What Does Texas A&M’s G.R.I.N.D. Mean? The Full Breakdown and Why It Matters

How Mike Elko built a culture in the Winter that shows up in the fourth quarter

G.R.I.N.D. is the core cultural acronym used by Texas A&M football under head coach Mike Elko.

It stands for:

• Grit

• Relentless Effort

• Integrity

• Now

• Dependability

Elko introduced this philosophy as part of his program-building approach — first at Duke, then embedding it deeply at Texas A&M. The letters are displayed inside the team’s facility and repeated as a daily standard, not just a motivational slogan.

UTSA v Texas A&M | Maria Lysaker/GettyImages

After hearing it thrown around by many student-athletes throughout his career, he decided to turn it into an acronym and make it a core component of his coaching philosophy.

The acronym gained national attention during A&M’s historic 31–30 comeback win over South Carolina, where the Aggies erased a 30–3 halftime deficit at Kyle Field, where the acronym is emblazoned. When asked how his team pulled it off, Elko said:

“We won that game six months ago with what we did in the Winter. We didn’t win that game because I went in at halftime and said something. We built a culture, we built a character, we built a commitment to doing things the way we want to do them back in January and February.” - Mike Elko

Elko wasn't referring to physical conditioning; he was referencing the mindset the team had been cultivating for months.

Success is built long before game day — in the offseason, in the winter months, in the unseen commitment to fundamentals, discipline, and identity.

It also demonstrates that Acronyms are only useful when their meaning are embodied and acted upon - which is what Power Acronym is all about.

If you're looking for the real meaning of A&M’s G.R.I.N.D., where it came from, and why it matters, this post breaks it all down — and shows how it applies not just to football, but to leadership, personal growth, and the work we put in when nobody is watching.

Separation Season

The media wanted a dramatic halftime speech.

But Elko shut that down fast.

The win didn’t happen in the locker room.

It happened six months earlier.

It happened in January.

In the weight room.

In quiet parts of the calendar where nobody is watching and nobody is cheering.

Because that’s Separation Season.

Winter — literal or figurative — is the season most people slow down.

They rest. They coast. They settle.

But competitors don’t.

Winners use Winter to separate.

Winners win where quitters quit.

They use the slow months to become the person their future demands.

They build capacity, discipline, and identity when it’s easier not to.

This is the season where the new you separates from the old you.

And the wins of 2026?

They begin today.

Just like the Aggies’ comeback didn’t start at halftime — it started months earlier in the G.R.I.N.D.

Power Acronym 205: G.R.I.N.D.

The A&M coaching staff and players know what the G.R.I.N.D. truly means within the walls of the locker room but I thought I'd include some of my own thoughts as well as insights from scientific researchers and subject matter experts to support the strength of Mike Elko’s coaching philosophy.

I do love what he said about the G.R.I.N.D. acronym when he first introduced it at Duke:

“The beauty of these five pillars is that they require zero talent,” he said. “There’s no level of excellence that you need in your athleticism, it’s simply a mindset. It’s a mindset that we have to change. It demands us to make a choice that we will not settle for anything else but excellence in anything we do. Once we truly understand that and truly embrace these five pillars, success will follow, and success will follow on the field.” - Mike Elko

G — Grit

I’m not sure if Mike Elko has read the book Grit by Angela Duckworth, but being that she’s the leading researcher on the science of Grit, he’d probably enjoy it if he did.

Angela defines Grit as an “intense passion and perseverance toward long-term goals.”

Check out this Philosopher’s Note on Grit for more, but here’s how to make it real for yourself:

If you are looking to cultivate more grit:

• Become intensely interested in the work that must be done

• Practice daily - not to get it right - but to never get it wrong

• Connect your work to a higher calling

• Commit to rising, no matter the amount of times you get knocked down

R — Relentless Effort

Two people are running a race.

The one in front is moving at a quicker pace, but as the finish line draws closer, begins to slow down, believing there’s enough of a gap from exerting extra energy from the start.

The one behind sees the slowdown and recognizes the opportunity.

With every walk break or slow move up a hill, the person behind gains on the leader.

Each additional step and extra bit of effort closes the gap until, finally, the pass is made.

Relentless Effort is the source of the “separation” in Separation Season.

No matter what your goal is in your energy, work, or love, there is power in being the person who remains consistent when others slow, stop, or stall.

