Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (Summary)
Why do some of the most promising, physically fit, and intellectually gifted cadets drop out of the grueling first summer at West Point, while others with less 'natural talent' push through? The single best predictor of success wasn't their SAT scores, their high school rank, or their physical aptitude scores. It was a quality psychologist Angela Duckworth calls 'grit,' a trait that proved more essential than talent.
Effort Counts Twice
We are a culture obsessed with 'naturals,' but Duckworth argues that talent is wildly overrated. Her formula for success shows that effort is far more important: Talent x Effort = Skill, and then Skill x Effort = Achievement. Effort builds skill, and it also makes skill productive.
Duckworth studied finalists in the National Spelling Bee and found that while some kids had a higher verbal IQ, the grittier kids consistently out-practiced them. They spent more hours studying, used more effective study strategies, and ultimately performed better in the competition, demonstrating that their focused effort was more decisive than their raw verbal talent.
Grit Can Be Grown
Grit isn't a fixed trait you're simply born with. It's a muscle that can be strengthened. Duckworth outlines four key psychological assets that build grit: Interest, Practice, Purpose, and Hope.
The component of 'Hope' is closely tied to Carol Dweck's 'growth mindset.' Studies show that when students are taught that the brain is like a muscle that grows with effort, they become more resilient. For instance, students who received a brief lesson on the brain's neuroplasticity were less likely to give up on difficult math problems compared to a control group.
Purpose is a Powerful Motivator
Passion and perseverance are much easier to sustain when your work feels personally meaningful and connected to the well-being of others. This sense of purpose is what transforms a job into a calling.
Duckworth shares a parable of three bricklayers who are asked what they are doing. The first says, 'I'm laying bricks.' The second says, 'I'm building a church.' The third, the grittiest of them all, says, 'I'm building the house of God.' This last bricklayer's sense of purpose fuels his daily work with a significance that transcends the mundane task.
Implement the 'Hard Thing Rule'
To cultivate grit in a family or team, Duckworth advocates for the 'Hard Thing Rule.' This rule has three parts: everyone must do a hard thing, you can't quit in the middle, and you get to pick your own hard thing.
In Duckworth's own family, she, her husband, and their two daughters must all choose a 'hard thing' for the year that requires daily, deliberate practice—like learning the piano or playing a sport. While they can switch their 'hard thing' the following year, they are not allowed to quit a team or an instrument mid-season just because they had a bad day or it got boring. This teaches the invaluable lesson of sticking with a commitment.
