People often talk about grit as if it’s something you’re born with. A personality trait. A badge of honour. Something you either have or you don’t.
I don’t buy that.
For me, grit has never been about personality. It’s not about being “tough” or “hard.” It’s about discipline. It’s a system of choices. It’s showing up when you’re exhausted. It’s finding a way through the chaos when the easy option is to walk away.
When I launched my business, it was really terrible timing. By accident, not design, I found myself juggling three young kids including my newborn daughter, and a melanoma diagnosis. It wasn’t glamorous. There was no perfect plan. There was just the next step. And then the one after that.
That’s what grit really looks like: the quiet persistence of doing the things no one sees, no one praises, and no one posts about.
The good news? Grit can be built. It’s not a mood, it’s a practice. It’s replying to the email when you’d rather avoid it. It’s stepping up to the meeting even when you know the room doesn’t want you there. It’s recovering when life knocks you down – and then showing up again.
And here’s the truth: grit doesn’t have to mean burnout. Sustainable grit includes recovery. Rest. Reflection. Pausing so you can keep leading tomorrow.
So, if you’re wondering whether you have enough grit to build something that lasts – know this: you don’t need to be born with it. You just need to choose it. Again and again.
Because grit isn’t a personality. It’s a practice. And it will take you further than talent, luck, or shortcuts ever will.
— Kim-Louise Liddell, The DirtBossTM
