You might be surprised to learn that there’s one personality trait that may determine your success or failure.
It’s not intelligence – or I.Q.
It’s not even emotional intelligence – or E.Q.
No, THE success trait is grit.
Persistence + Passion = Grit
Grit is the ongoing persistence to pursue a goal you are passionate about, despite setbacks and challenges.
Grit is why failure doesn’t matter and passion does.
Being able – being excited even – to pick yourself up after a setback and start again in pursuit of that big goal is what makes the difference between success and failure.
Because on the road to success, there are almost certainly obstacles and setbacks you’ll have to keep going in spite of.
And it’s not just persistence that counts.
It’s also the “zeal” that is inherent in passion that allows us to not just plod through something, going through the motions, but to have a “no fail” attitude that carries us through with the creativity, energy and problem-solving abilities we display when we’re on top of our game.
Do you have it?
The good news is that you might prove to be grittier in some situations than you are in others.
For example, you might dislike your current job, and find that the smallest failures or setbacks leave you wanting to quit.
The key is setting yourself up for success by aligning yourself with goals that you are both passionate about and determined to achieve.
So even if you don’t see your own grit today, it doesn’t mean it’s not there.
It may be that there are people who are “grittier” than others.
But it’s not only the individual and their inherent qualities and traits that matter.
It’s also about the situation that a person is in and whether they deem that situation to be “grit-worthy.”
In other words, people ask themselves “Do I care about this goal?” and “How much do I care?”
Because the bumpier the road gets, the easier it is to give up – unless you are so motivated and passionate and persistent, that is, gritty, that you won’t.
Working in your “Grit Zone” is what will give you the best chance of being successful.
The “Grit Zone” – Finding the Right Goals
How do you find your “Grit Zone” – that space where you’re both motivated and passionate?
Despite current popular ideas, I don’t believe you can find it by just looking at your skills.
You may be one of the lucky ones who either knew or guessed at your grit zone, and decided to get some training in that area.
But if you’re like most of us, the fact that you have a skill for something doesn’t mean that you feel either passion or motivation for it.
But because of grit, you’ll likely be able to build skills in any area of passion.
So how do you know what you’ll be both passionate about and motivated to do?
Here’s one simple exercise I have used with my private coaching clients to help them find their grit zone, and it can work for you, too.
[jbox color=”green”]Write Your Own Press
Step 1: Throw away any concerns about feeling silly, arrogant, or shy.
Step 2: On a sheet of paper or on your computer, write a fictional (for now) news story about yourself and the amazing things you just accomplished.
Add in interesting details like who you helped, how much money you made, who you worked with, or what is now possible because of you.
This might be a large newspaper, or a small story in your hometown. The size of your impact isn’t really important, but what is important is that you get very clear on what you want to accomplish if you could design your own future.
(And the good news is you can!)[/jbox]
In the comments below, let me know what you think, what you learned, or if you even agree that grit is important. . .
Resources:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grit_(personality_trait)
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First time to hear Grit word!! But seems to be the magical formula for career and life satisfaction which I really miss
I came to here from the “tips of career change at 40” 🙂 ..Although I passed 40, thank to you Jessica I am starting to look for my grit zone
Great grit for all 🙂
Yes, grit seems to be something that allows one to push through even in tough times. And pushing through tough times often teaches us that we CAN – which means we DO! And when we do, we believe we can next time – what a beautiful cycle!
Jessica, this article clarified that it was right for me to leave a job behind (recently) that held zero passion for me and far too much stress without any payoff (emotional or financial). In reading it, I also came up with a few ways to answer that probable interview question, “So why did you leave [company]?” without sounding too negative… along the lines of “seeking a job and environment that more closely align with my values.”
I haven’t done the “press” exercise yet but plan to do that soon (and expecting it to confirm my passion). May also try it with an angle toward something that’s pleasurable and I’m good at, but not sure the grit factor is there, so that path is Plan B right now. Hoping to pinpoint Plan A, where I’m unstoppable and “this is it, no matter what.”
Thanks for drumming up some exciting thoughts for me; the uncertainty and fear of being in Limbo is sometimes discouraging.
Wow, Tracy! Kudos to you for having the courage. It takes a lot to leave a bad job behind. I’m really glad I was able to bring some excitement. That fear of being stuck in something terrible, or stuck in not knowing what to do (which is also terrible) can be so painful. I’m glad I was able to help – even just a little – with you moving forward!
I enjoyed reading this post and like the way you equate grit with passion. When you’re truly passionate about something you will be persistent in doing it and sticking to the goal you’ve set for yourself despite any negative feedback from others or any stumbling blocks that comes up — and they will.
In one area of my business that I’m so passionate about I was told by mentors that it would not result in a sustainable business…but they were wrong and I’m so glad I did not give up on myself. Your article tells me I have “true grit.” 🙂
Beautiful article!
Thanks Yvonne! Yes, you can’t underestimate the success of someone who has grit – yet it’s a fine balance. Read: https://wishingwellcoach.com/the-hollywood-principle/
I’m glad you didn’t give up on yourself – the world needs you to do what you love!
hey Jess – yes, absolutely agree with the grit zone and love the persistence part of the equation more than the passion part. just slightly more:) When life shakes us up or shakes up our goals, the difference between people who keep going and those who don’t is grit. So, I agree it’s the most important success principle. People with grit move forward despite obstacles, when the going is tough and when there doesn’t seem to be hope.
I’ve found motivation and passion by trying out a bunch of different things, seeing objectively and subjectively what I’m good at (skills) as well what I enjoy doing (passion) I continue to reflect and fine-tune and move forward. you can’t find this by simply examining your skills or sitting on the sidelines. Getting in the game is almost mandatory:) so my advice is take more action to get closer to aligning with your grit-zone!
Yes, Vishnu! You’re right. You have to be in motion and be working toward a goal that is meaningful through a process that you’re passionate about. It’s that sweet spot that will allow you to tap into the grit that’s there.
Back from marriage and my honeymoon… this seems like an INCREDIBLY appropriate first post for me to read! Thanks, Jess! Title of my news-story: “Couple Celebrates 75 Year Anniversary by Drinking Wine and Visiting the Moon!”
🙂 I have no doubt!
Grit. That’s a fun word to say! Grit!
Although it’s not my career, I’ve found something that I have this feeling for. Persistence and passion is something I’ve never felt for any subject before, until now. It’s amazing because I can’t even imagine myself quitting whether or not failure or success comes.
I can’t imagine working for the rest of my life in a field that I don’t have grit for. I’ve got a taste of it and I want is more.
Vincent, it’s so true that once you taste it you want more. Work that is in your “grit zone” is work that makes you want more. Instead of working for the weekend, it’s work you can’t wait to do. Imagine a world with people who are all working in this “grit zone”. Imagine how excited and energized the world would be. That’s the vision that gets me so excited to do the work I’m doing. I love it when even just one more person can’t wait to get into their grit zone and give back.