ChAPTER 18 Persistent P ersistence is the ability to stick with a task when the going gets tough. We all know people who start activities and stop as soon as they face an obstacle. I see it all the time in karate. Students start with enthusiasm, but it's awkward at first, and results come slowly, so they give up. They walk out just when things are about to get better. Most people quit in life. They don't have the `stick-to-it- ness' required to achieve their goals. Perhaps it's the quick-