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The Only Ingredient For Success
India White • Aug 13, 2021
Every human being is born with a desire to succeed, a yearning for purpose and fulfilment. Unfortunately for the vast majority of us, success has always seemed to elude us despite our best efforts to grasp it once and for all. We’ve looked online, in books, towards role models, under the bed maybe, but we just can’t seem to find answers anywhere, and we’re left with the echoing question: why can’t I succeed? Well, search no further, the answer is here… not really. That’s what we all want to hear, but if that’s how you think about success, as an answer, then you have to understand something first.
Within our ever developing world, strategies for success change almost as frequently as the people who preach them because, in essence, that is the very nature of success - impermanent and personal. The irony of your ongoing search for success is that it has always been inside of you. You, and you alone, should decide your definition of success; it can be as grand and noble as starting a company or as humble and small as taking out the trash. It all depends on you and where you find yourself at the moment. If you can’t muster up the strength to “go big” as they say, if you find yourself constantly falling short of your goals, try something smaller first, and remember, you define success. Wake up ten minutes earlier than normal. Talk to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while. Try some light exercise. Learn something new. You can build up from anywhere! You just have to get started. One small step at a time. When you begin to think of success as a marathon, rather than a sprint, it’s a lot easier to get moving, no?
But there’s more to the story. Although success is malleable, there is one crucial factor that defines a successful person; above hard work, above talent, above anything else is grit. Now, you may be asking yourself, what is grit? It’s one of those words that you can’t necessarily describe, but you’ll certainly know it when you see it. Although the dictionary likes to define grit as courage or resolve, the word didn’t really have a definition until the work of one Angela Duckworth, an American academic and psychologist for the University of Pennsylvania. In her words, grit is “sticking with your future, day in and day out, and not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years.” In other words, if you want to succeed, you have to really want it. You have to be willing to put in the work, and if you can’t put in enough, you have to learn the discipline to improve. A discipline that you can improve by simply working every day.
Like we mentioned before, success can be as small as you want, but you can’t keep it there. Yes, you can start small, but you have to keep challenging yourself to go bigger until finally, you find yourself accomplishing great things every day. But remember, success isn’t a streak. You will stumble and fail along the way. You may fail every day for an extended period of time. That uncertainty, that unknowability of where the finish line is, is incredibly difficult and scary. But, it is in that unknown where we find our true mettle. It is when we don’t know when to stop that we realize we don’t need to. No matter how many times you fail, if you can get back up and start again, that is when you’ve truly become a successful person. Once you have the mindset of a winner, that “Yes I can and I will” mentality, there is truly nothing you cannot achieve. Once you’ve passed that threshold, once you’ve eliminated all self-doubt and adopted the belief that you can and will, you, and you alone, hold the key to your success, whatever that may be.
‼️So grateful for the opportunity to hear testimonials and reviews from a few rockstar educators about their takeaways and experiences from my Equitable math 🧮 practices session at MCTM in Minnesota this weekend🤩! It's inspiring to hear teachers who provide feedback and work to close the achievement gap. 🥰Let's continue learning from each other and making a difference in the lives of our students! #teacherappreciation #education #equitablemath #achievementgap #drindiawhite #teachers #tedx #equity Check out the session highlights here:
‼️Listen as a gritty Middle Eastern teacher explains how attending my Equity Keynote at the Math conference, helped her connect her experience as a BIPOC educator with her perspective on how to implement equitable practices for all students and relate to students of different cultures! #drindiawhite #tedx #equity #dei #math #education #teachers #students #bipoc #savvas #nctm #ncsm #bwxme #nabse #habse #uf
I urge you to take a moment to listen to Dr. India White's enlightening TEDx talk, "The Power of Grit," where she delves into what drives grit in the lives of leaders, teachers, and students every day. In this captivating presentation, Dr. White offers invaluable insights into the transformative potential of grit—the unwavering determination and resilience that propel individuals toward their goals, even in the face of adversity. As educators and leaders, we play a pivotal role in instilling and nurturing grit among our students and colleagues. Dr. White's talk serves as a powerful reminder of the impact we can have when we cultivate grit within ourselves and those we influence. I encourage you to watch the TEDx talk for a deeper understanding of how grit can drive success in our classrooms, workplaces, and lives.
