision is clearer than doubts.Spiritual sensitivity is louder than popular options.Self-esteem is deeper than self-protection.Application for discipline is greater than desire for leisure.

20. Qualities of Courageous Leadership6. Dissatisfaction is more forceful than status quo.7. Poise is more unshakeable than panic.8. Risk-taking is stronger than safety-seeking.9. Right actions are more powerful than excuse making.10. A desire to reach potential is greater than a desire to please people.