“Life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it.”
– Charles Swindoll
Don’t Let the Bastards Grind You Down
On my father's desk sits a heavy block of stainless steel, engraved with a phrase in mock Latin:
ILLEGITIMIS NON CARBORUNDUM
Loosely translated: “Don’t let the bastards grind you down.” This shiny, heavy piece of metal serves as a daily reminder.
The phrase traces back to WWII U.S. Army General “Vinegar” Joe Stilwell. Known for a sharp wit and toughness, Stilwell supposedly had a block like this made to sit squarely on his desk. In the brutal fog of war, where setbacks pile up and critics circle, this was his reminder to stand firm and not let the haters win. It was his way of declaring to anyone who walked in—and maybe even more importantly, to himself—that no matter how chaotic or discouraging things got, he alone would decide his outlook.
That’s leadership: owning your mindset when you can’t own the moment.
My father, a career teacher and coach who later served in public life, understood that same need. Public service can be a double-edged sword. Those who serve can get a front seat to the best of humanity, and sometimes the worst. Critics, pressure, negativity … it can grind down even the strongest among us.
So as a family, we recreated Stilwell’s block for my father. From then on, it lived on his desk as a daily shield against discouragement. It became a tangible reminder that while he couldn’t control the noise, he could always control his response.
Choosing service and living with purpose guarantees there will be hard days. But like stainless steel, we can be strong enough to endure, to keep showing up, to keep making a difference.
What’s your reminder? Maybe it’s a phrase, a symbol, or a ritual. Something you can look to when the grind comes for you … because it will. You can let it either grind you down, or stand your ground.
I shared a version of this story in Chasing Influence because it captures something every leader and coach needs to remember: positive influence begins with mastering your own mindset. If you let the grind win, your influence fades. If you choose resilience, your influence deepens.
Let’s all take a page from Stilwell, from my father, and from the block on the desk:
Don’t let the grind win.
* If you enjoy the Chasing Influence newsletter, please consider hitting the heart button at the bottom of the post. This helps others find our weekly newsletter. Thanks!
“Tough times never last, but tough people do.”
– Robert H. Schuller
Connecting this quote to the story. Critics and pressure are temporary, but leaders who guard their mindset and purpose, like Stilwell (and my dad!), stay resilient and outlast the grind.
This week’s Chasing Influence tip: Find your “steel block”—a reminder to stay strong when the hits of service come your way.
If you enjoyed this story, a series of three Chasing Influence workbooks is available. Stories are accompanied by discussion questions and answers. Each workbook contains 33 lessons to use with any team.
Updates on Chasing Influence
Chasing Influence: Transformational Coaching to Build Champions for Life is available in Kindle, softcover, hardcover, and audiobook editions.
For additional resources, links to podcast appearances, and other Chasing Influence news, click here.
Keep grinding, Troy. 💪🏽🙏🏾