Since 2007 I have had these five questions on the back of an old Oracle business card in my wallet.

  • What’s great about this?
  • What’s not perfect yet?
  • What am I willing to do to make it the way I want it?
  • What am I willing to no longer do in order to make things the way I want them?
  • How can I do whats necessary to get the job done and enjoy the process?

These five questions have been my motivation when I needed a kick in the butt, my inspiration when I was in need of a creative idea or flash of genius, and a reminder of the promises and commitments I made.

I use these questions during moments what Angela Duckworth referred to as Grit.

… Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that—not talent or luck—makes all the difference.

Or if you prefer a scientific definition.

In psychology, grit is a positive, non-cognitive trait based on an individual’s perseverance of effort combined with the passion for a particular long-term goal or end state (a powerful motivation to achieve an objective).

What do you use to push you the extra mile? To inspire you? To motivate you?

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