TLDR: True Grit - What The "Gurus" Don't Want You To Know
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Grit is about persistence – It’s not flashy or easy; it’s sticking with long-term goals when the excitement fades.
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Grit vs. Resilience – Grit is showing up every day, even when it’s tough. Resilience is bouncing back after setbacks.
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Real grit comes from failure – It’s not found in courses or webinars; it’s built through life’s challenges.
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Build grit without burning out – Focus on small wins, practice failure, and set long-term goals, but remember to rest and reflect.
- You already have grit – It’s a skill you can grow, and you’ve been building it every time you get back up.
True Grit: What The "Gurus" Don't Want You To Know
By Levi Stanford
Grit. It's one of those buzzwords you hear all the time from self-help gurus, Instagram coaches, and motivational speakers. They tell you to "just hustle harder" or "never quit," but they rarely tell you the truth about how grit actually works, what it costs, and how to build it without burning out. So today, I’m pulling back the curtain and giving you the real talk about grit, resilience, and how to develop a growth mindset that actually lasts.
What Is Grit, Really?
Grit isn’t about being the loudest in the room or doing 1,000 push-ups a day just because some random bald guy online says you’re a loser if you don’t… I’ll let you figure that one out. It’s about staying the course, even when it’s boring, hard, or feels like nothing’s working.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth defines grit as "passion and perseverance for long-term goals." But let me break that down even simpler:
Grit = Sticking with it when the excitement wears off.
What’s The Difference Between Grit and Resilience?
A lot of people lump these two together, but they’re not quite the same thing:
- Grit is the long game. It's about showing up every day, even when it sucks.
- Resilience is your ability to bounce back after you’ve been knocked down.
You need both if you want to win in life, business, relationships, or anything worth putting in the work for.
Why Most "Gurus" Get It Wrong
Here’s the part they don’t tell you:
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Grit isn’t sexy. It’s not about waking up at 4 AM, staring at a vision board, or paying a small fortune to hear a guy named Chad tell you to ‘hustle harder.’
- It’s about failure, frustration, and falling on your face, over and over.
The 'gurus' want you to think it’s easy so you’ll keep buying their courses. But real grit doesn’t come from a $2,000 webinar. It comes from life punching you in the gut… and you lying there for a minute, thinking, ‘Yep, that hurt,’ then eventually deciding to get back up because the floor is uncomfortable.
5 Real-Life Examples of True Grit
Here’s what grit looks like in the real world:
1. J.K. Rowling
Rejected by 12 publishers before Harry Potter got picked up.
2. Thomas Edison
Tried over 1,000 times before inventing the lightbulb.
3. Michael Jordan
Cut from his high school basketball team.
4. Oprah Winfrey
No matter how hard he tried, she eventually sold her soul to the devil… wait, I mean… Hey, did you know she was fired from her first TV job and told she wasn’t 'fit for television'?"
5. You (Yes, YOU)
Every time your toast came out burnt but you ate your breakfast anyway, you were living with grit.
10 Ways to Build Grit & Resilience (Without Burning Out)
Here’s how to build your grit muscles without wrecking your mental health:
1. Practice Failing Well
Get used to things not going your way. One practical technique to build this muscle is to practice 'mental reframing.' When things go wrong, take a moment to shift your perspective and ask yourself, 'What can I learn from this?’ Or more realistically, ‘How am I gonna explain this to my friends?’"
2. Celebrate Small Wins
Don’t wait for the big moment, acknowledge progress daily.
3. Reframe Struggles
See obstacles as stepping stones, not roadblocks. Or, if you’re like me, just trip over them and then pretend you meant to do it.
4. Set "Grit Goals"
Focus on long-term goals that require consistency.
5. Take Breaks (Seriously!)
Rest is part of the process. Burnout isn’t grit, it’s poor planning.
6. Find Your Why
When the struggle feels pointless, you’re probably gonna want to quit. I mean, I’ve quit just trying to open a jar of pickles. Find a reason to keep going. Even if that reason is to prove you can open a jar of pickles without needing your wife.
7. Surround Yourself With Gritty People
Energy is contagious. Choose your tribe wisely.
