When we were children, we automatically knew how to be persistent. We kept asking even though our parents said "No" many times. Somewhere along the way, we got rid of our childish ways. Along with our maturity, for some of us, persistence got dumped out as well.
Great execution requires persistence. It requires a "don't give up and keep pushing" attitude. It requires a "I want that Cinnamon bun, and I am going to get it" attitude.