What Kind of Determination Do You Have?

“An invincible determination can accomplish almost anything and in this lies the great distinction between great men and little men.”

 Dr. Thomas Fuller  (1608-1661); Clergyman, Writer

Determination is the dedication to purpose, will, or intention. Thomas Edison made 10,000 attempts to make a functional light bulb. Though many considered his persistence ludicrous, if he had quit after the 10,000^th endeavor, we would be living in a different world today. 

While Edison possessed invincible determination, he did not

accomplish his wonders alone. He had an environment that supported his great inventions. Furthermore, though he was poorly educated, at some point in his youth, he decided to be a great man.

Like Edison, determination is a choice we all make at a young age. Our choices can be a product of our environment. At the same time, we make the final decision about how resolutely we create and accomplish our goals.

To Fuller’s point, there are people with meager goals. They possess one goal in life: to prove that they are always right. Eventually, most people will concede to their stubbornness. Yet, for all their talk, it will remain just that: talk. Neither party will be better off for it. Unfortunately, these people gain little upward mobility in life.

On the other hand, there are others who choose to build legacies that shine beyond their time. They act on ambition and strive for greatness with invincible determination.

While invincible determination requires a mind that is incapable of defeat accompanied by great strength and skill, it’s not the only provision. To be sure, you must also have a clear vision of what you want to achieve and a supportive environment to nurture your idea. 

Social anthropologists assert that an environment is simply a network of conversations. To support your determination, the conversations you have with others and yourself need to both encourage and give insight. Otherwise, you need a new environment.

Should you decide to move on to a more empowering environment, you’ll find that it changes and supports your intentions. If not, you will have to change your environment or create one that is appropriate for you.

Can you challenge the restraints and endure the repetition like Edison? Or will you give up, claiming it wasn’t meant to be? Your answer can separate greatness from mediocrity. 

If an unyielding attitude for greatness distinguishes great from small, what have you chosen? If your choice has not made you happy, are you daring enough to change it? Are you willing to explore the greatness that is locked inside of you? We all have it. We only need invincible determination to attain it.