Perseverance

As we strive to achieve our goals, the word perseverance always comes up. Do we recognize all that this word means or do we just say, 'oh, that's about sticking to it.' Well, there's more to it then that, consider the following by the great Track and Field Coach Del Hessel:
"Perseverance means showing firmness, steadiness, determination, tenacity and backbone. Perseverance is the ability to endure adversity until the problem is overcome.
Perseverance is remaining confident and faithful to yourself while the odds appear to be mounting against your chance of success.
Perseverance is being able to progressively attack adversity in an intelligent aggressive manner until the task is mastered."
Reads like it could have been written by Cerutty.
How do you measure up?