Sticktoitiveness - rewards

My friend Laurie Alice Eakes has an interesting perspective on how to stick-to-it when you have to stick to something you don't want to do.
Laurie Alice Eakes: Housework. It has to be done but I'd rather be writing than vacuuming. So, to keep myself at it, I remind myself that it has a reward beyond a clean house that will be dirty again in five minutes with all the dogs and cats and the dusty Texas winds.
That means it's reading time. I pop an audio book into my portable player and slip on the headphones. It can't be just any book; it has to be one I've been saving for days because I've been too busy to read, otherwise I don't want to get hung up on reading and not work. Or it's justifiable loud music time. I turn on the stereo as loud as I want - provided the windows are closed - and even sing along.
Then, after every task is complete, I get to stop for a break, enjoy a cup of tea or coffee, check my e-mail, or even write down ideas that may have come to me while scrubbing the tub.
This used to be how I got myself to exercise until I got to the point that not exercising made me feel so physically bad the exercise was in itself a reward. Housework hasn't gotten to that point though, and I doubt it ever will.
I have never thought of rewarding myself, even with something small after an unpleasant job is done, I've only felt relief when it was over. I think I'll have to try that, maybe... chocolate!
You're invited to check out Laurie Alice Eakes and her latest book "The Glassblower" on her websie at www.lauriealiceeakes.com.
My thought/question of the day is an easy one. If you were going to reward yourself for finishing something you hated doing, what would your reward be?

Sticktoitiveness - what is that?

My theme for the month of March is Sticktoitiveness.
I thought this was a made up word from a cartoon many years ago (who remembers Snagglepuss?) (and who will admit it?) but I googled the word and was quite shocked to find it. Here is the definition according to www.Dictionary.com

Main Entry: sticktoitiveness
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: dogged perseverance; resolute tenacity; also written sitck-to-it-ive-ness
Example: the only way she had published so many books is through stick-to-it-ive-ness.

Wow, did that ever hit home. Book writing and getting published is right in the definition of sticktoitiveness. Which is the reason I've chosen it as my theme for the month. (my next book comes out in May, only 2 months away.)

I must have a lot of sticktoitiveness. My friends and family might call it by another word (stubborn maybe?) but I really like the word sticktoitiveneness.

Of course I have written not just one, but a number of books, which you probably already knkow about me. Also as a musician, it takes countless hours to learn an instrument and master it. Not that I'm a master, I just think I've learned enough to know what parts to skip and what parts to play, and the more time passes, the more I learn, the less parts I need to skip. Hey, it's a learning curve. Life is a learning curve.

Lots of things in life require sticktoitiveness. Jobs. Hobbies. Music. Knitting. Writing. Blogging. Driving a car. Parenthood. Relationships. The list is endless, and some things require more sticktoitiveness than others. Some things are also more important than others.

So here is my question of the day. What in your life requires your personal sticktoitiveness, and why?