GRIT

Grit vs. Talent: Why Grit Matters More for Success

Achieving long-term success often requires grit more than talent. While talent provides an initial advantage, grit—the combination of perseverance, passion, and sustained effort over time—is key to overcoming obstacles, pushing through adversity, and achieving greatness.

​​​Here's why grit outweighs talent in sports and entrepreneurship:

Lionel Sanders: the epitome of GRIT in Triathlon)

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1. Grit Overcomes Adversity: Success in challenging endeavors, like sports or business, involves setbacks and failures. Talent may provide an early edge, but grit keeps people going when times are tough. Those with grit are more likely to push through obstacles, recover from failures, and stay focused on their goals.
2. Grit Ensures Consistent Improvement: While talent might offer a head start, sustained success comes from dedication and hard work. Gritty individuals focus on constant growth and learning from mistakes, which are crucial for long-term excellence.
3. Grit Builds Resilience and Adaptability: Life is full of uncertainties, and both sports and business demand adaptability. Those with grit can handle setbacks, adapt to change, and keep striving forward, essential traits for navigating the ups and downs of any career.
4. Grit Cultivates a Growth Mindset: A growth mindset—the belief that abilities can be developed through effort—is tightly linked with grit. Those with this mindset embrace challenges and see them as opportunities to improve, which encourages continuous learning and resilience.
5. Grit Drives Passion and Purpose: Grit involves more than working hard; it’s about having a passion and sense of purpose that keeps people motivated. Those with grit are deeply committed to their goals, which helps them push through tough times and achieve success.

The Limits of Talent

While talent can provide an initial advantage, it has limitations:

• Talent Can Lead to Complacency: Relying solely on natural ability can make individuals complacent, less likely to put in the hard work needed to reach their full potential.
• Talent Without Effort Is Insufficient: In competitive fields, many have talent. What differentiates the best is often work ethic and determination. A talented person without grit is unlikely to succeed when faced with fierce competition or challenging circumstances.
• Talent Isn’t Always Transferable: Talent in one area doesn’t guarantee success in another. Grit, however, involves skills like resilience and perseverance, which are applicable across different domains.

Examples of Grit in Action: Triathletes and Entrepreneurs

Triathlon demands endurance, strength, and mental toughness, making it a sport where grit often matters more than talent.

• Mark Allen: Known as the "Ironman King," Mark Allen won six Ironman World Championships. While talented, his mental toughness (grit) was the key to overcoming setbacks and achieving sustained success in this grueling sport.
• Chrissie Wellington: A four-time Ironman World Champion, Chrissie Wellington didn’t start triathlon until her late 20s. Her grit, combined with a rigorous training regimen, allowed her to quickly rise to the top of the sport despite her late start, showing that perseverance can outshine talent.
• Lionel Sanders: Is the epitome of grit on the current triathlon circuit through his relentless determination, mental toughness, and refusal to accept defeat. Overcoming personal challenges, including addiction, Sanders transformed himself into one of the world's top triathletes, showcasing an unwavering commitment to self-improvement. His journey is marked by an exceptional work ethic, an ability to endure pain, and a mindset that embraces adversity as fuel for success. Whether it’s battling through injuries or coming from behind in races, Sanders consistently exemplifies resilience, making him a powerful symbol of grit and perseverance in the sport.

Lionel Sanders

Success in entrepreneurship also requires a combination of talent and grit, but grit tends to play a more significant role.

• Colonel Harland Sanders (KFC): Colonel Sanders founded Kentucky Fried Chicken at 65 after many business failures. His persistence in the face of rejection exemplifies grit, which ultimately led him to create a global brand.
• Arianna Huffington (The Huffington Post): Arianna Huffington co-founded The Huffington Post at 54, in a highly competitive digital media industry. Her grit and determination helped her create a successful media platform, highlighting the importance of resilience in entrepreneurship.

Conclusion

While talent is valuable, grit is what truly determines who reaches and sustains the highest levels of success. Grit involves showing up, working hard, learning from setbacks, and relentlessly pursuing goals with passion and purpose. The stories of successful triathletes and entrepreneurs prove that grit, more than talent, is the key to long-term achievement and excellence.


Don’t forget: It is the small daily steps that turn into positive habits, patterns, and beliefs ingrained in body and mind. Enjoy the journey!

BONUS TIPS COACH GLENN:

I admire talented athletes like Simone Biles, Roger Federer, Lionel Messi, and Tiger Woods, but they wouldn't be at the top without grit.

Grit gets you into the top 10% in any sports and business. Ten thousand hours of effort—about 10 hours a week for 20 years - can make anyone a top contender.

Most people give up long before they get good, but even if you aren’t aiming for the top, one hour a day for a year will put you ahead of 50-60% of people. Two hours a day gets you into the top 30%.

Share this blog/newsletter with your friends, family, and colleagues who are also pursuing a sportier and healthier lifestyle!