Why do some people succeed while others give up? What is it that allows certain individuals to endure the toughest challenges without wavering? Is it education, training, upbringing, connections, social status, or money? The answer may surprise you.
In one of the most significant business books that has been written in the past ten years, Angela Duckworth uncovers the secret to long-term success. She set out to learn why some cadets at West Point made it through Beast Barracks while others gave up. The Army wanted to know what the leading indicator of success was of this difficult challenge. She discovered that high achievement wasn’t predicted by SAT scores, GPA, athletics, race, gender, or social status. The most important trait was “grit.”
In Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angela Duckworth reveals that grit, which is defined as “passion and perseverance for long-term goals,” is the secret to success. It is the one determining factor as to why some people endure the toughest trials and others drop out. It’s the same thing I wrote about in The One Trait Your CEO Wants You to Have. Only those with persistence, passion, and perseverance will be successful when things get tough.
“Military veterans make outstanding employees because they possess numerous traits like loyalty, dependability, adaptability, integrity, and discipline that are desperately needed in the workplace.”
This is what makes veterans so invaluable in the workforce. I’ve written about the importance of hiring veterans in an article called, The Best Way to Thank a Veteran this Veteran’s Day. In that article, I explained that military veterans make outstanding employees because they possess numerous traits like loyalty, dependability, adaptability, integrity, and discipline that are desperately needed in the workplace. Their extensive training, leadership experiences, mission-focus, and team-orientation allow them to add immediate impact to any organization.
They persevere through the toughest trials because they are passionate about their country, their family, their unit, and the men and women serving with them.
What’s even more important is that veterans have grit. The military provides unique, high-stress experiences where soldiers, sailors, marines, and airmen must endure significant hardships and still perform at a high level. Whether repairing a vehicle under fire, landing a damaged aircraft, or bringing a submarine to periscope depth in rough seas, veterans are trained to excel in the toughest situations. They persevere through the toughest trials because they are passionate about their country, their family, their unit, and the men and women serving with them.
Military veterans bring unique attributes, skills, and experiences that will enhance any organization. They are loyal, dependable, hard-working employees who know how to lead, how to follow, and can get things done. But the most important trait they have is grit. When things get tough, they persevere.
is that story. It follows the author, Jesse Itzler, a successful entrepreneur, as he leaves his comfort zone in an extreme way. In a desire to raise the bar on his fitness, Itzler hires a decorated Navy Seal to live with him and train him.
because it is read by the author and you get Itzler’s true reaction to all the crazy things the Seal wants him to do. Where Itzler seeks comfort, the Navy Seal chooses to be uncomfortable. When it snows, the Seal wants to go running. When he’s exhausted, the Seal wants to do more pull-ups. When the lake is frozen over, the Seal wants to cut a hole and jump in. Itzler’s reactions to the Seal’s unconventional training methods are priceless. For 31 days, Itzler trains like a Seal, completely outside his comfort zone.