"Persistence guarantees that results are inevitable."- Paramahansa Yogananda.
Persistence if applied positively into what matters, most definitely will guarantee results and when the results come calling, the smiles widen. Too many people give up at the slightest hint of a setback. I have been on that list couple of times and I discovered that, it never got me anywhere until I started putting more efforts to keep moving despite the scare.
Stay the course and be ruggedly persistent. Say yes every time there is an indication or a need to say NO. The world doesn't have any set out rules for success and no one is guaranteed a win because they set out to win.
The dictionary definition of the word Persistence says, "the fact of continuing in an opinion or course of action in spite of difficulty or opposition." The keyword being, "in spite of difficulty or opposition."
Knowing that there will always be difficulties and opposition waiting down the rod for you, you should arm yourself with the tool of persistence and never allow what may seem as the end of the road see you slow down.
Forging ahead is the only way to navigate the long and tiresome road whenever you are on a mission to making something happen.
Don't give up and don't tap out, you are the best motivation you can find out there.