All glory is fleeting, said General George S. Patton, as portrayed in the movie, Patton starring George C. Scott.

Undoubtedly, he was speaking about glory on the battlefield, but his comment applies to success in nearly any endeavor.

Look at the graveyard in the electronics field. Youll see once gigantic names such as Commodore, Bomar, and others littering the junk pile.

They had their days of glory, but they were short, unlike enduring conglomerates such as General Electric.

What does it take to rise to the top and to stay there?

Persistence certainly comes to mind, but it is of a different sort than were used to discussing.

Usually, when we talk about persisting, were speaking of marching on against the odds, after sustaining setbacks, amidst uncertainly and even great peril.

But in this case, Im talking about persisting when things are going incredibly well, if youre in business you feel as if youre printing money, its being made so easily.

This is the time when were most tempted to cut back, to feel weve scaled the mountain and our two feet are firmly planted, along with our pennant, on the very top.

But this is precisely what we cannot afford to do, though every indication says we can and we should.

As Frederick Thompson, one of the founders of electronics giant TRW once said, we must manage as if catastrophe is around the corner, as if someone, somewhere, right now, is busy inventing something that will put us out of business.

Its not a happy thought, but its realistic.

Motivating yourself when the chips are down is relatively easy. Heck, whats your alternative?

The real trick is motivating yourself when you dont think its necessary.

Success is temporary and glory is fleeting, unless you take great pains to make your circumstances endure!