Remember:

“Most people don’t truly want to be great, they just kind of want it. The greats do the work even when they don’t want to.” - Tim S. Grover, Relentless

I — Integrity

“At the simplest level, personal integrity entails such questions as: Am I honest, reliable, and trustworthy? Do I keep my promises? Do I do the things I say I admire and do I avoid the things I say I deplore? Am I fair and just in my dealings with others?” - Nethaniel Branden

Integrity means oneness — alignment between what you say, what you do, and who you are becoming.

As Scripture reminds us, “a house divided against itself cannot stand.” (Mark 3:25)

Integrity in the context of a team is important because it leads to becoming dependable for others, but it begins on the individual level.

It’s part Doing What You Say You Will Do - Power Acronym 19: D.W.Y.S.Y.W.D.

And avoiding what Steve Chandler calls the main ingredient to Self-Sabotage:

The phrase “Only I Will Know” - Power Acronym 33: O.I.W.K.

N — Now

Perhaps more than any other pillar of G.R.I.N.D., Now is what made the historic comeback win for Texas A&M possible a few weeks ago.

Being down 30-3 at halftime is a demoralizing reality.

But when the present moment is the scoreboard, things shift.

Focusing on one play, one yard at at a time set the Aggies up for their win.

Zen teaches that the present moment is the only place where life is lived — and “Now” is the only place where the G.R.I.N.D. can happen.

What do you do to bring yourself to “the now”? (Here are 6 ideas)

Think about your goals.

Who must you become in order to achieve them?

What actions does that person take every day?

What are their habits?

You don't have to let past experience or the roar of the crowd dictate your future.

Now is the scoreboard. Everything else is noise.

“A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.” - Lao Tzu

D — Dependability

It's hard to talk about excellence in coaching without bringing up one of the greatest coaches of all time, John Wooden.

If you haven't seen his Pyramid of Success, I recommend you check it out. Look closely at the bottom of the pyramid, the foundation:

Industriousness, Friendship, Loyalty, Cooperation, and Enthusiasm.

Dependability is what makes the entire foundation real.

The coach depends on his players. Players depend on each other. Dependability is culture, not a trait.

Being dependable is the quality of being trustworthy and reliable. These traits don't just happen - they grow over time.

After months of consistently showing up for each other in the small things, the big moment is just another “Now” on the way to victory.

Also, did you know the word “consistency” derives from the Latin for “standing together”?

Standing together is what comes to mind when I think of being dependable. It demonstrates how G.R.I.N.D. is not only individual; the culture is co-created.

Time to G.R.I.N.D.

Last night's University of Texas vs. Texas A&M game goes to show that G.R.I.N.D. doesn't make winning inevitable. But it makes progress unavoidable.

But the Aggies 11-1 season record does demonstrate that Coach Elko’s five pillar approach for a winning culture does work.

But don't let their success merely entertain you. Let the G.R.I.N.D. philosophy help you be and become the person you know you're capable of being.

2026 is right around the corner, and it starts now.

It's time to G.R.I.N.D.

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Bonus:

I found this short interview of Mike Elko being asked to explain G.R.I.N.D. on a radio show. It's short, so if you're interested in his explanation you can check it on X here.

T.A.G. The Moments That Matter

Power Acronym 204: T.A.G.

Some moments deserve to be tagged — noticed, named, and remembered.

This week, it happened at a baby shower in our office.

The Moment

Friday, we stopped everything to celebrate one of our Project Managers and his bride-to-be as they prepare to welcome their first child in just a few weeks.

There was blue and white confetti on the floor, balloons everywhere, party favors, snacks, cake.

And for a solid hour, there was no talk of jobs, numbers, or deadlines.

Just people showing up for people.

I tend to be pretty focused on work, and I was happy to simply savor that moment.

Like the silence I shared about in a previous post, it was a moment I wanted to make sure I really felt - because I'm working to live, not the other way around.

I’m now calling these moments T.A.G. moments.

Like life is tapping my shoulder and saying, “Tag, this is it.”

And while the memory already has a name (baby shower, mountain silence), T.A.G. matches the feeling I've experienced with them.

T.A.G. yourself into your own life by being Thankful, Appreciative, and Grateful.

While each are similar, I have notes for each to help distinguish one from the other and help experience that T.A.G. moment fully.

Power Acronym 204: T.A.G.

T — THANKFUL

Being thankful is typically reactive; a response for a benefit received or kindness experienced.

It’s a response to good that comes to you.

I was thankful that we took that hour to celebrate.

Thankful for the games, the snacks, the cake.

