Get Gritty With Me

This week on Get Gritty With Me, I’m sharing a deeply personal and life-changing decision.

After being selected for Chief Master Sergeant (E-9) — the highest enlisted rank in the U.S. Air Force, reserved for just 1% of the force — I made the decision to decline the promotion.

This episode is about why.

Through the lens of values-based decision making, I walk you through the internal conflict I faced, the role my core values played, and what it looks like to choose alignment over achievement — even when the achievement is something you’ve worked toward for nearly two decades.

We talk about:

• what happens when values come into conflict
• why success without alignment can feel hollow
• how courage sometimes looks like walking away
• and why family, wholeheartedness, and excellence mattered more in this season than title or rank

This is not an episode about regret or bitterness.

It’s about knowing yourself deeply enough to make the hardest right decision — and trusting that choosing alignment will make you a better leader, partner, and human in the long run.

If you’ve ever faced a moment where the “right” decision didn’t look like the expected one, this episode is for you.

This week’s episode of Get Gritty With Me looks a little different.

After the sudden loss of our beloved cat, Chloe, I felt it was important to pause — not to power through, but to acknowledge what real life can bring, even when we think we’re prepared.

In this episode, I share openly about grief, shock, and the quiet weight of losing a family member who had been with us for 18 years. I talk about how grief shows up in waves, how it lingers in small moments, and why resilience isn’t about hardening yourself to pain — but about allowing yourself to feel it fully.

This is not an episode about fixing grief or moving on quickly.

It’s about honoring love.
About gratitude for the time we’re given.
And about recognizing that grief itself is part of what it means to live with depth, connection, and resilience.

This episode is dedicated to Chloe — a sweet, beautiful soul who brought joy, comfort, and countless memories into our lives, and who will always be missed.

If you’ve ever loved and lost — a pet, a person, or a chapter of your life — this episode is for you.

In this episode, Coach April discusses the critical connection between values and behaviors, emphasizing that knowing one's values is not enough; they must be translated into daily actions. She provides practical examples of how to embody values like wholeheartedness and excellence in everyday life, and offers strategies for designing behaviors that align with personal values. The conversation also touches on the importance of boundaries and the role of intention in maintaining alignment with one's values.

Takeaways

• Values don't change your life, but behaviors do.
• Resilience is built through repetition, not agreement.
• Values must be practiced to become real.
• Daily choices should reflect your core values.
• Small behaviors can lead to significant changes.
• Avoid choosing behaviors that are too ambitious.
• Rest should be viewed as a value-aligned behavior.
• Modeling disciplined effort impacts others positively.
• You are gathering data, not chasing perfection.
• Clear behaviors are more important than motivation.

Chapters

00:00 The Importance of Values in Daily Life

03:12 Translating Values into Behaviors

05:46 Practical Application of Values

09:11 Designing Value-Based Behaviors

10:09 The Role of Boundaries and Saying No

If you’ve learned how to pause and notice —
but you’re not sure how to choose differently…

If you want goals that feel aligned instead of exhausting…

If you’re ready to move from awareness into intentional action…

This episode is for you.

In this episode of Get Gritty With Me, Coach April kicks off Values Month by showing how values-based goals create clarity, direction, and sustainable resilience — especially when motivation fades.

Using her own long-term pursuit of qualifying for the XTERRA World Championship as a real-life case study, April walks you through how she leverages her core values — wholeheartedness, excellence, and impact — to choose goals that support who she’s becoming, not just what she’s chasing.

This isn’t about grinding harder.
It’s about choosing what’s worth your energy.

You’ll hear how:

• mindfulness creates the pause, but values create direction
• values-based goals are identity-driven, not outcome-driven
• wholeheartedness requires full presence, not perfection
• excellence is built through preparation, skill, and integrity
• impact comes from modeling what’s possible, not proving worth
• values protect against burnout disguised as discipline
• resilience is built by returning to who you are when plans fall apart

This episode sets the foundation for the entire January series on values-based goal setting — and shows you how to anchor your goals to something deeper than motivation.

