Do Hard Things
Just don’t confuse grind with growth
I was talking to a colleague the other day about my new role (four months in—does that still count as new?).
“What are the hard parts?” they asked.
“It’s all hard,” I replied. “But that’s why I like it.”
I’ve often said that I have a personality defect—I run toward difficult situations, not away from them. But who are we kidding? It’s 100% true.
I love a good challenge. The harder, the better.
And tell me something can’t be done? Oh no you didn’t. Hold my stainless steel, refillable water bottle.
As much as I love a good challenge, I’ve learned that some things are worth grinding it out for and others, not so much.
Pick your battles
You do not have to climb every hill or fight for every cause. Not every challenge deserves your energy.
The key is knowing the difference between good hard and bad hard—the challenges that push you to be better versus those that leave you defeated and depleted.
Sadly, “bad hard” challenges are all around us:
Initiatives with no support
Leadership roles with no authority
Workplaces that encourage (reward, even?) grind culture
Toxic bosses, toxic peers, toxic anything
These may feel like challenges you uniquely can overcome. They may get some people, but not you—you’re better than most.
Or they may feel like a personal failing. If only you can do better, work harder, prove yourself—then you’ll be able to overcome them.
Not likely. And no.
No matter how much it feels like it, it isn’t about you. And trying to fight your way through might work in the short term—if at all—but it comes at a high cost.
Rise to the challenge
But some challenges are worth fighting for.
They can be equally uncomfortable. They may rattle your confidence and trigger your imposter syndrome. They stretch you in ways you didn’t know were possible—and aren’t entirely sure you can handle.
These challenges push you to learn and ultimately, to grow.
Like my new job. It’s a ton of work—building a GTM motion from the ground up, educating an industry, and transforming early wins into scalable growth.
I’ve spent seven of the past nine weeks on an airplane. 😳
But I enjoy the folks I get to work with every day. I love being back with my higher ed community. And I believe in what we’re building and the value it can offer institutions and most importantly, students.
I wake up every day feeling like the work I’m doing matters—to my company and to the industry that I spent so many years serving.
That’s hard work worth pursuing.
Bonus read: In the midst of challenges sometimes the best thing you can do is let go of preconceived notions and “if only” to make space for what serves you now.
Cover photo by Frankie Cordoba on Unsplash