Thankful for the owners’ family, who decorated the office with balloons and party favors.

Thankful that I got to be in the room.

We as a team were giving thanks for each other in the form of all the things that made the party what it was.

The only way to live is to accept each minute as an unrepeatable miracle.” - Margaret Storm Jameson

A — APPRECIATE

Appreciation is the practice of recognizing the value something or someone brings to you.

That moment made me appreciate the culture we’re building:

A place where we value people more than performance.

Where we carve out time just to love on a teammate’s family.

Where laughter fills an hour that could’ve been spent grinding.

When we increase our awareness and pay closer attention to what brings us value, the value increases exponentially.

Or, said another way:

“What you appreciate, appreciates.”

I return to that phrase often because it says it all.

“Attention is the doorway to gratitude, the doorway to wonder, the doorway to reciprocity.” - Robin Wall Kimmerer

G — GRATITUDE

Gratitude is a readiness to show appreciation, thankfulness embodied.

Heroic pairs this virtue with a simple declaration:

“I appreciate all the gifts and blessings in my life.”

That hour filled me with a sense of gratitude.

Gratitude that I get to be an active participant in this kind of community.

Gratitude for the outpouring of love.

Gratitude for the reminder I needed.

Because work is so often tied to performance and objectives…

But how it impacts each and every family our work touches — our team and the families we serve — is the whole point.

I am hopeful that more leaders will find ways to show their Gratitude toward their team and community.

I think I'll start by sharing more thanks and taking more moments to really appreciate the life I have.

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.” - Leo F. Buscaglia

T.A.G. the Moments That Matter

This week, around whatever table you gather at…

Say what you’re Thankful for.

Call out what you Appreciate.

Share the Gratitude that’s shaping who you’re becoming.

Remember:

We work to live, not the other way around.

‘Tis the season to T.A.G. the moments that matter.

“It is more blessed to give than to receive.” - Jesus (Acts 20:35)

Life S.A.V.E.R.S.: 6 Simple Morning Habits That Quietly Change Your Whole Day

Power Acronym 203: Life S.A.V.E.R.S.

What if the first 20 minutes of your day quietly decided how the other 23 hours go?

I’m a morning person.

I enjoy being up just as the sun begins to rise.

The quiet before anyone expects anything from you. The smell of coffee. The slow awakening to the simple gift of another day to live.

My mornings aren’t always that poetic or picturesque, but they bring me a joy that staying up late just doesn’t.

Lately I’ve been implementing a lot of what Hal Elrod shares in his book The Miracle Morning. I haven’t read the full book, but I did go through a Philosophers Note summary, which is where I first came across this Power Acronym.

As a morning person and a practitioner of each of the habits he packages as the Life S.A.V.E.R.S., I believe implementing even one of these will not only help you win your morning, but set you up to win your whole day.

Power Acronym 203: Life S.A.V.E.R.S.

Silence

Chelsey and I recently traveled to Colorado for an anniversary getaway. The first thing we did on our first day there was find a trail in Rocky Mountain National Park. The trail we picked was 4.5 miles. About two-thirds of the way up the mountain, at roughly 9,000 feet, the silence was incredible.

I’d never experienced silence like that. No highway. No planes. No people—not even animals scurrying around. We stopped for several minutes, several times, just to experience it. (And catch our breath!)

Even now, weeks later, I can bring my mind back to that feeling.

It’s easy to take silence for granted, even when it’s not in its “purest” form on the side of a mountain. I try to practice it in my media diet. I’m often listening to a podcast or music on my Spotify app. For some reason I can forget how healing a silent car ride can be.

Next time you get in your car, don’t listen to anything. Just drive. Breathe. Observe—without judgment.

Affirmations

Each day I affirm the identities I have for myself as part of my personal Heroic protocol. These are the things I’ve recognized that, when I do them, I’m performing at my best—or at the very least, not having a bad day.

Some of my affirmations are about identity:

I affirm healthy masculine energy: I am a King, Warrior, Magician, Lover. (Great book I just finished.)

I am a “Connected Contractor”.

I have an abundant love life.

I affirm the virtues I want to embody—wisdom, discipline, love, courage, gratitude, hope, curiosity, zest, dedication, integrity, enthusiasm.

When I do something I know is good or that I sometimes resist, like working out or doing the dishes in the sink, I affirm that I am the type of person who does the thing.

Science backs this up: when we affirm ourselves, we lock it into our mind and become more likely to become the type of person who does that thing habitually.

