From Everest Base Camp: Grit, Failure, and the Power of Focus with Reid Tileston

"Grit is doing difficult things at the exact moment that you do not want to do them." In this episode of Built to Finish, Steven Pivnik sits down with Reid Tileston, author of Grit It Done, professor, entrepreneur, and Everest summiteer, live from Mount Everest Base Camp. Reid shares his definition of grit, why the people you surround yourself with directly impact your ability to achieve hard things, and how failure can become the fuel that pushes you forward. From business buying and entrepreneurship to cold plunges at 21,000 feet, high-altitude pulmonary edema, and attempting Everest without supplemental oxygen, this conversation explores what it really takes to keep going when motivation fades. Key Takeaways Grit means doing difficult things exactly when you do not want to do them. Your peer group has a major impact on your ability to follow through. Failure can become fuel when you use it to recommit instead of retreat. Founders need to know when to stay focused, when to pivot, and when to test more options. Daily habits like cold water immersion, visualization, and end-of-day reflection can help build grit over time. In business, grit often means doing the extra hard thing that creates a better outcome, like speaking to ten potential buyers instead of one. Contact Reid Follow Reid Tileston's Everest journey on Instagram: @reidtileston Learn more about his book: grititdone.com Connect with Reid on LinkedIn: Reid Tileston