Get Some Grit

Grit is passion and perseverance for meaningful goals. It’s the ability to keep pushing forward when things get tough, to roll up your sleeves, and to do whatever it takes to get the job done.

I Learned This the Hard Way

Early in my time at Stevens Creek Church, our lead pastor, Marty Baker, taught me a lesson in grit that I’ll never forget. Back in 1997, when dinosaurs roamed the earth and the internet was just a rumor, we used to perform drama sketches in our services to illustrate biblical messages. The only way to get these scripts was to have them faxed. (For the younger crowd, a fax machine was basically a loud, slow, and temperamental printer that worked over phone lines.)

One week, we missed the Monday deadline to request a sketch. No big deal, I thought. I told Marty, "We missed the deadline. We can’t get it."

But Marty wasn’t having it. "Did you try other options?" he asked.

So I went on a wild goose chase, calling every number I could find. Nothing. Dead ends everywhere. I went back to Marty, expecting him to concede defeat.

Nope. "Try again," he said.

At this point, I was ready to declare that maybe it just wasn’t God’s will for us to do the sketch. But Marty was relentless. He wanted the sketch, and by some miracle (and a very patient company that took a credit card payment over the phone), we found a book with the script in it. They copied the page and faxed it over.

Did I grumble during this process? Oh, absolutely. Did I learn a valuable lesson? 100%.

Grit Is in Short Supply

Today, things are different. If we need information, Google has it in 0.0003 seconds. Siri will literally read it out loud for us, and Amazon will have it at our doorstep by morning. With all this convenience, it’s easy to see why grit is becoming a lost art.

But here’s the thing: great leaders aren’t made in comfortable, easy situations. They’re made in the moments where they refuse to give up, even when things seem impossible.

The Difference Between Good and Great

I believe you can be a good leader without grit. But you will never be a great leader without it.

So when obstacles come—and they will—don’t take the easy way out. Get some grit. Find another way. And, for the love of all things holy, be grateful that you don’t have to rely on a fax machine to do it.

Thirty years at the same church is not something you hear about every day. I’ve had the privilege of serving at Stevens Creek for three decades, and through it all, I’ve learned a thing or two (or five). As the Executive Pastor of Experience, I oversee everything from the parking lot to the stage. If you see it, hear it, or experience it—my team has a hand in it. I also oversee all of our campuses, which means I spend a lot of time making sure our vision is consistent across the board.

Needless to say I have seen a lot. So….over the next few posts I’m going to share 5 major lessons that I’ve learned throughout the years.

Excellence Matters

Think about it—when was the last time you heard someone say:

“That restaurant was completely average… I can’t wait to eat there again!”
“That golf course had three decent greens. I’m definitely booking another round next week.”
“That church wasn’t friendly at all, and I had no idea where to go. Sounds like my kind of place!”
“That worship band played half the notes right—sign me up to audition!”

No one says that. Because mediocrity doesn’t inspire anyone.

Excellence isn’t about being perfect; it’s about doing your absolute best with the talent, time, and resources God has given you. It’s about pushing yourself and those around you to always strive for better.

Excellence is just the gradual result of always striving to be better. It doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t happen by accident.

Excellence is in the Details

The little things matter.

A clean and welcoming environment makes a difference.
A well-rehearsed worship team leads people into deeper moments of worship.
Clear signage and friendly volunteers help new guests feel at home.
A well-prepared message carries more impact than one thrown together last-minute.

Great churches don’t happen by chance. They are built through intentionality and attention to detail. If we want to honor God and inspire people, we have to care about the small things.

Pulling Excellence Out of Your Team

If you want excellence to be part of your culture, you have to set the expectation for it. Here’s the truth:

People will only give a percentage of what you expect of them. If the bar is low, if the expectation is low, that’s exactly what you’ll get out of them.

Set high expectations, because people want to be excellent. They want to be a part of something great. And if you lead with excellence, they’ll follow.

Be the Example

Excellence starts with leadership. You can’t expect something from your team that you don’t model yourself.

Be an owner. If you see trash on the floor, pick it up.
Take pride in your space. Make sure your environment reflects the level of care you want your team to have.
Make your meetings efficient and engaging. People’s time is valuable—use it wisely.
Encourage and correct with grace. Excellence isn’t about being harsh; it’s about helping people grow.

At the end of the day, excellence isn’t about perfection—it’s about doing the very best we can with what God has given us. When we commit to excellence, we create a culture where people feel valued, inspired, and ready to do their best work for the Kingdom.

So set the bar high. Pay attention to the details. And most of all, lead by example. Because excellence honors God and inspires people.

Lessons Learned : Get Some Grit