Persistence

"Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent."

Luck?

I am a great believer in luck. The harder I work, the more of it I seem to have.

-Coleman Cox

Perseverance

Consider the postage stamp; its usefulness consists in the ability to stick to one thing until it gets there.