Throughout my life, I’ve been a big believer in the value of hard work—it’s one of three lessons from my youth that sunk deep into my soul. Everyone who takes an idea and makes it into something valuable does it through hard work. Tied very closely to hard word is perseverance, continuing forward without regard to discouragement, opposition or previous failure.

The downside to hard work and perseverance is they take time. Good things don’t happen overnight. Creating value, and creating meaning in your life, take time: time to start, time to build, time to realize the results.

If we let it, the amount of time it takes to build ideas into successes can be discouraging. However, if we move forward with a positive attitude, work hard and keep going, the successes will come. Slow starts can be challenging, but with perseverance they can be a tremendous blessing.

If you feel like you are stuck in a situation that you can’t easily overcome, keep at it, keep going, persevere. The value in hard work and perseverance shows through in your personal growth, the growth you spark in others, and the things you eventually—sometimes over a long period of time—achieve. Gather—and appreciate—the ‘flecks’ of gold that show up in your life. Don’t quit.