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Grit has proven one of the most important skills and traits in predicting success. That is, if you want to see who’s going to become successful, look for grit. Grit is what keeps you going when inspiration, motivation and sometimes even reason goes out the window.
I’ve practiced grit over the past 6-7 years. More or less intentionally, I’ve tried to find ways to keep myself going when I don’t feel like it. It’s a big part of why I’ve developed the way I have in those years.
Especially now, where I’ve set up a goal to become an ultra runner, I know that the practice is going to pay off. I’ve already felt it. I don’t want to exercise every day, despite that being my plan. But waking up at 4:30 on a windy/rainy/snowy Sunday morning, I don’t always want to go for a run.
But I do it either way.
→ 10 000 days
Finding something that you want and can do for 10 000 days is a big task. It’s a concept I heard Mr. Beast talk about in an interview recently, and it made me think. He wants to do Youtube videos for 10 000 days. He know that, and I can see the passion in his eyes.
10 000 days is roughly 30 years. That’s a damn long time to do one single thing (even though it changes and evolves).
I’ve thought about this earlier in relation to a couple of specialists I know. I envy them for having found their single thing that they want to do for a very long time.
And then I am reminded of the fact that I’m not them. I’m probably not going to do the same thing for 30 years, not even 10.
But, I want to make sure I stick with activities, jobs, projects and commitments for long enough. Until I feel done. And that takes grit.
If you’re shooting for 10 000 days, grit is going to be even more important for you.
→ The 4 tendencies
For me, grit is a lot easier when I’m building habits. That way, I stop thinking about quitting and rely more on the habit-autopilot.
Building habits is different for all of us, and requires that you know yourself pretty well. One model I’ve found useful both for myself and for helping friends learn more about themselves is the 4 tendencies from Gretchen Rubin.
After all, we have to find ways to discover ourselves. It doesn’t matter what tendency you get, the important thing is that you learn more about yourself and how you function.
→ Consistency as a bucket
Lastly, a friend and I spoke about an analogy the other day in relation to habits. It looks like this: (picture from @sahilbloom.)