Are you willing to persevere?

"If at first you don't succeed, you're running about average." M.H. Alderson

A friend of mine Shawn Scheppele, recently shared this with me. I wanted to post this here on my blog because I feel that anyone can apply the principles demonstrated here to reach success in their lives. Thanks Shawn, I found great encouragement in this and I am sure others will too.

He Failed in Business in '31.
He was Defeated for State Legislator in '32
He tried another business in '33. It Failed.
His Fiancée died in '35
He had a nervous breakdown in '36
In '43 he ran for Congress and was defeated.
He tried again in '48 and was defeated again.
He tried running for the senate in '55. He Lost.
The next year he ran for Vice President and Lost.
In '59 he ran for the senate again and was defeated.
In 1860, the man who signed his name A. Lincoln,
Was elected the 16th President of the United States.

The difference between history's boldest accomplishments,
And its most staggering failures is often, simply,
The diligent will to persevere.

My question for you is are you willing to persevere for your goals? Or are you too afraid of failure to ever succeed?