Being persistent in achieving something good in life is exciting to talk about, but it is actually very difficult to do.

On paper, the math seems easy. You set a goal, calculate the cost to reach it, identify the knowledge you need to acquire, and list the network of people you need to connect with. If the number feels overwhelming, you divide it into smaller chunks and tackle them one by one. As long as the target doesn’t move, you will eventually reach it. Conversely, if what you have is too small, you simply add to it consistently until you reach a satisfying result.

When I was a kid, I liked saving money. I didn’t buy things out of mere desire and was satisfied with whatever I had. I saved money for when I would need it most. Most of the time, if I set a financial goal, I could achieve it through persistence and hard work. I was happy and proud of my accomplishments. The formula was simple: add if you want more, subtract if you want less.

The only thing missing from this formula was the influence of external factors.

For example, it was much easier for people who worked hard in the 1980s and 1990s to buy a home. They could sign a 10- or 20-year mortgage and pay it off without constant panic because the global economy was relatively stable. There were no sudden disruptions from the internet or AI, and people lived with far less anxiety about what tomorrow might bring.

Then came economic crises, the internet, geopolitical rivalries, and now, Artificial Intelligence—changing the entire equation dramatically. We can no longer rely solely on simple addition or subtraction. Today, every job carries an element of uncertainty, whether from disruptive technologies, shifting global markets, or younger generations equipped with agile AI skills.

This doesn’t mean the old formula of steady persistence no longer works—it just isn’t enough on its own.

The pace of change today is staggering, requiring us to adjust how we live and work. It is no longer safe to rely on a single source of income. We need to diversify into multiple streams, build broader networks beyond our immediate circles, and actively engage with diverse communities. To thrive today, we need more than just slow, steady persistence—we need strategies that open the door to surprise acceleration.