Leveraging Your Grit

I recently wrote an article about grit—strength realized over many years through both experience and practice—and how it led to my “path with a purpose.” Discovering one’s “grittiness” can be quite the process, one that is ongoing and evolving, while requiring you to assess your capabilities through self-reflection—understanding your life experiences—both good and bad, which ultimately help hone your passion and your perseverance. Our grit develops over time as we encounter different experiences that ultimately shape and transform our lives. Our “grit factor” comes when we take the strength gained from overcoming adversity, acknowledge its presence (which is why we sometimes don’t recognize it at first), and “reframing” it – using ”grit” to persist in our journey and persevere when faced with challenges, which propel us forward in our daily lives.

Discovering your grit is about acknowledging the present, but also reflecting on the past, remembering that memories fade and change over time, and experiences are not always black and white – often, there are shades of gray. Through self-reflection, and eventually recognizing the truth in my experience, I was able to ground myself to be stronger than before – pushing myself forward on my path on my terms.

As I’ve mentioned in the past, my grit is my ability to thrive under pressure while managing (and excelling through) a crisis and I leverage that to help clients navigate some of their most challenging moments in the wake of disruption – staying calm, problem solving, and finding opportunities for long-term competitive advantage. This trait—this strength—is critical in cybersecurity, where the problems we help solve are some of the toughest, and where new problems and different adversaries arise every day. The ability to think clearly and focus on the goal is critical for a member of any cyber team, and my ability to excel in this area has shaped my career and—in return—I’ve been to guide others along the way in a similar fashion.

I encourage people to take on a particular role or project – even if they don’t yet see it in themselves – and learn from the experience along the way.

After putting in many years of self-reflection—and eventually understanding (and even appreciating) my strength, which took time and is something I practice to this day—I decided to lean into it and to be the narrator in this journey and control my destiny. Professionally, that meant leveraging my strength in ways that would move me forward and fill me with purpose and on some days, challenging me in ways I would have never imagined. Our careers—just like the trajectory of our lives—can change or take shape because of the decisions we make on a regular basis (a “sliding doors” phenomenon). I have been in cyber for more than 25 years – I have long been interested in technology and the role that technology and cyber play in our lives and how it is used to keep us safe. But cyber is multi-faceted, and there are several different paths a career in cyber can take (especially now… because cyber touches every aspect of the business).

Truthfully – I think leaders may have seen this in me before I understood it myself (and thanks to many of you who have highlighted this strength along the way). I was placed on projects that were high intensity or “troubled,” where my calm (and tenacity) would be key to the success of the project – or help to turn it around. Not only was I excelling on these projects, but I loved the work. It was then that I started seeking out these roles, and advocating for myself as someone who needed to be a part of these projects. This voice is something that now—as a leader—I look for in newer practitioners. Sometimes it’s hard to see your strength yourself – and others may see it in you. I encourage people to take on a particular role or project – even if they don’t yet see it in themselves – and learn from the experience along the way.

Careers are rarely linear or clearly defined – most of us have twists and turns along the way before we make it to where we are supposed to be. There are challenges to confront and overcome—both professional and personal—that can play a role in our path. When I talk to people early on in their career—or even experienced professionals who are still navigating the workforce—I ask them about their strengths (not the items on the resume – but their “grit”) and about where they thrive – and how they manage or navigate challenging situations, acknowledging that we have all experienced challenge. Think about it – this past year with the pandemic, we have all been pushed, and with time we will be able to thoughtfully reflect on the year, confront what we were up against, and discern our “grit” in its most sincere way.

One of my favorite quotes is from Ed Viesturs, seven-time climber of Mount Everest, author of No Shortcuts to the Top. He says, “Grit teaches that life’s high peaks aren’t necessarily conquered by the naturally nimble but, rather, by those willing to endure, wait out the storm, and try again.” I often keep this front of mind when I am up against a problem that seems never ending (it’s still 2020, right?) – reminding myself that I have conquered these peaks in the past, and I can do it again – I just need to use my strength to push forward.

When asked “what do you want to be when you grow up,” you don’t realize all the twists and turns that will happen on your journey. You do not yet know what will happen over the course of your life that will shape you as a person, change your course, and lead you to where you end up. Our biggest challenge along the way is taking the time to understand who we are, what strengths we bring to the table, how our experiences played a role, and—of course—having trust in our abilities (always easier said than done). But once you do, the opportunities are yours to make and they are endless.