GRIT

WHAT IS GRIT?

Grit is the perseverance and passion to achieve long–term goals. Sometimes you will hear grit referred to as mental toughness.

HOW TO BE MENTALLY TOUGH?

Step 1: Define what grit or mental toughness means for you.

For you, it might be…

• going one month without missing a workout

• delivering your work ahead of schedule for two days in a row

• calling one friend to catch up every Saturday this month

Whatever it is, be clear about what you’re going after.

Step 2: Build grit with small physical wins.

• Mental toughness is like a muscle. It needs to be worked to grow and develop.

• Choose to do the tenth rep when it would be easier to just do nine. 

• Choose to create when it would be easier to consume.

• Choose to ask the extra question when it would be easier to accept. 

• Prove to yourself — in a thousand tiny ways — that you have enough guts to get in the ring and do battle with life.

Step 3: Build strong habits and stop depending on motivation.

• Grit isn’t about getting an incredible dose of inspiration or courage. It’s about building the daily habits that allow you to stick to a schedule and overcome challenges and distractions over and over and over again.

• Mentally tough people don’t have to be more courageous, more talented, or more intelligent — just more consistent. 

• Grit comes down to your habits. It’s about doing the things you know you’re supposed to do on a more consistent basis. It’s about your dedication to daily practice and your ability to stick to a schedule.

EXAMPLES OF GRIT

• Mentally tough athletes are more consistent than others. They don’t miss workouts. They don’t miss assignments. They always have their teammates back.

• Mentally tough leaders are more consistent than their peers. They have a clear goal that they work towards each day. They don’t let short–term profits, negative feedback, or hectic schedules prevent them from continuing the march towards their vision. They make a habit of building up the people around them — not just once, but over and over and over again.

• Mentally tough artists, writers, and employees deliver on a more consistent basis than most. They work on a schedule, not just when they feel motivated. They approach their work like a pro, not an amateur. They do the most important thing first and don’t shirk responsibilities.