Embracing Your Gritty Side

Embracing Your
Gritty Side

with Desiree Adaway

Grit

Big shots are only little shots who kept shooting….

A quality shared by the most prominent leaders in every field is GRIT.
Whereas disappointment or boredom signals to others that it is time to
change trajectory and cut losses, the gritty individual stays the course.

The hypothesis that grit is essential to high achievement evolved during
interviews with professionals in investment banking, painting,
journalism, academia, medicine, and law. Asked what quality
distinguishes star performers in their respective fields, these individuals
cited GRIT, or a close synonym, as often as talent.

Individuals high in GRIT are able to maintain their determination and
motivation over long periods of time despite experiences with failure
and adversity. Their passion and commitment towards the long-term
objective provides the stamina required to “stay the course” amid
challenges and set-backs. Essentially, a GRITTY person is focused on
winning the marathon, not the sprint.

Grit is not tied to intelligence.
Grit is not the same thing as ambition.
Grit is not the same as achievement.

The higher the level of commitment and conviction, the more likely
people are to be tenacious. The exceptions to this rule are the people
who choose to be victims who are patient and passive regardless of
their commitment to their goals.

Character Traits of
GRITTY Individuals

GRITTY people are... always of the
mindset that this is the chance
to make their dreams come true.

Working on your dream is more fulfilling and
meaningful than working on someone else’s
business. Watch your mindset.

GRITTY people have…
No room for regrets.

They will not allow themselves to be
sidetracked, sabotaged or derailed by any
regrets that could arise from not doing
everything possible to achieve their dream
goals. Learn from your regrets, but do not
spend any more time than is necessary to
learn the lesson.

GRITTY people…Challenge
their weaknesses.

They expect anything worth achieving to
come with a set of challenges. Challenges test
your weaknesses. Remind yourself that these
challenges will be well worth conquering on
your way to reaching your goals.

Becoming GRITTIER

GRIT is a quality you can acquire, build and improve
upon at anytime.

Nobody totally lacks GRIT, but a lot pf people aren’t concerned about
their GRIT or don’t develop it to its full potential. The good news is that
GRIT is in the range of human control – you can improve your level of
GRIT and benefit from it!

Perseverance and GRIT require you to center your attention on what
you have the power to do and what is in your influence, and set aside
what is out of your control. Concentrate on the former and ignore the
latter. GRIT requires diligence, strong will, patience and a commitment
to endure.

No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow
you progress, you are still ahead of everyone that
isn't trying.

Core Question

How do you press on even as you are passed by those who are
stronger, faster, and/or smarter?

How do you stay the course, running the race you committed to, rather
than choosing a different, new pursuit, after stumbling and losing
ground?

What steps do you need to take so that you live life as if it were a
marathon, not a sprint?