You're absolutely right! Persistence, or determination is the key to success. No matter how brilliant you are, if you keep giving up or never even start, you're not gonna reach your goals.
I'm not a very determined person, I'm more of the go-with-the-flow type, unless I have a worthy goal.
I've been quite determined with Steemit this month - I wanted to write every single day, just to see if I could (and then keep it up) - I didn't make it, I skipped a few days, and that was OK, too. I like to cut myself infinite slack if the "flow" is just not right :)
And still it's been my most successful month on Steemit so far. Something clicked, and it's like I'm wasting money if I don't post here.
Interestingly enough, I am actually rather a happy-go-lucky slacker.
My determination mostly has come out of necessity, rather than as a natural tendency. I know from experience that nothing comes from my just sitting around and thinking about things; I have to step up and make things happen. And once I am "a body in motion" I tend to continue being a body in motion... otherwise it feels like all the previous effort was just wasted.
Congrats on having a successful month!