Part One: Defining Grit

To say an athlete is “gritty” can mean a lot of different things to different people. What is grit, really? Where does it come from? Are we born with it, or is it something we can build over time through experience and deliberate effort?

I’ll disclose up front that I’ve read Angela Duckworth’s outstanding book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, and I’ll give her full credit where it’s due. Her work has helped define grit as a blend of two essential forces: passion and perseverance, working together over the long haul.

Duckworth’s Grit Scale is a simple but revealing self-assessment that asks questions like:

• Do you finish what you start?
• Do you stay committed to projects even when they get tough?
• Do your interests change often, or do you tend to stay focused over time?

What’s fascinating is how these questions balance the ideas of consistency and commitment. Grit isn’t just about toughness or willpower in the moment. It’s about the ability to stay the course, to keep showing up for something that matters deeply to you, even when the results aren’t immediate or the process gets uncomfortable.

In my work with RPM athletes, we talk about this all the time. Our language is simple but powerful:

Brick by brick.
Move the needle. Every day.

That’s grit in motion – a commitment to stacking small, deliberate efforts over time. Each “brick” may seem insignificant on its own, but together they form something extraordinary: a foundation of character, discipline, and belief.

The most consistent performers I’ve worked with are rarely the flashiest or most gifted. They’re the ones who quietly put in the work, day after day, whether anyone is watching or not. They’ve learned to lean into discomfort, to find meaning in repetition, and to see progress not as a sudden leap forward, but as a steady accumulation of effort.

So when we talk about grit, it’s not about being fearless or unbreakable. It’s about having a purpose that keeps you coming back, a goal or value that matters enough to withstand frustration, boredom, and fatigue.

As we move through this series, I want to challenge you to reflect:

• How do you define grit for yourself?
• Where in your life have you demonstrated it without even realizing it?
• And where might you need to cultivate more of it?

Because if grit truly is the combination of passion and perseverance, then it’s not reserved for the elite few. It’s available to anyone who’s willing to care deeply and keep going – brick by brick.

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Ready to Build Your Own Grit?

If you’d like to explore simple, practical steps to develop grit and balance your daily routine for a performance edge, book a free call with Malcolm. Together, we’ll look at where you are, where you want to go, and how to Move the Needle. Every day.