Data

Beyond Data: Why 'Grit' May Matter More

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By Chet Dalzell

This past month, I was reminded how vital it is to have grit to achieve success, that is “true grit.”

The sports world gave us an improbable U.S. Men’s College Basketball champion in the UConn (University of Connecticut) Huskies. Only one lower-seeded team in the history of the NCAA men’s tournament—Villanova in 1985—has reached the March Madness pinnacle. (Ironically, UConn also produced a most probable champion, too, in women’s college basketball this year.)

UConn achieved this success against all odds—well 100:1 odds anyway.

Statistically, UConn didn’t have a chance … the team was 144th in the country in points scored, 146th in offensive rebounds, 179th in assists and 142nd in field goal percentage.

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Headshot of Chet Dalzell

Chet Dalzell

Marketing Sustainably: A blog posting questions, opportunities, concerns and observations on sustainability in marketing. Chet Dalzell has 25 years of public relations management and expertise in service to leading brands in consumer, donor, patient and business-to-business markets, and in the field of integrated marketing. He serves on the ANA International ECHO Awards Board of Governors, as an adviser to the Direct Marketing Club of New York, and is senior director, communications and industry relations, with the Digital Advertising Alliance. Chet loves UConn Basketball (men's and women's) and Nebraska Football (that's just men, at this point), too! 

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