Leadership, part 2

Grit. Passion and perseverance over the long haul.

Am I really willing to take it on? To pursue even when tired, worn out, or ready to throw in the towel? Grit. That’s what I need to pursue. That’s how, over the long term horizon, I’ll attain.

If grit is what it takes to finish it, the opposite is ease. That’s the Sirens’ Song from Homer’s Odyssey. It’s what calls to us when we’re weak and we decide to yield to their call rather than focusing on getting home.

Growing grit in one area leads to added grit in other areas. Playing basketball on the weekends allows me to push myself physically and push myself to win. That, in turn, teaches me to be gritty in other areas — say, work. It’s one way we can over-deliver and simply avoid doing the minimum. Team activities, like basketball or Riskalyze, sharpens one another…when we work hard, we achieve and fail. In turn we learn from our accomplishments and mistakes and become grittier, more determined, and better people because of it.

Grit. It’s what is necessary in a leader and what I desperately need.

Originally published at www.jeffreybeaumont.com.