8. Keep a Setback Journal
Write down what knocked you down and how you got back up.
9. Teach It to Someone Else
The best way to learn grit? Pass it on.
10. Practice Gratitude in the Grind
Find something good in every hard moment.
How to Teach Kids Grit (Without Making Them Miserable)
If you’re a parent or teacher, here’s how to build grit in your kids:
Let them fail safely:
- Example: When teaching a child to ride a bike, let them fall a few times in a safe, controlled environment (like a grassy area) so they can learn how to get back up. It’s less about avoiding failure and more about showing them it’s not the end of the world when things don’t go right.
Praise effort, not just results:
- Example: After your kid finishes a tough math test, resist the urge to just say, ‘Nice job!’ and move on. Instead, hit them with, ‘I’m really proud of how hard you worked on those problems, especially the tricky ones.’ This way, they learn that effort matters, plus, it distracts them from asking if you remember how to do long division (I don’t).
Model resilience in your own life:
- Example: If you’re dealing with a difficult situation, like a work setback, share your experience with those around you (without making it dramatic). You might say, “This project didn’t go as planned, but I’m going to take what I learned and try again. It’s all part of the process.” You show that setbacks are opportunities to learn and grow.
Encourage long-term projects:
- Example: Suggest that your child or team take on a project like creating a garden, writing a short story, or learning a new instrument over several months. Emphasize how the process of working toward a big goal will teach patience, dedication, and how to handle frustration when things don’t go as quickly as expected.
Celebrate their persistence:
- Example: If someone has been working on a project for weeks, whether it’s a painting, a presentation, or a fitness goal, celebrate the effort it took to stick with it, even if the end result isn’t perfect. “I can’t believe how much time and effort you’ve put into this. The fact that you stuck with it through all the challenges is amazing!”
How to Balance Grit Without Burning Out
Grit without boundaries will crush you.
The secret is knowing when to push and when to chill.
You don’t need to be "on" all the time. Rest, reflection, and joy fuel grit. Hustle culture wants you to go harder. I want you to go smarter.
5 Quotes That Will Fire You Up
"Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint." – Angela Duckworth
"Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." – Confucius
"Resilience is knowing that you are the only one that has the power and the responsibility to pick yourself up." – Mary Holloway
"Fall seven times, stand up eight." – Japanese Proverb
"Tough times don’t last. Tough people do." – Robert H. Schuller
More Resources To Build Grit
Here are some of the best books you can read to dive deeper:
1. Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance – Angela Duckworth
2. Mindset: The New Psychology of Success – Carol S. Dweck
3. Beyond Grit – Cindra Kamphoff
4. Emotional Grit – Neeta Bhushan
5. The Stress Effect – Henry L. Thompson
FAQs About Grit
What is grit in simple words?
Grit is your ability to keep going when things get hard. It’s about sticking with something long-term, even when it’s boring or tough.
How do I build grit?
You build grit by facing challenges, learning from failure, setting long-term goals, and practicing resilience.
Why is grit important?
Grit matters more than talent. It’s what keeps you moving forward when motivation fades.
Can anyone develop grit?
Yes! Grit isn’t something you’re born with. It’s a skill you can grow with practice and the right mindset.
How do I teach my kids grit?
Let them experience failure, encourage effort, and model resilience in your own life.
FAQs About Levi Stanford
Who is Levi Stanford?
Levi Stanford is a keynote motivational speaker who specializes in emotional resilience, leadership, and finding joy in adversity. He’s known for his real talk, humor, and ability to help people bounce back stronger.
What does Levi Stanford teach?
Levi teaches how to develop emotional intelligence, resilience, and a growth mindset through storytelling, comedy, and actionable strategies.
How can I book Levi Stanford?
You can book Levi for keynotes, workshops, or coaching sessions through his website or by contacting his team directly.
A Take-Home Message
The ‘gurus’ want you to believe grit is something you buy. It’s not. Trust me, if you could buy grit, I’d have accidentally ordered it on Amazon at 2 a.m. It’s something you build. And here’s the best part, you already have it inside you. You just gotta dig a little deeper, get back up one more time, and keep going… even if it’s building IKEA furniture. That's true grit!