Visualization

Visualization is powerful because it helps set you up for what is to come.

If you’re anxious about a situation, visualization might sound scary. It doesn’t have to be. The thing you’re facing might be intimidating, but visualization is less about controlling the thing and more about who you are as you move through it.

In the book Psycho-Cybernetics, Maxwell Maltz explains that your brain’s built-in “servo-mechanism” responds to vividly imagined experiences almost as if they were real. Sports psychologists have been proving this out for decades. Jack Nicklaus, for example, talked about mentally playing each golf shot in detail before he ever stepped up to the ball—seeing the flight, the landing, and the ball dropping into the cup before he swung.

As Maltz puts it, “Your nervous system can't tell imagined from real experience.”

That means when you visualize each step of the journey you’re about to take, you’re giving your nervous system a practice run.

You’ve already felt some of the emotions beforehand, so when the real moment comes, it feels more familiar and less overwhelming.

You’re rehearsing who you want to be when it matters most.

Exercise

Movement is the energy hack everyone has access to but too few take advantage of.

I know this says “exercise,” but I want to invite you to change the language you use around “exercise” or “working out.” Especially if you don’t have a habit in place yet or you have a negative opinion of exercise, the words themselves can block you from the power of movement and what it can unlock for you.

Just call it movement.

Movement can be walking. Or stretching.

It sounds like a paradox, but when you move enough that your heart rate elevates, and even when you start sweating, your body is actually giving you the chemicals and energy you need to keep going.

When done in the morning, some studies show you can experience these benefits for up to 12 hours afterward.

Even a few minutes counts.

Reading

If you have time to stare at your phone, you have time to read.

The problem is that reading isn’t as visually stimulating as 15–60 second videos that are optimized to lock in your attention and flood your dopamine system.

But reading does provide amazing benefits for our brains. It can be a powerful vehicle for affirming ourselves and teaching ourselves new skills. Or, if you enjoy fiction, it can give you something novel when your life feels so calendar-dependent and rote.

You may even sleep better, because you’re not blasting your eyes with blue light before closing them.

Read and let your mind imagine—and see how it changes your day.

Scribing

I’ve been journaling for years. Not always every day—I go through ebbs and flows.

Recently I’ve been using ChatGPT to prompt me with three journal questions in the morning. It uses everything it already knows about me since I’ve been working with it for a few years now, and the prompts are really great.

Scribing is getting your thoughts on paper and out of your head. It can be extremely cathartic. It’s just for you, so you can use that space as sacred for your true thoughts and feelings.

It alone is transformative. Get out of your head and let your heart express itself through your hands.

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I don’t hit every S.A.V.E.R.S. every single morning, but most days I’m doing some version of all six. That didn’t happen overnight.

You don’t have to go all-in tomorrow. Just pick one S.A.V.E.R.S. practice that resonates—Silence, Affirmations, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, or Scribing—and commit to it for the next seven mornings.

Power Acronym exists to encourage, enrich, and empower you with the language of leadership. Life S.A.V.E.R.S. is one example: simple words for daily practices that quietly change who you’re becoming, one morning at a time.

Power Acronym 202: A.L.E.C. (R U OK?)

How to Ask “R U OK?” (with help from Australia)

I was recently introduced to Movember, a global men’s health movement that uses mustaches, movement, and conversation to raise awareness and funds for prostate cancer, testicular cancer, mental health, and suicide prevention. Funds go toward research, early detection, treatment, and community programs worldwide. (Learn more at Movember.)

While exploring Movember resources, I came across an Australian organization called R U OK? They exist to help everyday people check in on friends, coworkers, and loved ones who might be struggling—and to keep those conversations going. Their simple message: “A conversation could change a life.”

They also share a framework I’m officially welcoming into the Power Acronym family:

A.L.E.C.

Ask – Listen – Encourage Action – Check In

(Developed by R U OK? and shared here with appreciation and attribution.)

This one hits close to home for me. I’ve worked with two different men who later took their own lives. And many of us are still reeling from the recent loss of Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland, a sobering reminder that pain can be hidden behind talent, success, and a public platform.

A.L.E.C. gives us a way to show up:

A — Ask
Start the conversation.
In the U.S., that might sound like:
“Hey, how are you doing—really?”
“I’ve noticed you seem a bit off lately. How’s everything going?”
The goal isn’t a perfect script; it’s a real, caring question.

L — Listen
Give them space.
Listen without fixing, preaching, or comparing.
Let them finish. Ask gentle follow-ups. Take them seriously.

