Grit, Guts & Gusto, explained

Many people replied to my last post with the same question: "Sis, 12 interview rounds for one job. How did you not give up?"

My answer is three words. I still hold on to them today, and now they are the name of my business. Grit, Guts & Gusto.

Grit

Every time I was rejected, I went home, and after I had finished crying, I asked myself: what did the panel see that I didn't?

The panel said: you're still young, most of your subordinates will be senior men who have been around for years, and you don't have enough operations experience.

The first time, I answered that it didn't matter. If we have the knowledge and support from everyone, Insya Allah we will help each other. Naive, right!

After a few rounds of being bashed with those kinds of questions, I was confident enough to answer differently. I built on that first answer, shared my own experience of managing the senior old-timers, gave a few examples of problems with the solution and how I executed it, and didn't leave the panel room for pointless questions.

For me, grit means carrying on with what you believe is right, while still weighing the risks and staying two steps ahead. Don't give up, okay?

Guts

There were times I didn't apply straight away. I paused for a while.

When you feel really down, or you've lost your direction, go and find someone you trust and ask for their view. Be truthful about your frustration and get a new perspective. Keep an open mind. If the panel asks something, there must be a reason, even if it seems unimportant. Find a way to overcome it, instead of staying sad and down. Allah knows what is best for His servants.

Guts is having the courage to take time to make the right decision, even through the pain of your lowest points. Sometimes your gut feeling is more accurate than logic.

Gusto

This one is my favourite. Gusto is what kept my team going through five years of the Aerotrain project.

We celebrated every milestone, big or small. Only Allah knows how crazy this project was. Celebrating was a way of appreciating the whole team: a relaxed moment to talk things through, laugh together, and, without realising it, build rapport. We would tease each other or grumble, but in a laid-back way, so the message landed softly.

But there must be food. Especially dessert. The tiredness just disappears.

Gusto is passion

Gusto is a kind of passion, and it matters most. Without that spirit, getting up every day to face the challenges (grit), and finding the courage to make important decisions and stand by them (guts), just doesn't happen. Passion, once lost, is hard to find again.

Those 12 rounds taught me one thing: rejection is not the final answer. It only means "not yet". The time hadn't come, and Allah had already arranged our rezeki long before.

And you? How many times were you rejected before you got what you wanted?

First published in Bahasa Melayu on Threads (@gritgutsgusto), 31 October 2026. Translated into English.