Get your grit on (but know grit is not the same thing as banging your head against the wall!)

Grit, or your level of persistence in the face of challenges, is a wonderful thing.

Truly.

Your GQ – or grit quotient – is a key factor in your success.

It means the difference between giving up at the faintest whiff of a challenge or persisting and breaking through barriers.

Grit is first cousins with determination, persistence, tenacity, courage, resolve, and strength of character.

You can actually measure your level of grit.  (See below for my survey link.)

When I teach about grit in my workshops though, I always offer a caveat.

While it’s important to be persistent, it’s also important to rest.

While it’s critical to be tenacious, it’s equally important to know when you’re chasing faint hope.

And while it’s key to work hard and be resilient, it’s also key to learn when to find an entirely different route or change up your goal completely.

I was reminded of this when I saw Adam Grant’s lovely quote.

So go ahead, fly your colours, and be glorious in your persistence.  But ditch the obstinance.

And don’t put your nose to the grindstone, as that actually involves blood.  Rather, when the going gets tough,  be creative and look for an alternate path when you meet resistance. But not at all costs.

Now go on and learn, laugh, and lead

Learn

• Take my grit survey and discover how gritty or resilient you are in the face of challenges.

Laugh

• The struggle is real folks.  Watch this funny, tenacious, little kangaroo.  With grit and tenacity, she finally gets into her mama’s pouch.

Lead

• The average score for my survey respondents is 75%. Share the grit survey with a friend or colleague and talk about your results and how to get your grit on.

P.S. Speaking of grit and resilience, amp up yours by taking my brand new online course