Persuasion

Persuasion is a tool to be sharpened and honed daily. Persuasion and arguing go hand in hand, which is why I consider myself good at it. If I have a point to make and no outside factors prevent me from arguing/attempting to persuade, I will do just that until it can be done no longer. Whining does not do any good when trying to persuade. Assault the enemy constantly on all fronts or be prepared to surrender.
Persuasion is important in everybody's lives, whether they are the smooth talker or the eager consumer. Persuasion is used constantly in the media: "Buy this and in return..." Most people do not find it offensive, though, because the products generally: do help and that is that, do not help and are discontinued, make the consumer feel as if they work when they really do not (if this is the case, the results are often as good as the first scenario's (whether it works or not, if the consumer is content, the producer is twice as happy)).

Motivation/The Winter Olympics

The participants of the Winter Olympics are very highly motivated to undergo such strain and to weather such scrutiny as they are subjected to. To be able to handle the physical torment the games cause, the mental torture ("...what if I mess up?! How can I win this for sure?!"), and the judges'/spectators' verdicts of the performances is amazing of the athletes; the players' willingness to go through so much just to play the games is quite honorable.
I do not think that I could ever be that motivated about anything. Sure, I want good grades so I will pursue them and if I want to buy something, I will work to earn the money to be able to make it mine. I just care too little to ever have a goal comparable to "competing in the Winter Olympics," whether compared by scope or importance it does not matter. Therefore, I care too little to be determined enough to follow through on that nonexistent goal.
I salute all the competitors and their will and determination to play. Anybody who conjures up a dream and pursues it is a winner, even if the dream is not achieved. Life is a journey, not a destination, though I do not know where my path is centered and doubt if any desires discovered along the way will be enough to motivate me more than minimally.