Sitzfleisch is the word I needed that I didn’t know I needed.
I saw it last week in a list from Ryan Holiday of keys to being a more disciplined person.
“Stay in the saddle
There’s an old German word sitzfleisch which means basically sitting your butt in the chair and not getting up until the task is complete.
Many a great conqueror in the days of horseback were called “Old Iron Ass” for their ability to stay in the saddle.”
It reminded me of an anecdote I’ve heard John MacArthur give a number of times about the key to being a better preacher.
“A young man said to me, ‘What is the– ‘ and he was kind of starry-eyed, and I’m sure he expected some spiritual esoteric answer. He said, ‘What is the real key to great preaching?’ I said, ‘Well, it’s the ability to keep your rear end in the chair till you understand the text.'”
Sitzfleisch = butt in chair