E — Encourage Action
If they open up, help them think about a next step: talking to a trusted friend or pastor, booking with a counselor, texting a helpline, going for a walk together—something that moves them toward support.

C — Check In
Don’t let it be a one-time moment.
Circle back. A simple “Been thinking about you. How are you today?” shows you meant what you said.

If you’d like to go deeper into A.L.E.C., conversation examples, and professional guidance, head straight to the source at R U OK? (ruok.org.au)—they’ve built excellent resources, and I’m grateful for their work.

Power Acronym exists to encourage, enrich, and empower you—and A.L.E.C. is a clear example of that calling in action. When we learn simple, practical tools like this and actually use them, we don’t just remember an acronym; we help someone stay.

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If you’re struggling or worried about someone’s immediate safety, please don’t handle it alone. In the U.S., you can call or text 988 or use the chat at 988lifeline.org for support right now.

In Longview and much of East Texas, Community Healthcore’s 24/7 Crisis Line (800-832-1009) connects you with local crisis and mobile response teams.

🕊️ Failure Leads to Freedom | Becoming Truly F.R.E.E.

Fear ends where freedom begins.

Before I started in roofing, I spent five years in logistics.

I began as the “media guy,” taking photos, editing videos, and helping tell the company’s story. Over time, my role evolved. I grew in skill, responsibility, and leadership as the business changed and the needs changed with it.

It became the longest job I’d ever held — five years. Most of my other roles had lasted two or three.

Then my wife Chelsey started working in roofing.

Through a lot of hard work, she had an incredible first year — actually exceeding what had taken me five years to reach. I was proud of her, but it made me think.

Because a career isn’t just about money.
It’s about meaning, challenge, and alignment.

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The Crossroads

By that time, I had invested years building relationships with logistics experts across the country. I enjoyed the work and had stability.

But Chelsey and I began imagining what it might look like to work together — in a new industry, for the same company, with aligned schedules and shared goals.

There were a lot of pros:
→ Serving our community directly.
→ Learning a new skill set.
→ Working side by side.

And a lot of cons:
→ Leaving a reliable salary.
→ Learning a completely new trade.
→ Navigating the husband–coworker dynamic.

Ultimately, after many long talks between Chelsey and me on our back patio, I made the leap to Project One Roofing.

The opportunity felt greater than the fear.
But that didn’t mean I wasn’t afraid.

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Facing Fear

The fear of change is real.
For months, I battled the what ifs:

“What if I don’t make as much money?”
“I’m starting from scratch.”
“There’s so much competition.”
“What if I fail and have to start over again?”

That kind of fear is paralyzing. It sounds rational, but it hides a deeper truth:
We aren’t afraid of failing, we’re afraid of what failing says about us.

But as we’ve explored in this series, failure doesn’t define you.
It refines you.

And once you’ve faced the fear, you realize what’s really on the other side isn’t danger — it’s freedom.

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Freedom Through F.R.E.E.

I’ve grown more in the past year than I could have predicted - as a sales professional, project manager, and leader.
I’ve learned more about construction and roofing faster than I thought was possible - thanks to my wife, my team, and the people who’ve shared their decades of experience with me.

If you’re in a similar place - staring down fear, comfort, or uncertainty - maybe this framework can help:

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Power Acronym 185: F.R.E.E.

Face Responsibility
It can be scary to take a stand, but its worth it. Accept all you are and all you are not, and start moving forward. Take ownership of your choices, and stop outsourcing your outcomes.

Engage
Act in the presence of fear. Don’t let yourself be chained to comfort and familiarity. Move forward even when you don’t feel ready. Let failure become feedback, your companion, your fuel.

Expand
Seek new experiences and let them shape you. Keep growing. Build relationships, seek new ones and discover new ways to contribute. Make innovation a part of your personal and professional life.

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Final Thoughts

Failure is not easy.

Its challenge does not disappear in the presence of Power Acronyms.

But I hope that, like failure, these Power Acronyms can serve as companions of successful thinking just like failure can be.

Whether the failure is far in your past, you can still feel the sting of the pain, or you're fearing what sort of failure you'd have to face if things don't go the way you'd hope, remember that failure is rarely final.

So... Be F.R.E.E.

Fail Forward and discover the next chapter of your own story.

“No man is free who is not a master of himself.” — Epictetus

This is the final post in the Failing Forward Series. Read more through the links below:

Foundational → Fuel → Fortune → Feedback → Focus → Freedom

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