What Is Grit? 

There’s a song in the movie Zootopia, which goes like this:

“I won’t give up, no I won’t give in
Till I reach the end
And then I’ll start again”

The song is about not giving up. Its about not giving up in the face of difficulty. Its about finishing what you began inspite of hardships you face. And it has a word for it. Grit.

Why Grit? 

Let’s look at this simple equation as given by Angela Duckworth in the book, Grit.

Talent X Effort = Skill

Skill X Effort = Achievement

The thing that sustains achievement, enables us to sharpen our skills and increase our effort is called Grit. Grit is following through with the promises you made to yourself. Grit is standing by yourself. And grit is staying on track for the long run irrespective of how you feel about the tasks that lie ahead. Because sustained achievement is nothing but success.

How To Develop GRIT

• Understand the value of time: Understand the impact of the choices of you make with time. Its the most limited resource we have, and once gone never to be acquired again.
• Visualize your future: Think ahead. Imagine the feeling of accomplishment you will feel once you’ve completed the task at hand. That positive sensation can be a huge motivator.
• Control your environment: Take away the temptations. Remove any and all distracting stimuli around you. Remove apps that are the major distractors and remove easy access to them. Disable notifications for your phone.
• Work in small batches: If you’ve a tendency to procrastinate, understand why you’re falling victim to that. Is the project something you don’t understand or is it too time consuming? Either way, split it into manageable bite sized chunks and tackle it.
• Find that space where you’re valued: Think of all the places that you add value. Focus all your energies in growing and allowing yourself to shine. There’s something that you think you’re good at. What is that one thing?
• Make focus sustainable: Focus sustainable is focus achievable. Before your sit down for deep work, go to the bathroom and don’t be hungry. Run far away from your smartphone. It’s really that simple. Time box your essential tasks and leave some unstructured time for yourself for unforeseen emergencies.
• Think long term: Treat yourself to sudden urges and instant cravings by creating a rewarding system. Tell yourself, if I can just hold off on that icecream craving just a little longer, I can enjoy it more peacefully because I’ll done with what I’m doing.
• Know when to Give up: Understand when a project has become a lost cause. Instead of being doggedly gritty, develop the ability to cut your losses. A project that has no desired outcome and no valuable result is a waste of time and precious energy resources.
• Be adaptable: Don’t resist disruption, instead, embrace change. Being resistant to new solutions and points of view leaves you fatigued and not willing to move on the path to achieving your goals.
• Build a reserve: Self preservation is a great tactic to stay on track without falling off the wagon. Getting enough sleep, seeing friends, exercising, and giving and helping others are all great ways to recharge and build your reserves. 

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