The Why Behind The Sky

Let’s talk about grit. No, not the interesting breakfast dish that’s made from sand. I’m talking about true grit, the ability to persevere through challenging obstacles with unwavering character and drive. Did you know that it’s an acronym?

Well, at least it is for me. It stands for:

Great

Resilience

Inevitably

Triumphs

In other words: If you maintain focus and drive, you will overcome.

When the word grit, or true grit, is stated, it can conjure up an image of someone who exhibits a strong demeanor and unrelenting focus. This person is commonly seen in movies and TV shows as the one who goes through battle after battle while refusing to give in. Or, if you like anime, the hero who finds all the Dragon Balls after a longwinded journey through baren lands and epic battles with individuals in need of less hair spray.

However, a real display of true grit is much less dramatic, but still immensely important.

The Gritty Truth

“Over time, grit is what separates fruitful lives from aimlessness.” – John Ortberg   

The last few years have been the equivalate of having your SATs, Finals, and Taxes all due in one day. It’s not been easy. But let’s be realistic about this, the last three years especially have been historic, tragic, and disproportionate to one’s normal ability to cope. How on earth have we been able to endure this?

This is where the acronym now comes into play. Let’s break it down:

Great Resilience Inevitably Triumphs can be paraphrased to simply say that our ability to overcome obstacles is directly proportional to the passion and vision within us.

In our professional roles, this passion and vision can be reinforced and brought into alignment with the passion and vision of leaders that inspire and empower us. Hopefully, you have inspirational leadership within your organization. But if not, there are leaders in business, politics, and elsewhere that can help give us a little professional vision and boost. But what about our personal challenges?

Having grit does not just affect our professional lives, it affects our personal lives too. Each of our lives are unique, and true development is not just about professional growth… It’s personal as well.

So now I ask this: What, or who, gives you the passion and drive you need to persevere through your personal and professional challenges?