And You’re Probably Using the Wrong One
I shoved that door with everything I had—shoulder bruised, dignity crushed. Then someone walked past and just… slid it open.
That moment was a diagnostic. I’d been applying the wrong type of force to the wrong type of problem for years.
The Myth That’s Killing Your Progress
We’re taught that “never give up” is universal wisdom. Push harder. Be relentless. Close the gap between who you are and who you want to be.
I believed this completely. My ADHD made the gap feel wider, so I pushed harder—burning through failed businesses, productivity courses, and friendships in the process.
Then I discovered something that changed everything: there aren’t just different levels of grit. There are four completely different types.
And using the wrong one is like using a sledgehammer for brain surgery.
The Four Types
Conqueror’s Grit (Genghis Khan): Raw force and relentless pressure. Your brain turns threat into fuel. Perfect for genuine emergencies—terrible for learning Spanish or launching an Etsy store. Misapplied, it depletes your cortisol regulation and nervous system, leading to burnout that takes months to recover from.
Scientist’s Grit (Marie Curie): Curiosity becomes its own fuel source. You get high on “but what if?” Perfect for solving unprecedented problems—dangerous when it turns into 47 unfinished online courses and lost friendships. Misapplied, it burns social capital and executive function while you disappear down rabbit holes.
Pilot’s Grit (Amelia Earhart): Systematic execution under pressure. Check the situation, pick what matters now, do one thing, adjust, repeat. Excellent when you know the rules, but execution is brutal—fatal when the system itself is broken. Remember Air France 447: pilots followed procedures perfectly while flying a good plane into the ocean.
Strategist’s Grit (Miyamoto Musashi): Ruthless subtraction. Musashi showed up three hours late to his final duel with a wooden sword he’d carved on the boat. Won in one strike. While everyone adds more effort, the Strategist subtracts until only the essential remains. Misapplied, it becomes procrastination disguised as strategic patience.
The Hidden Cost
Using the wrong grit type doesn’t just waste time—it depletes specific resources that take months or years to rebuild. Cortisol regulation. Social capital. Cognitive flexibility. Market timing.
The brutal truth: You’re not just failing. You’re burning resources you can’t easily recover.
Your 60-Second Diagnostic
Think about your last failed project. What was your immediate response?
- “Push harder, work longer” → Conqueror
- “Research more, understand deeper” → Scientist
- “Follow the process, create systems” → Pilot
- “Step back, find leverage, wait” → Strategist
Whatever you choose? That’s your comfort zone.
Real growth happens when you force yourself into your LEAST comfortable mode.
The Real Secret
Knowing your dominant type is kindergarten. Recognizing which type of situation a situation requires is high school. Switching between all four on command? That’s mastery.
The goal isn’t to become all four types equally. The goal is to become fluent enough to code-switch when the situation demands it—to recognize whether you’re facing a door that needs pushing or one that slides.
Sometimes the problem isn’t your effort. Sometimes it’s your entire approach.
Based on an article from medium.com. Click here to read the full thing.
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