If you want more clarity…
If you want goals that support resilience instead of draining it…
If you’re ready to choose with intention…

Press play.

Because awareness shows you the truth —
values help you live it.

If today’s episode resonated and you’re wondering how to apply this in your own life, April created a one-page Values → Behavior → Goal worksheet to help you put this work into action.

You can download it for free when you subscribe to the Get Gritty With Me newsletter.

👉 Subscribe: https://mailchi.mp/getgrittywithme/ggwm

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde

GGWM Monthly — 3 strength sessions per week designed to build physical resilience that supports mental clarity and emotional steadiness.

Email: [email protected]

If you’ve been practicing mindfulness but wondering how it all fits together…

If you want to respond with intention instead of reacting on autopilot…

If you’re ready to turn awareness into meaningful action

This episode is for you.

In this episode of Get Gritty With Me, Coach April brings together the three mindfulness skills we’ve built over the past month — mindful grounding, mindful walking, and mindful swimming — and shows you how they work together to strengthen resilience in real life.

Not as theory.

Not as perfection.

But as tools you can actually use.

You’ll hear how:

• mindful grounding helps you find presence quickly
• awareness creates space for emotional regulation
• movement can become a practice of mindfulness
• resilience is built through real-life moments, not ideal conditions
• noticing reactivity is the first step toward intentional choice

This episode also sets the stage for what’s coming next: values-based goals — and why mindfulness is the foundation that allows you to align your actions with what truly matters.

If you want more clarity…

If you want goals that support your resilience instead of draining it…

If you’re ready to move from awareness to action…

Press play. 💚

Because presence isn’t the end goal —
it’s the starting point.

🎁 GIFTED COACHING OPPORTUNITY

To kick off the new year, April is gifting 10 spots for one full month of GGWM Monthly coaching, starting January 5th.

GGWM Monthly is a strength coaching program designed to help leaders build physical resilience that supports mental clarity and emotional steadiness.

This is completely free — no catch.

👉 Enter here:
https://forms.gle/JitbyR9EvM3TxSvJ8

*Spots are limited to the first 10 people who sign up.

🔗 FOLLOW + CONNECT

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde

💪 WORK WITH COACH APRIL

Email: [email protected]

GGWM Monthly — 3 strength sessions per week designed to build physical resilience that supports every part of your life.
👉 Sign up here: https://coach.everfit.io/package/SI332396

Mindfulness can meet you in the water.

In this episode of Get Gritty With Me, you’ll learn how mindful swimming can turn an ordinary swim session into a powerful practice for presence, stress regulation, and resilience — literally one breath and one stroke at a time.

Swimming is one of the few places where life gets quiet — not because the world changes, but because your attention finally has one job: breathe, stroke, repeat.

This episode is a simple, practical practice designed for leaders, athletes, and high performers who don’t have time to “check out,” but need a way to reset that fits their life.

You’ll learn:

• Why mindfulness isn’t about being calm — it’s about awareness
• How rhythm and repetition support nervous system regulation
• Why breath control brings you back to the present moment
• How swimming can become a moving meditation
• A step-by-step mindful swimming practice you can use in the pool or adapt to open water
• Why the real skill isn’t perfect focus, but learning how to return

If you’re tired of living on autopilot…
If you want to feel more grounded without slowing your life down…
If you’re ready to turn movement into a resilience-building tool…

Press play 💚

This episode is your reminder that presence is a practice — and you can build it breath by breath, stroke by stroke.

🎁 GIFTED COACHING OPPORTUNITY

To kick off the new year, April is gifting 10 spots for one full month of GGWM Monthly coaching, starting January 5th.

GGWM Monthly is a strength coaching program designed to help leaders build physical resilience that supports mental clarity and emotional steadiness.

This is completely free — no catch.

👉 Enter here:
https://forms.gle/JitbyR9EvM3TxSvJ8

*Spots are limited to the first 10 people who sign up.

