Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals by Angela Duckworth and Christopher Peterson report that grit, defined as perseverance and passion for long-term goals — was more important in predicting success than IQ and conscientiousness. In one of my all-time favorite charts, the authors show that grit was a better predictor of success than IQ or self-control. Deliberate practice and perseverance will get you more than raw talent.
Angela Duckworth is what I would call the mother of grit. She is the person who, in part based on the movie True Grit (which she called a mediocre western), used the term grit to describe the commitment, perseverance and passion for long term goals. I am a huge fan of Angela and her work relating to grit. I completely agree with her conclusions about the role of grit in determining success. I’ve seen many smart people who didn’t apply themselves and many people with seemingly less natural “talent” who work hard, stick with problems, overcome obstacles and ultimately succeed because of their commitment and grit. From my perspective, grit is a probably the most significant factor in determining success in the long run, so I am thrilled that Angela has done the research to support my opinion.
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