This article was written for DigitalMuscle.com nearly 2 years ago by supplement industry executive Aaron Singerman. Shortly after the article was written, Singerman launched RedCon1, a line of supplements that has fast become one of the industry’s most successful brands. With many of our business-minded readers looking for a source of inspiration, we thought it was a good time to re-publish the article.
By Aaron Singerman
Originally Published January 2016
People generally attribute success to intelligence. The general public thinks you must be very smart or very gifted to achieve true success, especially in the case of overwhelming success. I disagree. I think the #1 thing someone NEEDS to become successful is GRIT. Webster’s defines Grit as, “Mental toughness and courage” and “firmness of mind or spirit, unyielding courage in the face of hardship or danger”.
It means that when you set goals, you never let them go, and you never ever give up! When faced with adversity, someone with true grit knows with absolute certainty that it will pass, and in the end they’ll be victorious.
There are those who believe grit is impossible to learn, and that it’s something you’re either born with or you aren’t. I KNOW I wasn’t born with any, and somehow over the years it became ingrained in my personality. I have utter unflappable never ending confidence in myself, and in my ability to achieve my goals. How did this happen? This happened because I practiced having grit. I pretended!
Whenever I felt worried, or wanted to give up over the last 5 or so years, I told myself “this is nothing. I’ve overcome more than this. I know I’ll be ok, and in the end, this too shall pass.” I always pictured myself where I wanted to be. I focused on the things I wanted, and not on the problems of the minute, the hour, or the day. Just like Arnold would picture in his mind how he imagined his body would look one day look, I pictured how I would feel when I achieved my next goal… How my LIFE would someday look.
I remember distinctly one event in which I was working at an old job, and another employee called to tell me that I was in trouble. He said, “Aaron, my good friend, if you don’t do what I’m telling you, you’ll lose your job here and you won’t be able to pay the bills or put food on the table for your family.” I remember telling him with supreme confidence and a whole lot of grit, “I’ll be just fine no matter what. I will never have problems providing for my family, and although I’d hate to lose my job, I’ll be successful no matter what.” The minute the conversation ended I felt nothing but challenged. I felt excited by the prospect of kicking ass, and starting something bigger and better. Worry and insecurity never passed through my mind. That’s when I knew I never needed to “practice” having grit again.
My suggestion to all of you reading this is to set goal and stick to them. Decide how you want to live your life, and when obstacles arise, and they surely will, knock them down and KNOW you will move passed them. Embrace the inevitability of your success. That’s how you tap into the power of true grit.
Aaron has worn a few different hats during his decade long sprint thru the bodybuilding industry. In recent years his entrepreneurial spirit has been a source of inspiration, while his companies have risen among the industry’s fastest growing brands. Currently, Aaron is the founder and CEO of RedCon1.
