True Grit- the success gene

Everyone has a story. This week, I am giving mine to a group of teenagers at my old University campus in Glasgow. My message to them will be simple: Build True Grit, as this will make all the difference in achieving your dreams. 

Grit ((n) Firmness of mind; invincible spirit; unyielding courage; fortitude) is not something you are born with, is it a iron rod that grows within you over time. It is strengthened every day with perseverance, stamina and old fashion sweat and tears. In other words it is something you can cultivate in yourself. 

Some folk, often overlook the importance of True Grit and rely on other qualities to achieve success, like Talent, Networking, Technical Mastery or good old fashioned Self-Discipline. But what happens when you face a challenge that seems insurmountable? What will you pull out of the bag to help you through? In times like this, it is True grit that will get you through. Through numerous studies, True Grit is now becoming the one skill that is more likely to be correlated to success.

When psychologist Angela Duckworth studied people in various challenging situations, including National Spelling Bee participants, rookie teachers in tough neighbourhoods, and West Point cadets, she found that one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success. And it wasn't social intelligence. It wasn't good looks and it wasn't IQ. It was Grit. 

So who are those people who have True Grit? True Grit folk tend to have insatiable stamina that sustains their passion/mission over an extended period of time- months, years despite the setbacks. They challenge themselves everyday. Like Mozart who reportedly trained up to 8 hours a day. They tend to isolate what they don't know well, focus on that and work hard to improve. 

I’m not afraid to die on a treadmill. I will not be outworked. You may be more talented than me. You might be smarter than me. And you may be better looking than me. But if we get on a treadmill together you are going to get off first or I’m going to die. It’s really that simple. I’m not going to be outworked.- Will Smith

Like everyone, they will incur set-backs like we all do, but unlike others they shrug them off and get up the next day and do it all over again. For me that is the true essence of True Grit- to never give up. 

I  have not failed. I've just found 10000 ways that won't work. - Thomas A. Edison

“Courage is not having the strength to go on; it is going on when you don't have the strength.”

― Theodore Roosevelt

Have you experienced True Grit? Have you helped others to nurture True Grit? 

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Author: Michelle spent 16 years at Procter & Gamble, most of her time in Prestige Beauty, then moved to become the CMO at Vertu (British luxury handmade mobile handsets) followed by leading Strategy & Transformation at Samsung Electronics. For upcoming posts, follow Michelle on LinkedIn and twitter. All statements made, opinions expressed in this article only reflect her personal opinion.

Other articles written by Michelle: 

1. The 5 steps P&G taught me on how to build a Leadership Culture. 
2. Improve your Leadership overnight with these 3 simple steps.
3. My 5 tips to my younger self.
4. Why some emotional advertising misses the mark