As we enter our 5th week in quarantine, I’m reminded of the famous motivational posters produced by the British government in 1939 in preparation for World War II. The words were simple but the message was powerful:
“Keep Calm and Carry On.”
It’s a great message for all of us today.
The COVID crisis is clearly testing our resolve.
One thing I have noticed though…some people are handling it better than others.
And it got me thinking.
Why do some people thrive while others falter in tough times?
What is it that allows certain individuals to endure the toughest challenges without wavering?
Psychologist Angela Duckworth set out to understand this. She studied cadets at West Point. She wanted to be able to pinpoint the one thing that predicted whether or not a cadet would make it through “Beast Barracks,” the grueling seven-week initiation program.
What she discovered was groundbreaking.
She learned that endurance wasn’t predicted by SAT scores, GPA, athletics, race, gender, or social status. The most important trait for success in difficult times was “grit.”
The most important trait for success in difficult times is grit. Click To TweetDuckworth defines grit as “passion and sustained persistence applied toward long-term achievement.” It’s about having such a strong passion for your goals that you are willing to withstand any hardship to achieve them.
Someone who exemplifies grit in action is Gretchen Smith. Gretchen is the founder and leader of Code of Vets. Code of Vets is a charity that helps military veterans in crisis.
Gretchen’s passion for veterans and her dogged persistence to overcome countless challenges has led to one of the most powerful grass-roots organizations in the country. She has an army of volunteers who will drop everything to come to the rescue of veterans in need. In her first year in operation, she raised more than $800,000 of which 99% of the donations went directly to veterans.
She is a powerful force for good who leads with passion and persistence. Listen to my interview with her on the latest episode of the Deep Leadership Podcast.
Grit is about having such a strong passion for your goals that you are willing to withstand any hardship to achieve them. Click To Tweet
To support her efforts, especially during this COVID crisis, I recently announced that 100% of the proceeds of the sale of my book, I Have the Watch, will go directly to Code of Vets from April 20-26, 2020.
We did this last year and raised more than $1,000 for this important charity.
So, buy a book and help a Vet! Go to IHAVETHEWATCH.COM to order.
Please share this with all the leaders and future leaders in your circle of influence so we help military veterans during this crisis.
(U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 1st Class Abe McNatt)