For almost 10 years the risk3ixty had carried out the annual tradition known as our grit event. Here's what it is and why we keep the tradition alive. 

What is the Grit Event

For the last 10 years we have enjoyed the tradition of doing hard things together. 

The tradition started almost 10 years ago in the early days of risk3sixty. Myself and a few other risk3sixty team members were working in a conference room and heard there was a 100 mile relay race through the mountains of North Georgia. Almost as a joke, we signed up. 

The first year we did a 100 mile relay race. The next year we did it again. Later, we made it 200 miles. And that's pretty much how the Grit Event was born. 

As the team has grown over the years we have figured out ways to keep the traditional alive while making sure everyone can participate. We've exchanged 200 mile relay races for brisk hikes and fund raisers. But the principles remain. 

But why?

Why We Do It

A lot of folks ask me why we do these events every year. It stands out as an odd thing for a company to do. 

And over the years I've come to the conclusion we keep doing it for 3 main reasons: 

1. Grit is One of our 5 Core Values 

Every strong culture has a set of values. And if you don't work hard those values slowly erode until eventually they disappear. That's true for countries, religions, families, and inside your company.

The Ritz Carlton is famous for their daily line-up, Chic-fil-a is famously closed on Sundays, Patagonia was long renown for encouraging employees to take time off to do outdoor activities. If you look for them, there are examples of cultural traditions inside companies all over the place. 

Grit is one of our core values here at risk3sixty and the grit event is one way we keep our core values front and center. It is a time and space set aside each year to remember who we are and why.  

2. It Gets Us Out of Our Comfort Zone

Work is one of those things, that if you aren't careful, one day starts to look a lot like the next one. You wake up, you drive to work, answer emails, and repeat. You do that for a day, then a week, and before you know if you have strung a few too many of those together and things start to become pretty mundane.

Frankly, that's not the kind of life I hope to live and it's certainly not the life I want for my team. 

The grit event forces us out of the office and out of the everyday routine that can turn into a rut if you aren't careful. The grit event shocks the system.

My experience is that a shock to the system has all sorts of unexpected benefits. 

3. Fast Track Trust 

I have been fortunate to be a part of some pretty darned good teams. Sports team, teams at work, I would even call my family a team of sorts. And if there's one thing at the center of every good team it's trust.

But trust is a hard thing to build and few things can fast track it. But if there is one thing: it's doing hard things together. 

When you do hard things with your team it is a unique opportunity to learn that you can count on each other. You get a small glimpse into someone's character. Important questions like: What are they like when they are uncomfortable? What are they like when they are tire? Do they quit? Do they push through? Do they encourage the team? These are important things to know about your team. 

Ask anyone who has played sports or been through boot camp in the military.

Doing hard things together fast tracks trust. 

Do Hard Things

Now don't get me wrong here. The grit event isn't the end-all-be-all. It's not like we can do an event once a year and call it culture. That's just not how cultures are built.

Culture is built day-in and day-out through a thousand little actions that prove you are who you say you are. Culture is hard earned - and it should be! 

But I do think a little controlled adversity is a tool you should consider as part of your business leadership toolbelt.

So, consider this my call to action. 

Do hard things together!