The Power of Perseverance: A Lesson from a Friend

This is a story about the power of perseverance and discipline, and how these qualities can transform even the most challenging experiences into triumphs. This post was triggered by my friend inviting me to play squash. That was the first time I had ever tried the game, and I quickly realized how difficult it was. I was bad—really bad. I could barely hit the ball, and my movements were clumsy and uncoordinated. But that experience reminded me of something that happened many years ago, about 15 years back when I had just started working at one of my first jobs after college.

Back then, I had a friend(yes, it is all about friends) who was just as bad at table tennis as I am at squash. He had never held a racket before and struggled with every aspect of the game. His footwork was non-existent, his grip on the racket was all wrong, and he couldn’t seem to get the hang of the basic movements. When we played together, the difference in skill was obvious—he was the weakest player among the eight of us. But there was something remarkable about him: despite his lack of skill, he never missed a single game.

Every day, he showed up. He played with us, even though his performance meant that he would inevitably lose, and his team would lose with him. But instead of being discouraged, he kept practicing. Day after day, he came back to the table, determined to improve. And slowly, almost imperceptibly at first, he started to get better. His movements became more fluid, his grip more confident. By the end of a year and a half, he had gone from being the worst player to one of the best among us. His journey was a testament to the power of perseverance—of practicing, practicing, and practicing until you hit your goal

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What’s fascinating about perseverance is that it’s not just about showing up physically; it’s about engaging your mind as well. When you decide that you’re not going to give up, when you commit to sticking with something until you get good at it, something shifts in your brain. It’s as if your mind and body start working together in perfect harmony. Your brain understands that there’s no way out, so it focuses all its energy on learning and improving. This mental commitment can actually accelerate the learning process.

I experienced this firsthand when I decided to learn juggling. Juggling looks easy, but like many things in life, it’s much harder than it appears. I told myself that I would practice every day for 20 minutes and give it two months. I knew it would be challenging, but I was determined to get it. To my surprise, within five days, I could juggle three balls—something I had thought would take much longer.

This experience reinforced an important lesson: when you approach a challenge with discipline and perseverance, you set yourself up for success. Instead of underestimating the effort required, acknowledge that it will take time and dedication. When you commit fully—both mentally and physically—your body and mind align, and your progress accelerates.

And thanks to my friend Rahul, who taught me a valuable lesson in perseverance.