Grit is one of those words that we toss around and use synonymously with bravery, courage, tenacity, perseverance, resolution, and so on. And it is all of those things, but I would venture to say that grit spans beyond the typical definitions: it is a mindset. A choice. A decision on how you pursue and tackle each and every aspect…
Tag: career
What Monks Taught Me about Work Ethic and Finding Balance
Some 12 years back, I went on a life changing adventure that still serves as a source of inspiration for me. I spent three months living amongst Benedictine and Trappist monks. I had no idea at the beginning what my venture would lead to – I was on a mission to do research for a novel that had captured my…
Career Check-Up
If you find yourself answering I don’t know to the big questions in your life, today is the day to start exploring. If you don’t know what you seek, then surely no one, including yourself, will be able to help you to get where you’re going. We live in a world that is constantly evolving – careers that existed…
9/11 – In Remembrance of the Missing People
I remember that September morning well – the air was crisp and breezy with a hint of fall. The sun bright and commanding. At around 6 am, I ran my favorite 6.2 mile loop in Central Park. There was something about the park that day, the pool-blue sky, the hopefulness I always feel in September, that made me want to linger…
A Guide to Living in the World
A memo to myself for when I forget the basics Happiness is hard work. It is a choice, not a given or a guarantee. It requires a commitment to believing in yourself, your capabilities, and the endless possibilities ahead. It demands a belief that there is always a positive side to every incident. And once you achieve happiness, it requires…
Why You Do Anything
The great thing about life is, in part, that you get to partake in the lives of others. I am continually amazed at the stories I hear from dear friends and new acquaintances – stories of hope, inspiration, hard work; stories of chance, catastrophe, and positive outcomes, too. More often than not, it’s people who inspire me – they help…
What Do You Want To Be When You Grow Up?
For the past decade, I’ve interacted with Millennials and Generation Z students in a college classroom setting, which means that twice a week I get to hear their gripes, their joys, what they care about, and I learn quickly the fastest route to boring them: preaching. Like everyone else, college kids do not want to hear me or anyone else…
In Search of the Dream Job
Americans are free to pursue the career path of their dreams. And obviously, that means something different for everyone. For some, the ideal job revolves around work/life balance, while others desire to make a profound and positive impact on the world. The dream job is certainly not a one-size-fits-all pursuit, but whether your goal is to make millions or to…
What I Have Learned from Running 100 Miles
For the past 3.5 years, I have been running ultra-distance races. Technically, that is anything over the marathon distance of 26.2, but I’ve fallen in love with 100 milers. Sometimes, when the topic comes up in conversation, people pause, and ask, “100 miles? Over how many days?” Others ask, “Biking?” No, running. Sometimes walking, and if necessary, crawling, and it…