Living Life With Grit

Never in Reverse

On this episode of the Never in Reverse Podcast, cohosts Jeremy Axel and Doug Cox dive deep into their relationship with grit – what it is, how they developed it, and how they cultivate it in their day-to-day lives. Coming from similarly chaotic backgrounds, Doug and Jeremy had to grow up fast and develop strategies to deal with adversity as a necessity, not a choice.

Being able to face challenges head-on shapes the way that Jeremy and Doug see themselves and the world around them. Their understanding of grit goes beyond usual explanations of the concept, with both of them applying it to their personal lives. Jeremy explains how he had to become a better husband and father to his family, and that his grit gave him the ability to make those changes. He says that showing up for your loved ones after a long day at work takes grit – and that it’s worth it.

Doug and Jeremy also both discovered their love of sports in their childhoods, partially because it gave them a way to practice grit and to exercise control of their surroundings. Sports taught them how to work hard and improve themselves.

For detailed show notes, navigate using the time stamps below:

[0:30] Jeremy Axel introduces the episode, the podcast, and himself. Jeremy lives in Denver with his wife and two children. Cohost Doug introduces himself, discussing his family and his love of the outdoors.

[2:00] What is true grit? Doug says that it is all about being able to face challenges head-on. Jeremy and Doug believe that their grit is key to their lifestyles and the way they view the world.

[4:49] What does grit look like? For Doug, it looks like waking up and embracing the day. Jeremy says that his grit showed when he learned how to become a better husband and father for his family.

[9:20] Grit is tied to humility for Jeremy, and it is a key part of his self-image. He did not choose to become tough, instead he was born into a situation where grit was necessary for his survival. Doug says that his childhood was similar.

[12:57] You cannot truly show up for anybody else if you cannot show up for anyone else. For Doug, self-reflection is a key part of how he shows up for himself.

[18:43] Doug recounts his experiences in his childhood, moving to accommodate his father’s career. He believes that his experiences shaped him and made him better able to adapt to new environments.

[22:20] What does it mean for failure to shape you? We structure our lives around avoiding failures and mitigating mistakes.

[24:50] Playing sports gave Jeremy and Doug an outlet to deal with their emotions and have a level of agency.

[29:11] Not allowing failure involves significant sacrifice, and Jeremy became very used to sacrificing his need to succeed. These sacrifices are another important part of grit.

[32:46] Doug tries to keep his professional and personal life segmented to make sure he is fully present in both. Learning to prioritize at a young age allowed influenced his outlook.