Grit

​What is grit and how do I find mine?
So, you get knocked down after making a presentation to your big wig client or completely stumble over your pitch to the new sales director or maybe it is something as simple as walking in late only to be noticed by HR.
First things first, admit your wrongdoing (if there is one). Always display accountability for your actions, no matter how much pride you have to swallow. The growth process includes understanding when and where to admit you are incorrect.
Next, it is time to slide on your big kid pants and realize the world is going to continue spinning. The clock will keep ticking and your next task lies ahead of you regardless of what happened yesterday. Displaying self-awareness to understand the actions you can take in the future to avoid a similar situation is a sign of a true professional.
Depending on the nature of the hurdle you have to jump, what comes next will vary, but one thing is consistent across all grit situations. You have a decision to make and this is one only YOU control the outcome. Are you going to dwell on the past, or embrace the future and continue to chug forward? In order to display grit, you must choose to move on and conquer your next challenge. Of course, this is easier said than done, but when you break it all down, is lingering on one issue (or multiple) worth stopping you from achieving your goals?

​Decisions
We are given one shot to make an impact and find our passions. We must pursue those passions with a fire lit and refuse to allow small issues hinder the pursuit. For myself I have found success in never giving myself the option to back out or look back on negative situations or outcomes. When it is simply not a choice to choose the wrong path, it becomes less complicated to move forward.
This is never an easy feat, but the correct mentality is a giant leap in the right direction. Over the next three months, I am personally going to be faced with either an amazing accomplishment or a painful miss. After speaking to a friend last night about my concerns if I am not able to tackle my achievement, I was kindly reminded of the hard work put in to get to this point and exactly the type of professional I will still be if I do not achieve this milestone. In the meantime, I will continue to grind each and every day, because that is what put me in this position in the first place. This is GRIT. It is what it takes to move forward, making an impact each and every day.

Goals and Grit
What are your goals? In much of my content I speak about short- and long-term goals. The reason I spend ample time here is because it’s vital to know what you’re working towards. As an aggregate group, we all need to embrace our skills and work with our passions versus the alternative of working just to live.
The next question is, once you have your goals clearly laid out, how much grit are you willing to display in order to achieve them? I call this my ‘no BS mentality’. It just does not make sense to waste precious time concentrating on things that don’t matter. If you get knocked down, figure out how to get back up ten times stronger.

​Where else does grit matter?
This conversation is highly relatable beyond just professional development. Maybe it is relationship with a friend or significant other that really ended sour and you feel the world didn’t treat you fairly. It is fair to say those situations sting in the beginning, but with time and conscious understanding you can learn and grow to help you move on stronger.
Another example is something as simple as getting a flat tire. You have two decisions to make (after handling the logistics). You can pout and let it ruin your day, or you can get that baby fixed and use every minute left of the day to make an impact. When you look back in a year, which decision will give you more pride? I think we can all agree here. 

​Green vs Red Lights
An analogy I use often (just ask my boyfriend) relates to a red versus green traffic light. Think about a red light as a problem or issue and a green light as a win or smooth moving part of your daily life. As you move through your day, what stands out more to you? The red lights adding stress or the green ones that just seem to fly through naturally? Often times problems or mistakes are highlighted more regularly than victories and ease of momentum. Whether regarding colleagues or projects, this analogy NEEDS to remain top of mind. Discussing a red light is one thing, but don’t forget to include all the greens along the way. 

​DISPLAY GRIT
Be there person in the office or your friend group who just seems to display endless tenacity. Others will follow this mentality and continue to produce positive relationships and results. Remember the same frequency you display is the one you demand from others. How do you guys display or define grit? Leave me a comment and let me know!