TED Tuesday: The Power of Grit

Welcome back to the work week! I hope everyone's weekend was relaxing and re-energizing.

The topic of today's TED Talk is Grit. What is it?

Grit is "passion and perseverance". Grit is continually setting goals for yourself, being self motivated, having stamina through long term goals and sticking to your future.

Talent doesn't make you gritty, wealth doesn't make you gritty, education doesn't make you gritty.

What does?

Hard work, courage, confidence and trust in yourself.

I'm fortunate to have parents who instilled the idea of grit into my mind at a young age. They were entrepreneurs who worked harder than anyone I know to make a future for our family. That mindset has guided me through life and has yet to fail me.

In school I wasn't always the most intelligent of my class but worked hard to get exceptional grades. In my final four years of softball I was challenged mentally more than I've ever been in my life and came out of it with a hard shell and a resilience that can't be taught. In my current job I wasn't ready for the pressure that would come my way, but through focus, stamina and my can't-fail attitude I'm happier than ever.

The man I have fallen in love with has grit. When he was diagnosed with Cancer in 2008 after he'd moved to Portland he found the strength within himself to not give up, to see himself through his treatments and to continue his life as if nothing had happened. I'm proud of him and it proves his ability to face any future adversity that may come our way.

Enough about me, observe the confidence of Angela Lee Duckworth in today's TED talk. She's captivating, motivating and hopefully she can encourage you to find the grit somewhere deep within yourself. 

TED Talks: Ideas worth spreading