Sober October, Punk Rock, and Golf ⛳️

While I’m still working on my latest essay—The End of Wine—which I plan to finish next week, I wanted to share two quotes that help me push through both habit change and the process of writing.

The Clash singer Joe Strummer during a performance

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not. There is nothing more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not. Unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not. The world if full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent.”

- Joe Strummer

If you’re doing Sober October, congratulations—you’re almost done! If not, I’m sure there are other habits you’d like to change or goals you’re hoping to achieve. Either way, I thought I’d share two inspirational quotes—from two very different people—that encapsulate one of my deepest held convictions:

Persistence is everything.

The quote above comes from Joe Strummer—punk frontman, musician, actor, and humanitarian. Strummer was the lead singer of The Clash, a band sometimes lovingly called “the only band that ever mattered” by fans, thanks to their positive influence, strong political convictions, and eclectic mix of musical styles.

Though Strummer left The Clash, he forged a vibrant solo career, acted in films, and even curated one of the greatest soundtracks of all time for Grosse Pointe Blank, a movie starring John Cusack and Minnie Driver. He passed away on December 20, 2002, but his legacy lives on.

But let’s not lose track of the quote itself, which—if I’m being honest—may have originally come from the 30th U.S. president, Calvin Coolidge. Either way, the essence of the idea is this: Talent, genius, and education are admirable, but they don’t finish the job where persistence does.

Thank you to Oar Health for sponsoring Positive Damage.

Persistence is the enduring belief in our ability to succeed. However, it’s important to make a distinction: Persisting in a foolish idea is not a virtue. Maybe that’s why Strummer eventually called it quits with The Clash, much to the disappointment of fans like myself. The band had run its course.

The music that followed—from Strummer’s albums with the Mescaleros, as well as music from guitarist Mick Jones and bassist Paul Simonon in projects like Big Audio Dynamite and Gorillaz—was even more daring and has become far more relatable as I’ve grown older.

"You're not perfect. Your commitment and perseverance will not be perfect. You're going to have setbacks and stumbles in pursuing any goal you set. The important thing is not that you have these setbacks but how you react to them. Perseverance doesn't mean perfection. It's not often constant, unwavering adherence to a commitment. Instead, it is usually a series of quick course corrections when you get off track."

- Bob Rotella

Golf psychologist Bob Rotella may not be quite as cool as Joe Strummer, but I’d definitely rank his coolness a notch higher than Calvin Coolidge. Rotella’s book How Champions Think in Sports and Life is one of my favorites. It draws heavily from positive psychology, a field I study at the University of Pennsylvania.

Image courtesy of Simon & Schuster.

Rotella’s insights offer a second lesson about persistence: Persistence doesn’t require perfection.

This wisdom is particularly relevant to Sober October, where it’s easy to fall into the trap of perfectionism—whether it’s feeling disappointed because you had a drink one night, or thinking the only way forward is to go 100% sober. Dichotomous thinking (aka all-or-nothing thinking) can sabotage real progress toward your goal. Rotella reminds us that it’s okay to make adjustments, and with each course correction, we can move forward, stronger than before.

Whether you’re navigating Sober October or tackling another personal goal, remember that persistence doesn’t mean you have to be flawless. It’s about showing up, making adjustments, and continuing to move forward, even when things get tough. Joe Strummer and Bob Rotella may come from vastly different worlds, but their shared message is clear: It’s not about avoiding mistakes or setbacks, but about how you bounce back from them.

As you work toward your goals, give yourself the grace to course correct and keep going. After all, persistence—not perfection—is what will get you across the finish line.

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What’s happening and what’s next….

1. Tom Bornock shares a meditation on the future of functional cocktails in the U.K. in an essay titled “Functional Cocktails—A Revolution About to Start?” on Wilde Toast’s website. The article quotes me as saying, “A lack of knowledge could be one of the key factors holding this category back from reaching its full potential.” 🍄

2. Recently, Leah Faye Cooper writing for Vogue had this to say about a cocktail I created for Kwame Onwuachi's Dōgon at the Salamander Washington DC: "And then Derek Brown, he did the cocktail menu, and he’s a legendary bar director or cocktail creator in Washington D.C.” (I give high praise to the Mango-Basil Smash, made with Uncle Nearest whiskey, lemon, mango syrup, and basil.)" 🍹

3. The NO FUN cocktail competition deadline has been extended 11/15. Check out contest details here. 🗓️

4. I said this before but I really mean it this time. Next week, I’ll share an essay I’ve written about the state of the wine industry and whether it’s in decline along with the wine industry’s growing opposition to Sober October and existential worry about the forthcoming dietary guidelines. Stay tuned! 🍷

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Thank you to Oar Health for your important work and sponsorship of Positive Damage! Learn more about how Oar Health can help you drink less or quit here.

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