I am beyond grateful and honored to have the opportunity to speak at UF's Alumni Gainesville reception and share the powerful message of grit with the new graduates from the University of Florida. As leaders, we have a unique platform and responsibility to inspire and empower the next generation as they embark on their journey beyond the university walls. Grit is more than just a buzzword; it is the unwavering determination and resilience that propel individuals toward their goals, even in the face of adversity. It's about facing challenges head-on, embracing failures as opportunities for growth, and never giving up on our dreams. Today, as we gather to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable graduates, let us remind them of the power they hold within themselves. Let us encourage them to cultivate grit in all aspects of their lives, knowing that with perseverance and determination, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve their wildest dreams. As leaders, let us lead by example, showing gratitude for the opportunities we've been given and inspiring others to do the same. Let us use our voices to uplift and encourage those around us, knowing that together, we can create a brighter and more resilient future for all. Congratulations to the graduates of the University of Florida! May your journey be filled with grit, determination, and endless possibilities.
I am beyond grateful and honored to have the opportunity to speak at UF's Young Alumni reception and share the powerful message of grit with the new graduates from the University of Florida. As leaders, we have a unique platform and responsibility to inspire and empower the next generation as they embark on their journey beyond the university walls. Grit is more than just a buzzword; it is the unwavering determination and resilience that propel individuals toward their goals, even in the face of adversity. It's about facing challenges head-on, embracing failures as opportunities for growth, and never giving up on our dreams. Today, as we gather to celebrate the achievements of these remarkable graduates, let us remind them of the power they hold within themselves. Let us encourage them to cultivate grit in all aspects of their lives, knowing that with perseverance and determination, they can overcome any obstacle and achieve their wildest dreams. As leaders, let us lead by example, showing gratitude for the opportunities we've been given and inspiring others to do the same. Let us use our voices to uplift and encourage those around us, knowing that together, we can create a brighter and more resilient future for all. Congratulations to the graduates of the University of Florida! May your journey be filled with grit, determination, and endless possibilities.
Join us on the Grit and Equity Talks Podcast with Dr. India White, where we will discuss spaced vs. mass practice for teachers! Visit www.india-white.com for more information #drindiawhite #grit #equity
🥳As the opening keynote at the WMC Annual conference, I had the opportunity to discuss equitable math practices with teachers. I am grateful to have gifted 30 copies of the Equity Counts book collaboration after my session! 🤩Thanks to Savvas Learning Company for making this happen🥰. The best is yet to come for Wisconsin teachers and students! #EquitableMath #Education #EquityCounts #savvas #drindiawhite #tedx #equity #WisconsinTeachers #StudentSuccess #wismath24 #nctm #ncsm… See more — at On Green Lake in Wisconsin.
Hanging out wit the tribe! I had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at @WisMathCouncil 🤩 We applied the concept of grit in their classroom! Thanks to @SavvasLearning!! #drindiawhite #math #grit #student #teachers @wismathcouncil #wismath24 #SAVVAS #nctm #ncsm #bwxme
This morning, I had the honor of being the opening keynote speaker at WMC's Annual Math Conference. 🤩The conference was a great success, with attendees discussing the importance of grit in both teachers and students. I’m excited to see Wisconsin teachers apply the concept of grit in their classrooms and help their students develop this crucial! Thanks to Savvas Learning Company for the support and encouragement!! #drindiawhite #math #grit #student #teachers @wismathcouncil #wismath24 #SAVVAS #nctm #ncsm #bwxme
‼️Attention all Wisconsin teachers! Are you ready to enhance your teaching skills and help your students develop their grit😃? If so, don't miss out on the opportunity to purchase my Grit Workbook at a discounted price! 🤗I have 50 copies available at WMC, so come and grab your copy this week🤩! #wismath2024 #nctm #ncsm #drindiawhite #grit #education #students #teachers #wismath2024 #nctm #ncsm #drindiawhite #grit #education #students #teachers