7 secrets to becoming successful through sheer grit

Forget smarts. Forget work ethic. Forget connections.

If you're looking to succeed, grit is pretty much the one quality you absolutely need. That's because life's a mess and sometimes the best you can do is hang on and persevere.

With that in mind, Ellevate Network recently hosted a panel called "Resilience: Tales of True Grit & Bouncing Back." Moderated by Ellevate's president Kristy Wallace, it featured Jas Boothe, a disabled Army veteran and founder of Final Salute; Samantha Ettus, a work-life expert and author; and Karen Davis-Farage, the co-owner of Pole Position Raceway.

This group of woman each spoke about obstacles they have overcome in their lives, along with their own definitions of grit.

Here are seven of their takeaways on how to crush both our personal and professional life through sheer resilience: