Winners share one big thing in common: they will persist no matter how much resistance they face. Think about what that really means. When you hear the words persist, persevere, determination, and grit what do you think of? Positivity, right?
True Grit
What about grit? It’s perhaps the simplest way to define perseverance when faced with adversity, difficulty, a lack of will, or even boredom. You do it because you know that it needs to be done, it isn’t about want or the level of difficulty, or whether it’s interesting- it’s a must. It is that quality that winners truly share, the determination to do what it takes to get where they’re going.
This isn’t to say there are things you shouldn’t quit and walk away from. If you’re in a toxic relationship, a project you’re not passionate about and is draining you, then by all means- quit. However, the late, great Vince Lombardi really did say it best when he said, “Winners never quit, and quitters never win.”
Why Does It Matter?
We live in a culture that is obsessed with talent and well-roundedness, but no one ever talks about your perseverance. Yet, one of the major factors that keep employees motivated is that they make progress in work that is meaningful. It doesn’t matter how old the employee is or what industry they work in, an employee is happy to stick with it, even on the most grueling long-term projects, if they know there’s progress. They show grit when progress is present.
Does that sound as if it’s the opposite of the message above? It isn’t. This is an example of everyday perseverance. Life is rough, and every day we faced a variety of obstacles. There are things that we do that we don’t want to do and let’s be honest if those things were fun and easy they’d be done already. Anything that is worth doing is going to be difficult.
Just Do It
If you are faced with an obstacle, find a way to overcome it! By persevering in the face of adversity, you send a message to the people around you. You are a winner and you’re willing to push through any challenge to get to the other side.
Always recognize progress, whether it is your own, or someone around you. Praise yourself when you persevere and appreciate the grit that you display.
It’s something that we should be teaching our youth in school so they can get ahead before they fall behind. If you aren’t particularly gritty, there’s no need to panic. You can learn the art of perseverance.
It may sound cliché but take heart from the many famous stories of greatness that came from failure. For instance, George W. Bush and Barack Obama both lost their first attempts at Congress, yet they both persevered to become the President of the United States.
Start visualizing your success and the steps that you will need to take to achieve it. To get to your ultimate goal you will first need to achieve a multitude of short-term victories, so plan for those milestones and celebrate them as you win.
Learn how to deal with the negative thoughts that invade your mind, whether it’s through mindful meditation or other means.
Don’t be afraid to march to the beat of your own drum.
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