Five years ago I decided to run a marathon. Let me first explain that I was not ” a runner” and not athletic in any sense of the word. After signing up for a few local 5K’s, I had tasted the thrill of setting a goal and completing it. I began reading every source on running I could get my hands on. I signed up at the local running store for a free class on running form and bought the best pair of running shoes they recommended. I set weekly goals. I implemented the run-walk method, running one minute and walking the next, to help my body adjust to the shock of longer distance running. Each Sunday became my long run day. I would map out where I was going and placed water bottles at strategic mile markers. I learned how to tape my feet and ankles with support tape and ice my knees to prevent swelling. As I learned what worked and what didn’t work for me, I adjusted my approach. Slow and steady became my mantra as the goal was to complete, not win, the race. On January 8th, 2010 I crossed the finish line at the Disney Marathon having completed a full 26.2 miles at the age of 45. I had just discovered the secret of Grit.
What is Grit? According to Angela Lee Duckworth, grit is the “power of passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.” Angela Duckworth is the Christopher H. Browne Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is also the founder and scientific director of the Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance the science and practice of character development. Ms. Duckworth is the author of Grit: The Power and Passion of Perseverance . In the book, Ms. Duckworth gives a first-person account of her research that includes cadets struggling through their first days at West Point, finalists who are successful in the National Spelling Bee, and analysis of successful teachers and students at some of the toughest schools. Duckworth’s research focuses on two traits that predict achievement : grit and self- control.
“Grit isn’t talent. Grit isn’t luck. Grit isn’t how intensely, for the moment, you want something. Instead, grit is about having what some researchers call an”ultimate concern”–a goal you care about so much that it organizes and gives meaning to almost everything you do. And grit is holding steadfast to that goal. Even when you fall down. Even when you screw up. Even when progress toward that goal is halting or slow.”- Angela Lee Duckworth
Whether you want to succeed in your personal life or professional life, understanding how to develop and apply Grit can be monumental to achieving your long term goals. Learning how to tap into and strengthen your perseverance “muscle” is a way to enhance self-reflection and apply lessons learned. Duckworth offers a free online introductory quiz to learn where you fall on the Grit Scale as well as an overview of the research that led to her New York Times bestselling book on the subject.
I found the book a fascinating read and one that I highly recommend. Understanding Grit helped me to recognize why I have been successful with certain goals and why I did not prematurely give up on others. Grasping the impact that motivation, drive, and self-control can have on any goal that we set for ourselves can have a profound effect on how we view the possibilities in our lives. Who are you waiting to become? Five years ago I became a runner.
