Get Down and Dirty: Get a Little Grit on Your Life

Hard work pays off.

It is hard to believe, but August is already just about halfway over. My brief break is almost coming to a close, and next week I will need to start setting up my online classes. I have really appreciated the time off. It was much needed.

I will also be getting back to work on my business. I admit that, aside from my weekly posts, I have pushed it a bit out of my mind. That was deliberate. I was trying to clear out some of the clutter so I could refocus. I think I may have gotten a little off track with my goals and purpose, so I am going to use the rest of this month to prepare for my classes and brainstorm about where I want to take my business.

For the rest of this week, though, I am going to enjoy my garden and all of the flowers and vegetables I have grown. I love watching the many birds gathering at the feeders and the busy bees moving from bloom to bloom. It gives me peace and allows me to build up my mental grit.

I know some of you may cringe at the word "grit" because it has become a bit overused. I like it. It is much shorter than "determination," so it is easier to type, and it means just about the same thing. 😊

Dr. Angela Duckworth, a student of Martin Seligman, one of my heroes, brought the concept of grit into the mainstream about ten years ago. As she explains it, grit involves both passion and perseverance. It is about being willing to fail, pick yourself up, and try again.

I know a lot of people who struggle with that, especially in my classes. If they do poorly on a test, instead of studying harder or asking a tutor for help, they complain that I made the test too hard. Unfortunately, I don't think this is limited to my courses. It seems to be becoming a reality of the times.

I recently heard that the University of Michigan is beginning a pilot program in which first-semester grades for first-year students in its College of Literature, Science, and the Arts will appear on transcripts as pass/no credit rather than traditional grades. The students will still receive actual grades and feedback, but those grades will not appear on their external transcripts or affect their GPAs.

I think you might be able to read my mind on that one, but I will share anyway: I don't think it is a good idea.

Yes, the first year of college is stressful. But some of that stress is part of learning what not to do.

If you fail an exam because you spent every night partying and rarely picked up a book, perhaps you will learn that staying up all night and not studying is not a great strategy. The realization that you might actually fail a course—or even flunk out—can open a person's eyes. If it doesn't, perhaps the student eventually learns that college is not for them.

College is not only about academics. It also teaches life skills. You learn how to manage your time, deal with competition, handle disappointment, ask for help, and keep going when things don't go your way. Those are skills many people will need in the business world and in life.

And that brings me back to grit.

Life is not easy. There will always be struggles, disappointments, and setbacks. How we handle those setbacks and heartaches is what makes a difference.

One person can lose a job, become disappointed, and spend weeks sitting on the couch eating junk food while worrying about what to do next. Another person can be just as disappointed but use the experience as a lesson. They think about their strengths, identify what they can improve, update their resume, and start looking for the next opportunity.

It all comes down to how you frame each setback.

If you cannot do something well, don't give up. Practice until you get better. It doesn't have to be perfect. Sometimes "good enough" is perfectly okay.

I play guitar and piano. I am not great at either, and I doubt I ever will be. But I enjoy playing, so I practice until I am "good enough." Each time, I get a little better.

The point is, I don't give up.

If people don't need to cover their ears when I play, I know I have succeeded. 😊

Live each day the best you can. Learn from your mistakes. Most importantly, don't stop trying.