There's opportunity in everything we face. Some things are risky, some things are for mining. It's up to us to find what lesson is there to be learned or what dividends to be paid.

Hard times? Don't miss the lessons that will help you persevere.

There are many stories in print and audio about individuals who have given up just minutes or steps away from their goals. Before we get into some of those stories, you should remember that for everything you attempt, the deciding factor to give up or stay the course is a calculating decision you have to make on your own. However, I think sometimes we just can't be bothered, so we take the easier road. More than half the time, we miss the gold just feet away. One such known story is called Three Feet from Gold. It is aptly labeled as a story of perseverance. You can find it in the all-time classic book Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill. Many successful people have used, and are still using this story as a benchmark to never give up.