Because I believe that review, reflection and revision are essential to success in life, the following posting, originally drafted in March of 2014, has been culled and refined.
GRIT = strength of character. Being gritty is not 'chickening out' of things. Some time ago while walking to a colleagues' house for some holiday beverages I listened to a TED Radio Hour talk titled Success. It was great! It took me twice the time to walk there as I kept stopping to take notes.
"Grit is living life like it's a marathon, not a sprint." Ph.D. psychologist Angela Lee Duckworth.
Among several great interviews, Angela talked about her success research which focuses on human grittiness. She concludes that, above all other human character traits, that people with grit - growth mindset thinkers - have the most long-term success, not the talented or clever. Yes! I kept thought and noted. Yes!
I'm a firm believer in small wins theory - the idea that small ongoing actions and thoughts add up to great achievements and influence our life in profound ways. It's absolutely true. There are universal energies and we’re all connected. We need to leverage the universa forces in our favour.
It is the smallest things in life, from bits of appreciation for the things many take for granted to the bits of personal learning that can be done daily, that really do matter the most. The things we think and do move us towards great achievements. With grit (resilience, persistence and focus) the small things do add up to GREAT BIG results.
I'm a firm believer in small wins theory - the idea that small ongoing actions and thoughts add up to great achievements and influence our life in profound ways. It's absolutely true. There are universal energies and we’re all connected. We need to leverage the universa forces in our favour.
It is the smallest things in life, from bits of appreciation for the things many take for granted to the bits of personal learning that can be done daily, that really do matter the most. The things we think and do move us towards great achievements. With grit (resilience, persistence and focus) the small things do add up to GREAT BIG results.
"Grit is sticking with your future — day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years — and working really hard to make that future a reality. In fact, in our data, grit is usually unrelated or even inversely related to measures of talent." Angela Duckworth.
The key is that it's just not being exceptionally clever (having high IQ) or about being innately awesome and incredibly talented. Yes, smarts and talent are a bonus. But, success has proven itself to be much more about being an incredibly hard worker who is persistence in moving towards their commitments. As Angela says, "There are many talented [and clever] individuals who simply do not follow through on their commitments."
Take a moment to think about the most successful people you know or have heard of in whatever field, form, realm or professional niche. Go ahead, think. I bet that the majority of their success was leveraged on determination and relentless perseverance crafted daily. People who challenges head-on and move on forward through the most difficult barriers with optimism succeed.
I do not believe in blind luck. I believe that when preparation meets opportunity luck forms.
How much grit do you have? Angela’s survey can be found here.
Take a moment to think about the most successful people you know or have heard of in whatever field, form, realm or professional niche. Go ahead, think. I bet that the majority of their success was leveraged on determination and relentless perseverance crafted daily. People who challenges head-on and move on forward through the most difficult barriers with optimism succeed.
I do not believe in blind luck. I believe that when preparation meets opportunity luck forms.
How much grit do you have? Angela’s survey can be found here.
