The two common traits in successful people across disciplines and professions are passion and perseverance.
Effort matters twice as more than talent because its involved in skill development and putting that skill into practice that eventually leads to achievement.
The secret to having a long-term goal and sticking with it for an extended length of time is goal hierarchy. Creating a long-term goal feels good due to the ‘Positive Fantasizing’ effect. But without a roadmap we are less likely to attain it.
Our psychological traits like Grit are influenced by nature (genetics) and nurture (experience).
Gritty people develop interests to overcome boredom, practice more than others to deal with difficult challenges. have a purpose in life that drives them and are optimistic about life.
The idea of finding and developing “interests” if misunderstood. Interests are developed by doing and not by thinking. And the how we discover interests are often messy and serendipitous. But once the novelty of a new interest wears off is when gritty people persevere by developing habits to repeatedly practice it.
When you consistently practice challenging tasks that pushes beyond your skill level, you achieve mastery. The process of deliberate process is painful and uncomfortable, but gritty people stick with it because of the habits they’ve built.
Our thinking influences our behaviour and that in turn builds our identity. Gritty people are optimistic and this aids their grittiness causing a virtuous cycle. An optimistic outlook and a growth mindset can help kickstart the journey, however, one needs to experience mastery and adversity at the same time for the brain to register it as a worthwhile endeavor.
We can build mindsets and habits that rely on internal efforts. Using external support of communities, coaches, teachers and family who demonstrate values of grit you want to develop can accelerate your journey.
Children absorb values of grit more if their parents demonstrate it in their lives as opposed to parents instructing them to do so. Numerous research studies suggest extracurricular activities develop grit. It leads to better grades, higher self-esteem and success later on in life.
My notes from the book Grit – The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth is here.
