We need to chat about Grit and the case to do things in the rain because we’re all becoming weak AF
When I began my career in video games at 19, I was shy and lacked confidence. I got into fitness a couple of years later. My confidence skyrocketed and I started producing better work and making more money. Today, 16 years later, I’ve been working for myself for the last 8 years.
During that time, I read an article online that stuck with me forever. I subconsciously made it my philosophy.
The most important trait of successful people is adaptability.
The secret to success is to create impenetrable mental toughness. Adaptability, along with resilience and agility is what grit is made of.
What Should We Get Gritty?
Another term for grit is mental toughness.
Angela Duckworth, in her best-selling book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, discovered that grit turned out to be an astoundingly reliable predictor of who made it through and who did not.
- Talent, intelligence, and strength are poor indicators of success. It’s all about mental toughness.
- West Point cadets who scored highest on the Grit Test were 60% more likely to succeed than their peers.
- Competitors in the National Spelling Bee outperform their peers not because of IQ, but because of their grit and commitment to more consistent practice.
In fact, many were awed by the achievements of peers who did not at first seem as gifted as others but sustained commitment to their ambitions was exceptional. Likewise, many noted with surprise that prodigiously gifted peers did not end up in the upper echelons of their field. —Angela Duckworth
What is Grit?
- The discipline to complete tasks from start to finish.
- The ability to stay focused and not succumb to distractions.
- The perseverance and consistency needed to build habits.
- The drive to run towards challenges (instead of away).
- The will to maintain forward momentum even when hopelessness prevails.
- The mindset to never give up.
- A mindset of iron.
5 Unconventional Ways To Develop Grit
Success requires constant perseverance and passion. Developing grit requires the same but you’ll receive a tenfold return on investment.
The good thing is that grit is a muscle that can be grown.
1) Let Choices Be Taken From You
When you ride bicycles or run outdoors, you have no idea what Mother Nature may throw at you.
You have no choice but to adapt.
The problem is people will quit when things get hard because our brains are wired to search for comfort. But when you have no choice but to face discomfort, you’ll find a way to overcome it because survival is an innate skill we all have.
So go and ride your bike in the rain.
The more you do this, the more addicting it will become because our brains require growth to be stimulated.
When we are stimulated, we are usually learning.
We will feel fulfilled.
Fulfillment creates motivation and momentum.
It gets easier over time, allowing your grit to level up more and more.
2) Smash Comfort Zones
Feeling good is a double-edged sword. We just can’t feel good all the time otherwise we get complacent.
The comfort zone makes us soft. It makes us weak. The more you get outside and face uncontrollable elements, the more resilient you become.
Imagine how effortless life can be if you can adapt to any changes swiftly with minimal disruptions to your emotions and well-being.
If you have been following me for a while, you know I talk a lot about getting uncomfortable because let’s face it, nothing worthwhile grows in comfort zones.
3) Reframe Your Thoughts
The next time you find yourself resisting doing something hard such as riding bikes or going for a run in the rain, tell yourself it’s your ancient monkey mind trying to pull you back to “safety” aka your comfort zone.
You are much more evolved than that.
4) Live With a ‘Failure Is Not An Option’ Mentality
The truth is if you want to be successful in society today, you have to be strong.
Adaptability and resilience are non-negotiable.
Look what happened during the pandemic. Those who were able to adapt and pivot suffered less. The rest suffered more.
Life will always throw random lemons at you and you have to be ready to catch them.
Successful people don’t get ready… they stay ready because failure is not an option.
You stay ready by priming your mind and being hyper-aware of your thoughts.
5) Bonus: Ride Bicycles. Climb Mountains. Break Limits.
Now, I’m a little biased about this but I’ve been obsessed with road cycling for over a decade.
There is no better combination than burning calories, not fuel, on the world’s greatest invention— a bicycle whilst immersed in the healing powers of Mother Nature.
Cycling takes you further than you can ever imagine powered by calories, which expands your mind, overcoming limits, and making the impossible possible.
Can you imagine what this does for your mind?
The benefits are indescribable but it gifts you the power and confidence to achieve anything you set your mind to. The caveat is that you have to do this consistently. Nothing worthwhile comes easy!
As an athlete, I never miss a workout. I show up every day and give it my all. I have never given up when things get tough or when the mountains feel impossibly steep. I strive to deliver consistently.
Most importantly, I transferred these skills to all aspects of my life including my career, relationships, and everything in between.
What I Learned From Developing Grit
Life will always o be a challenge but having grit makes it seem effortless. I developed my grit through fitness, cycling, and immersing myself in all kinds of experiences while traveling.
I am able to:
- Reframe negative situations quickly.
- Work well under immense pressure.
- Take large, calculated risks without fear.
- React to problems quickly and efficiently.
- Switch emotional states on the fly.
- See different perspectives and think outside of the box.
- Run towards challenges with an open mind.
Take Action
How bad do you want it? It’s never too late to start building grit NOW because your future self will thank you!
