The Creative Fight: Grit and Glory

Oct 27, 2015

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This chapter is from the book 

Creative Fight, The: Create Your Best Work and Live the Life You Imagine

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Grit Lessons

Grit isn’t easy to learn—there aren’t any grit classes offered in schools. So I asked one friend who climbs El Capitan if grit can be taught. He said, “The only way to learn grit is to get out there and get your ass kicked. You have to suffer and you have to fail.” Grit isn’t something that you’ll find in an online course. It’s gained while in pursuit of something big. Grit requires belief that it can be done. That’s why having someone to look up to can help. It also helps to be reminded that grit is in the secret sauce for success.

Exercise

Grit isn’t gained without a challenge; and courage, backbone, and tenacity are born in difficult times. Such adversity scares most people away. Don’t let that be you. Surround yourself with stories, images, and artifacts that will inspire you to dig deep and embolden you to press on. Use this exercise to find what will help.

STEP 1. PEOPLE.

Write down five people you admire and a few words or a quote that describes why. Consider historical people, colleagues, or friends. Don’t worry about getting your list right. This isn’t an exhaustive list or a “top 5.” Think of it like sketching out a few ideas. Keep this exercise simple and trust your gut. Here are a few examples to get you thinking about your own:

Nelson Mandela. Courage, kindness, and resolve. Imprisoned for 27 years without giving up.

Jeff Orwig (my Dad). Work ethic, deep faith, tough as nails.

Mother Teresa. Responded to human suffering with warmth, humility, and love.

Chris Lieto. Overcame obstacles and inspires others to do the same.

Frederick Douglass. Escaped the shackles of slavery and went on to thrive.

Theodore Roosevelt. Legendary vigor and grit.

PERSON YOU ADMIRE AND WHY

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STEP 2. ARTIFACTS, OBJECTS, THINGS

Select a couple of the names on your list and consider what objects you could display that would trigger and remind you of that person’s grit. This could be a biography you display on a shelf or a quote that you print out. Consider these artifacts as more than decoration or fluff. In your mind, treat them like totems or icons that represent a deeper reality. Print out a photograph of Nelson Mandela and let his countenance fortify your resolve to fight the good fight.

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