Grit

I’ve been mentally preparing myself for this run before I even got out of bed. I’m dressed and ready-to-go. I am nervous. You know, the kind of knees weak, arms are heavy nervous that Eminem raps about in “Lose Yourself.”

As I drive to the turf field, I repeat to myself:

“Okay, it’s only a 27-minute run, you can do this. You run for way longer than that in a game.”

The name of the game is “Man U’s.” It’s 27 total runs. Each run is a 100-yard sprint there and a 100-yard jog back. Twenty-seven times. With every run you get a second less to sprint there and one more second to jog back.

Twenty-seven minutes. Twenty-seven total runs. Yikes.

These last two summers, this exercise put my physical and mental ability to the test. It was the first and most difficult of our fitness tests during preseason training but it was by far the most rewarding. Our coach implemented a “target” policy that stated merely passing a fitness test was not enough: You had to try to hit the “target,” too. You see, our coach gave each fitness test both a passing level as well as a target level. Passing showed that you were fit and that you put in the work over the summer, but hitting the target made the statement that you went that extra mile to get in the best shape possible for the upcoming season.

And if you’re extremely motivated…you keep running even after you’ve hit the target level. Or if you’re anything like my former teammate, Chloe Knott, you keep running because your teammate beside you hasn’t stopped for a breather yet.

Your fitness level is a clear indicator of your motivation. It is the truest test of mental toughness, because — let’s face it — in life, it’s easy to coast along and then quit when you think you’ve had enough. Most athletes, though, know that when you’ve really had enough, you’ll know it.

Merely “passing” is not the standard for athletes. Athletes are taught to go above and beyond. Athletes are taught to endure that extra mile. Because of that, athletes develop something in them that refuses to give up, refuses to lose, and refuses to coast.

Former Georgetown men’s soccer player Ricky Schramm thinks of soccer — and success in general — as a simple philosophy: “Do you want it more than the teams you’re playing [against], and how do you reflect that in your day-to-day approach?” Ricky believes that these are the key questions to ask one’s teammates and oneself before stepping onto the field.

Do you want it? Do you want it badly? Do you want it so badly that you are willing to go the extra mile, learn from your failures, and do more than coast? If you do, then you, my friend, have grit.

Grit in college athletics is contagious. If an athlete works with a highly-motivated teammate who doesn’t give into failure, he or she is likely to reciprocate the same attitude. Being motivated to improve and being surrounded by others who are highly motivated to improve only increase our motivation all the more.

Grit in college athletics is contagious. If an athlete works with a highly-motivated teammate who doesn’t give into failure, he or she is likely to reciprocate the same attitude. Being motivated to improve and being surrounded by others who are highly motivated to improve only increase our motivation all the more.

Sports psychologists define mental toughness as “the ability to consistently perform toward the upper range of your talent and skill regardless of competitive circumstances.” These same psychologists studied the relationship between genetics, environment, and athletic prowess, and their conclusions defy the argument that genes are everything.

“There are more and more studies that show that the importance of genetics in determining sports specificity can be overshadowed by mental drive,” said Eric Thomson, a D.C. sports medicine doctor, in an article from The Washington Post.

Sports psychologist Daniel Gucciardi says that “mental toughness (or ‘grit’) may be the defining factor between finishing at the front of the pack and not finishing at all.” It’s commonplace for people to think that body shape, fitness level, and athletic ability are largely a product of our genetic makeup. To some degree, this is true. However, Thomson also says that “what we do with that body is more influenced by our passion, support and adaptability.”

Angela Duckworth is the renowned psychologist who examines the concept of “grit” in her book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance. Duckworth argues that when effort is applied to talent and skill, achievement increases. As demonstrated in the quirky, animated YouTube video below, effort is a direct predictor of achievement and success.

Will-power is the one thing that separates individuals with grit from indivduals without grit. Will-power that does not quiver at the possibility of failure keeps the level of effort high and explains why student-athletes are relentless competitors. Student-athletes are firm believers that their attributes are changeable: Their physical strength, their intelligence, and their mentality can all be improved upon. Everything is changeable, so they work as hard as they can to make their goals become a reality. Failures do not faze them and patience is a must, but the end product is so very worth it. Athletes have grit.

The typical college athlete has stuck with his or her future since childhood, playing and falling in love with recreational sports until he or she made that sport a way of life. The 460,000+ student-athletes who set their sights set on being recruited into the NCAA and go on to become collegiate athletes embody the very definition of grit. These athletes’ choice to sacrifice every weekend for tournaments and practice was worth it, because they’ve achieved their ultimate goal. As we have seen, however, becoming a part of the NCAA community does not spell the end of hard work — it only makes hard work more necessary.

The little improvements in your game and in the classroom are how you meet your goals, but the catch is that it takes time. Student-athletes are invested in the process of success, but athletes know there are no instant results, because permanent changes take time. We work to make those changes happen by training after practice, going to office hours, and by dedicating every second of the day to improving.

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Grit is a direct predictor of success, so it’s a no-brainer as to why employers ought to hire gritty employees. Gritty employees are in it for the long haul and for the hard-earned success. Like athletes, failures do not faze them and patience is a must, but the end product is so very worth it.

According to Ida Banek, founder of GRIT International, hiring managers often have to choose between two candidates: one with more skills and one with more enthusiasm and energy. The obvious solution is to find a candidate that embodies both, but that outcome is unfortunately rare. Forced with this choice in her company, she explains why she chooses enthusiasm — grit — over skills: “There is evidence to suggest that employees with grit have what it takes to become true successes, thereby benefitting companies in terms of productivity in the long run.” Skills can be taught on the job; grit is acquired over time, backed by motivation and character. Consider the character of “gritty” athletes, and see how that translates into the workforce:

1. Gritty athletes don’t give up at the slightest sign of failure.
2. CEOs want employees who will strive for success and are not put off by setbacks.
3. Athletes and coaches know how to give and receive communication well, because each is committed to improvement and achieving goals.
4. Managers know that gritty employees will ask the right questions and be prepared to fulfill their responsibilities.
5. Gritty employees will engage and collaborate with current employees.
6. Athletes with grit are enthusiastic about improving and committed to long-term goals.
7. Individuals committed to improving their skills within your company offer real value.
8. Individuals with grit are dedicated to promoting positive change.

Companies that hire employees committed to a company’s goals for the long-haul will experience decreased turnover and increased productivity. Hiring gritty employees dedicated to your values ensures that they will not give up when things get dicey, because they care about seeing the end result and achieving their goals. They care about being successful.