Book quote
´Consistency of effort over the long run is everything´
My Thoughts
An inspiring and very well written book!
Human beings love magic, the idea of a gift such as a natural talent. They love to be swept off their feet by a stunning piece of music or witnessing a person doing something no one has ever managed to do before such as break a sports record or master many languages.
We like to believe though that there is an innate natural gift that allows some people to stand out of the crowd. Genetics does hand out different potential and limitations to each person, yet, as the author of this book suggests she ‘is yet to meet a Nobel laureate or Olympic champion who says that what they achieved came in any other way’ … than with being ‘especially gritty’. Whatever talent you are born with, be it intelligence, strength or a musical ear, what you make of it is vastly down to a person’s initiative to put it to good use.
‘It was passion and perseverance that made high achievers special. In a word, they had grit.’
Using a plethora of fascinating case studies, the author concludes that ‘as much as talent counts, effort counts twice’. This tells me that encouraging children and adults to be gritty, to follow their passion while embracing the fact that ‘to be gritty is to fall down seven times and rise eight’ is far more important than overemphasizing talent. Furthermore, perseverance is very much part of the path to reach a goal.
Duckworth does not deny that natural talents exist but that at the end of the day, the aim is not to be the next Mozart, Dickens or Usain Bolt but rather to learn to put significant effort in what you like so that you reach your personal potential which is so much richer and wider than most of us believe.
‘Enthusiasm is common. Endurance is rare.’
Therefore, grit is a quality that works in all areas of life, not just the most obvious one that usually comes to mind which is competitive sports. It keeps you going and reach for goals of all kinds, big and small, and all through life even when it is hard and tiring and even or especially when there are setbacks along the way. Lastly grit is a state of mind that can and should be cultivated because it is rewarding and gives you purpose and focus in life.
The Book in three words: Educational, inspiring and empowering
I’d love to know your thoughts on the book if you’ve read it!
Blurb
In this must-read for anyone seeking to succeed, pioneering psychologist Angela Duckworth takes us on an eye-opening journey to discover the true qualities that lead to outstanding achievement. Winningly personal, insightful and powerful, Grit is a book about what goes through your head when you fall down, and how that – not talent or luck – makes all the difference.
About the author
Dr Angela Duckworth is a 2013 MacArthur Fellow and an associate professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania. She is an expert in non-IQ competencies, including grit and self-control. A highly sought-after international speaker, her TED talk on grit has been viewed by over 10 million people.
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