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TODAY’S IDEA: The elements of grit
— From The Icarus Deception: How High Will You Fly? by Seth Godin
The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines grit—in a behavioral sense—as “firmness of mind or spirit.” Psychologist and author Angela Duckworth describes grit as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals,” according to her awesome book: GRIT: The Power of Passion and Perseverance.
Marketing guru Seth Godin, in his book The Icarus Deception, defines grit as “the attitude of someone who realizes he has the power to care and is intent on doing something with it.”
Regardless of the definition that you like best, grit is real, albeit hard to describe and quantify. Many authors have racked their brains to figure out what constitutes grit and how to develop, nurture, and grow it. Godin says, “Grit is our future. Our best and brightest future.”
How so?
Because, “Grit is the unexpected bump, the decision that cannot be changed, the insistence on a vision, or the ethics of a creator. Grit stands in the way of the short-term compromises of the industrialist.” Godin goes on, “The grit in your spinach is precisely the same grit that we seek out in a leader or a hero. We measure sandpaper and grindstones in terms of grit—their ability to stand up to resistance. Someone with grit will grind down the opposition, stand up in the face of criticism, and consistently do what’s right for their art.”
So, if grit is so important, what are the elements that we must grow within ourselves? Here’s a list that Godin outlines as a compilation of the work of many authors including, of course, Duckworth’s.
Perseverance: “Many people mistake perseverance for grit. Grit includes perseverance, but it comes before the need for perseverance arrives, because grit includes goals and a passion for those goals. Some people will persevere merely because they are instructed to do so. Those with grit will persevere because they believe they have no choice, not if they wish to be who they are.”
Hardiness: “If the grind is wearing you down, then you may be viewing the grind as the enemy, something apart from the work itself. The person with grit, on the other hand, understands that the grind is part of what makes the work interesting, a challenge worth doing. If there were no grind, you’d need no grit.”
Resilience: “As the marketplace continues to create obstacles and deal setbacks, bringing grit to the problem (as a process, not a single event) turns every obstacle into a learning process, not a momentary hassle to be dealt with. […] The endless emergency of getting it over with is replaced by the daily practice of doing the work. This shift in attitude transforms the work and the worker.”
Ambition: The desire for accomplishment, power or superiority has nothing to do with grit, except that people committed to a goal and a way of being are often given credit for having those things. […] Grit exists whether or not it leads to measurable external success. Grit is its own reward.”
Commitment: “People with grit consciously set long-term goals that are difficult to attain and do not waver from these difficult goals, regardless of the presence of feedback.”
Flow: “Something extraordinary happens when we are swallowed by our passion, focused beyond all reason, deep into something we care about. […] What you are engrossed in isn’t nearly as important as the fact of being engrossed.”
And I would add a sense of meaning and belonging to the list above. A sense of meaning: because we must be aware of the positive outcome that our actions will create, and that must be important for us. And belonging: because we must feel that we are part of the change we are seeking to make.
ACTION
TODAY: Do you have grit? Take this quiz and find out where you stand on the grit scale.
FUTURE: Remember that all the elements of grit are internal, that is, they come from within you (vs. the outside from your loved ones or colleagues, for instance). Make it a habit to examine in which of your long-term goals you exhibit passion and perseverance. And if there are any that are falling through the cracks, look at the elements above and figure out which one you need to inject into the project to make it come back to life again (that is, of course, if you want to continue with said project; if not, focus your energy and your grit to where they will yield the best results).
Please share this post with someone you admire for his or her grit. You can do so via email, Facebook or Twitter, thanks!