“Success is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm.”
- Winston Churchill
Achievement is often about “hanging on.” It is about having to deal with one problem after another and still moving forward. People who achieve invariably must tackle significant setbacks and obstacles. It often comes down to pure “grit.” Just ask Angela Duckworth, Ph.D. (Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance). Duckworth is a world authority on “grit” and suggests that “grit” is likely far more important to success than just about any other factor, including intelligence.
There is some suggestion that Steve Jobs’ grit, in part, came from his admiration for Edwin Land, the inventor of the Polaroid camera. Jeff Bezos, of Amazon, might be finding some of his grit in the Latin phrase “Graditim Ferociter.” The English translation is “step by step ferociously.” He has even had the phrase engraved into his cowboy boots! Bill Gates credits Dr. H. E. Roberts with helping to give Gates the resolve to start Microsoft.
Given that we never know what life will throw at us, part of the success your team will have this year may well come from finding what they can hang onto in those times of difficulty and challenge. It could be a slogan or a person. Maybe something else. Regardless, there is a good chance that having something to hang onto could be instrumental in keeping the team moving forward towards achievement – especially as they are building their confidence and self-esteem. And it is not a bad place to focus on in an interview setting!
Welcome to 2020!