🔗 FOLLOW + CONNECT

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde

💪 WORK WITH COACH APRIL

Email: [email protected]

GGWM Monthly — 3 strength sessions per week designed to build physical resilience that supports every part of your life.
👉 Sign up here: https://coach.everfit.io/package/SI332396

If your mind never slows down…
If sitting still feels impossible…
If stress follows you from one task to the next…

This episode is for you.

Because mindfulness doesn’t require silence, stillness, or a meditation cushion.

It can meet you in motion.

In this episode of Get Gritty With Me, you’ll learn how mindful walking can help you slow your thoughts, regulate stress, and bring your focus back to what actually matters — without stopping your day.

This is a simple, practical practice designed for leaders, athletes, and high performers who don’t have time to “check out,” but desperately need a way to reset.

You’ll learn:

• Why mindfulness isn’t about being calm — it’s about being aware
• How pairing movement with awareness helps your nervous system settle
• A step-by-step mindful walking practice you can use anywhere
• Why the real skill isn’t perfect focus, but learning how to return

If you’re tired of living on autopilot…
If you want to feel more grounded without slowing your life down…
If you’re ready to turn everyday movement into a resilience-building tool…

Press play. 💚

This is your reminder that presence is a practice — and you can build it one step at a time.

Follow:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe Insta - https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde

Work with Coach April:

Email - [email protected]

GGWM Monthly: Sign up - https://coach.everfit.io/package/SI332396

This episode is a wake-up call for every leader who moves too fast, reacts too quickly, or feels stretched too thin.

If you’ve ever walked into a meeting overwhelmed…
Felt your nerves hijack your confidence…
Or wished you could slow down long enough to actually lead — not just respond — this one’s for you.

In less than 10 minutes, you’ll learn a simple 30-second grounding practice that can transform your leadership presence immediately.

No fluff. No woo-woo. Just a practical, science-backed skill you can use today.

If you’re ready to step into the leader you know you can be, press play.

Because 30 seconds can change everything.

If this episode sparked something for you, make sure to follow the show so you never miss a weekly Get Gritty Tip.

And for more mindset tools, and coaching insights, subscribe to the Get Gritty With Me Newsletter here!

Let’s get gritty!

Follow:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde
GGWM Newsletter - http://eepurl.com/jsJzPk

Work with Coach April:
Email - [email protected]

GGWM Monthly:

Sign up - https://coach.everfit.io/package/SI332396

Welcome to the very first episode of Get Gritty With Me!

In this quick, powerful kickoff, I break down what resilience really is—and why it’s the foundation of grit, growth, and overcoming the challenges life throws your way.

You’ll learn the definition of resilience I’ve used for years as a Master Resiliency Trainer, why it’s something you can intentionally build, and how the four domains—physical, mental, social, and spiritual—shape your capacity to thrive.

If you’re ready to start strengthening your grit one week at a time, this is where your journey begins.

If this episode sparked something for you, make sure to follow the show so you never miss a weekly Grit Tip. And for more mindset tools, and coaching insights, subscribe to the Get Gritty With Me Newsletter here!

Let’s get gritty!

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde

Work with Coach April:
Email - [email protected]

Welcome to Get Gritty With Me — a podcast for real people with real goals and real-life challenges. In this special trailer, Coach April Spilde introduces what this show is all about: building resilience one small action at a time.

If you’re juggling work, training, family, ambition, and the messy moments in between, this is the space where you’ll learn how to show up stronger — not through perfection, but through alignment.

Each Monday morning, in about 10 minutes, you’ll get one gritty tip to help you create clarity, strengthen your mindset, and take intentional action. These are practical micro-skills and resilience tools designed for anyone ready to live with more purpose and courage.

No fluff. No overwhelm. Just the weekly spark you need to grow through what you’re going through.

Hit follow and get ready — your transformation starts with one gritty tip at a time.

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@GetGrittyWithMe
Insta - https://www.instagram.com/getgrittywithme
LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/april-spilde

Work with Coach April:
Email - [email protected]