What is the "Good Grind," Alex?

In a conversation the other day with an employed friend, she asked me what I’m presently missing from the sidelines. I exclaimed “I miss the grind!”

Given she looked at me a bit perplexed, I added, “You know! The good grind…” We shared some war stories from through the years and then moved on to more interesting subjects, like breaking down the in-progress final seasons of Ted Lasso and Succession – stories of both good and bad grinds, respectively.

A Grind Like No Other

A couple nights later I watched the fantastic, terrifying, and gripping Free Solo documentary film. This is the mesmerizing 2017 story of Alex Honnold, a climber who meticulously prepares for an insanely inhuman feat – a brutal “free solo” climb of El Capitan in Yosemite National Park. No ropes. No support. An ascension of nearly 3,000 feet up a sheer face of unforgiving granite. Reach the top or die trying.

While knowing the safe outcome of the story, I gripped the tv clicker with sweaty palms and shortened breath as Honnold made the perilous climb, move by calculated move. At the end of the film, and just a couple of hours removed from his achievement, Honnold relaxes as he hangs by his fingers in the doorway of his live-in van. There’s wonder in thinking that he is just one of eight billion humans on earth who will likely ever complete this beautifully creative act.

With lights out, in the safety of soft pillows, I felt small and wondered how an individual could achieve such a remarkable objective. What sustains Honnold in the work? The conversation with my friend returned to me – that’s the Good Grind.

Where’s the Goodness?

Grind is defined in various negative ways: tedious, dull, monotonous work or labor. In sport – team or solo – the individual overachiever is often labeled in a more celebratory way: “She’s a grinder.” At work where we have the privilege of being contributors on teams (from whatever role we have in the organization) I believe the “good grind” manifests itself in a number of cohesive ways.

• On a mission – We feel connected to a clear purpose for the team and wider organization. Leadership has defined it clearly, and in our roles, we know we’re empowered to own and execute on our piece of the equation. In Free Solo, Honnold is supported by a number of unsung players who are tirelessly committed to grinding on his journey over a lengthy span of preparation. Alex is their “customer,” and they all win in the end with service to the work.

• Intention: the grand gesture – In the good grind we believe in the mission and can work with detachment from the outcome. In The Creative Act, Rick Rubin explains intention as the “grand gesture” when “our thoughts, feelings, processes and unconscious beliefs have an energy that is hidden in the work.” When we’re there, we embrace the complex problems, pivots, curveballs, and long days/weeks versus simply trying to endure and survive them.

• The “I” in team – In our best state of the good grind we’re deeply connected to and committed to our team (colleagues, clients, partners) in a trusting support system of collaboration. In good stretches and through adversity, we feel the “I” come to life when there’s an internal voice system that speaks to us – “I work for them…”

• The failure is smart – Here we have the information, modern tools and processes that enable our hard, smart work. We're testing ideas, and we may be making mistakes. But we're not making the same mistakes. Our commitment to excellence and continuous improvement teaches us through the trials. The fuel of invested energy and experience gained pushes us further as we optimize. The problems may even take us into the evenings and weekends, but we don't feel as our work is futile or we're wasting time. In his first free solo attempt in late fall of 2016, Honnold bailed several hundred feet up under the cover of darkness and humbly accepted defeat in that battle with himself. Something was amiss. Smart move. No waste or shame. No fatal fall. Just grist for the next refined attempt many months later.

• We don’t have to die to grow – In Free Solo, we learn that Honnold must prepare for, face and overcome his El Capitan challenge – or even perish trying. It’s his only way to grow. Fortunately, at work most of us are safe from such choices. But in the good grind, we find ourselves in a place where we’re stretching and learning in failure or success. We know our leadership is driven to help us grow, and we’re fed through the proof points they deliver. We thrive in a culture that’s built on respect and trust and one that engenders humility, ambition, learning and responsible risk for individuals to participate and grow.

I will certainly never brave the face of El Capitan, except for hopefully standing and marveling at it from a distance someday soon. Yet in more modest fashion, I’m always excited to work and feel that Good Grind with a summit team I can call my own. I love how that feels.

I hope you feel it too.