I posted this on LinkedIn today, and I wanted to preserve it on the blog as well. This is a reminder I will need on the days when Grit seems unattainable...
As I prepared for the three-hour drive to Hillsboro, Kansas this morning to watch the Jays in their final game of the season, I found myself thinking about GRIT.
That Gen X superpower.
The kind we grew up on. The kind that says you show up, you work, you don’t complain, and you earn it. 💅🏻
But grit isn’t generational. It’s recognizable. And when you see it in someone else, you know.
Take Jake, for example.
He was overlooked in high school. Under-recruited — even as a 6’11” center. On paper, that doesn’t make sense. But basketball recruiting isn’t just about height; it’s about vision. Thankfully, someone saw his. A recruiting expert believed in his ceiling. A coach shared that belief and gave him the opportunity.
He started the season coming off the bench as the sixth man. He put up solid numbers, but more importantly, he stayed ready. He was coachable. He defended. He encouraged. He coached up teammates on the floor. He brought energy.
He also quietly went to work expanding his game — honing his three-point shot, putting in repetition after repetition so he could stretch the floor when his moment came.
After winter break, he earned the starting role.
And since then? He’s been killing it.
Last week, he was named KCAC Defensive Player of the Week. 41 points and 25 rebounds. As a freshman.
But the award isn’t the story.
The story is the early mornings. The extra reps. The willingness to be developed. The discipline to improve parts of your game that aren’t flashy but make you more valuable. The humility to serve the team before seeking the spotlight.
It’s understanding that sometimes being on the bench means bringing water to the starters — not because you have to, but because you can. Because that’s what team-first looks like.
It’s leadership that shows up in small, consistent ways — coaching teammates on the floor, communicating, doing the dirty work, choosing contribution over credit. Going to class, lift, practice, and film. Consistently. Making the honor roll, quietly.
That’s GRIT!
And here’s what I love most: this translates far beyond basketball.
In the workplace, grit looks the same. It’s staying ready before you’re recognized. It’s sharpening your skills even when they’re not required yet. It’s being coachable. It’s elevating others. It’s doing excellent work whether you’re starting or coming off the bench.
Real leadership isn’t about being seen.
It’s about strengthening the team.
Don’t shine to be seen.
Shine so others can shine. ☀️
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