Summary

Angela Duckworth describes grit as passion and perseverance – holding the same top-level goal for a very long time. While we prefer talent, grit is a better indicator of success. Talent counts once but effort twice in achievement. Grit grows from 1) intrinsic enjoyment, 2) deliberate practice, 3) a sense of purpose, and 4) hope, learned optimism, and a growth mindset. Be an imperfection-ist and optimistic – be the man in the arena.

“A growth mindset leads to optimistic ways of explaining adversity, and that in turn leads to perseverance and seeking out new challenges that will ultimately make you even stronger”

Key Takeaways

• Grit: passion + perseverance, holding the same top-level goal for a very long time
• Effort = time x intensity_;_ skill = talent x effort; achievement = skill x effort
• Warren Buffet 5/25 rule
• Flynn effect: average IQ up by 30 points over last 150 years (abstract reasoning)
• Grit grows from 1) interest / intrinsic enjoyment, 2) practice, 3) purpose, 4) hope
  • Deliberate practice: objective measure of improvement, testing oneself
  • Purpose: the intention to contribute to the wellbeing of others
  • Hope: learned optimism, growth mindset, optimism, imperfection-ist

Notes

1: What grit is and why it matters

1: Showing up

• Grit: passion + perseverance
• Best predictor of school and military completion, sales role attrition
• Separation of grit and talent
• “Our potential is one thing, what we do with it is quite another”

2: Distracted by talent

• Americans rate hard work as 2x more important to success than talent
• Paradoxically, we prefer natural talent over hard workers when selecting between them
• Description of McKinsey consulting role
• Tests of talent aren’t indicative of success

3: Effort counts twice

• Praise innate talent because it gives us an excuse to not meet standard through effort
• Effort = time x intensity
• Skill = talent x effort
• Achievement = skill x effort
• Talent matters, but effort counts twice
• “I am not afraid to die on a treadmill” - Will Smith
• ↑ No fear in working too hard

4: How gritty are you

• More about stamina than intensity
• Grit score test
• Envision goals in a hierarchy:
  • 1 top-level goal
  • 3 mid-level goals
  • 7 low-level short-term goals / tasks
• “Grit is about holding the same top-level goal for a very long time”
• Can / should have multiple goal hierarchies
• Warren Buffet 5/25 rule
• Need to factor in how goals fit together
• Lower-level goals can/should change more
• Knowing when to alter plans vs stick with
• Persistence of motive: main indicator of eminence
• Passion
  • Active preparation for later in life, working towards a definite goal
  • Not seeking something fresh because of novelty, not seeking a change
• Perseverance
  • Determination to stick to a course once decided upon
  • Tendency not to abandon tasks in the face of obstacles

5: Grit grows

• Flynn effect: average IQ up by 30 points over last 150 years (abstract reasoning)
• Social multiplier effect: improved environment, ↑ competition pushes up avg
• Studies show grit increases with age
  • Could be due to national social environment during formative years
  • Could also be due to maturation, realization that perseverance is key
• Grit grows from 1) interest / intrinsic enjoyment, 2) practice, 3) purpose, 4) hope

2: Growing grit from the inside out

6: Interest

• 2/3 of US “is not engaged at work”
  • Even less abroad, only Canada more
• Find passion first, use to drive work choice

7: Practice

• A persistent desire to do better
• 10 years, 10k hours for mastery / expert
• Deliberate practice: objective measure of improvement, testing oneself
• ↑ significant improvement in efficiency
• ↑ highly effortful, not enjoyable
• Flow: low effort, not structured
• Relieve yourself of the judgement

8: Purpose

• Purpose: the intention to contribute to the wellbeing of others
• Purpose is subjective, can apply meaning to everything (philosophy, role of the chair)
• Example top-level organizing goal: “use psychological science to help kids thrive”
• Value of role models
• Building purpose:
  • Reflect on how current work can benefit society
  • Think about ways to change current work to enhance connection to core values
  • Find inspiration in a purposeful role model

9: Hope

• Hope: expectation that, through our efforts, tomorrow will be better than today
• Suffering without control (helplessness) leads to depression, withering perseverance
• Learned optimism: growth mindset
• Optimists are more successful
• Fragile perfect: people caught up in their laurels who can’t stand to fail, fixed mindset
• “A growth mindset leads to optimistic ways of explaining adversity, and that in turn leads to perseverance and seeking out new challenges that will ultimately make you even stronger”
• Don’t be afraid to ask for help

3: Growing grit from the outside in

10: Parenting for grit

• Foster a growth mindset
• Unconditional support
• Wise parenting: supporting + demanding

11: The playing fields of grit

• Extracurriculars’ important in grit dev’t
• ↑ uniquely challenging and interesting
• Followthrough if extracurriculars (over a year) greatest indicator of future success
• High extracurricular achievement: 69% college graduation vs 16% no extracurriculars
• Virtuous cycle vs viscous spiral
• Learned industriousness: general learned value between hard work and reward

12: A culture of grit

• Culture: group with shared norms, values
• Cost-benefit analysis vs identity-based decision making (would a X do this?)
• Belief in ability to overcome adversity (identity) is self-reinforcing
• Be the man in the arena

13: Conclusion

• More grit might always be better? No evidence of inverse U curve yet
• Character: 3 dimensions
  • Intrapersonal: grit, self control
  • Interpersonal: social IQ, gratitude
  • Intellectual: curiosity, zest (learning)
  • Strengths of will, heart, and mind