Grit by Angela Duckworth

Those who possess innate talent may be called “naturals” and those who, lacking it, have to work extra hard may be called “strivers“.

We may say that we are on team strivers, and Duckworth cites studies that show Americans weighing hard work much more than innate talent like intelligence and athleticism, but deep down we really like the naturals.

She calls this the “naturalness bias”, “… a hidden prejudice against those who’ve achieved what they have because they worked for it, and a hidden preference for those whom we think arrived at their place in life because they’re naturally talented.“.

Like how we want our movies to show the story of a hero who through hard work and perseverance conquers all odds, but when it comes to reality TV we want to watch talent shows and not “hard work” shows.

Why? Why are we so enamoured by talent while discounting the value of hard work?

Why do we have a hard time accepting that displays of exceptional performance in music, sports, business, science and so forth are just a by product of commonplace hard work consistently executed over a long time.

German philosopher Nietzsche’s theory helps us out here – by aggrandising talent we protect our self worth, our egos.

Because, if talent is something God given and not man-made, then you’re off the hook – anything wrong or sub-optimal in your life OR anything right or superior in someone else’s life then just blame it on “I am just not talented enough” OR “that guy is a natural” and call it a day.

Nothing ventured nothing lost, ego protected.

Duckworth’s Grit challenges us to rethink this story.

The idea that exceptional performance is merely the result of “commonplace hard work consistently executed over a long time” is both liberating and intimidating.

It implies that greatness is accessible—not just to the chosen few, but to anyone willing to embrace the grind.

Yet, embracing this truth means grappling with failure, rejection, and the discomfort of perseverance—a confrontation many shy away from.

Duckworth’s research has resulted in the following two key equations that show how one goes form having talent to actually achieving something:

1. Talent x Effort = Skill
2. Achievement = Skill x Effort

These two equations tell us:

1. You do need some talent to get to achievement – this is the luck part of it. The level of “talent” for a particular craft that you are endowed with will impact how much your achievement in that field can be.
2. When you try to achieve anything – effort compounds on itself, whereas talent remains does not.
3. This means you can accelerate your journey towards achievement by putting in more effort. For instance, a 10% increased effort will increase your achievement by 21%.
4. There are two equations instead of one combined equation because in the first one you expend effort on your baseline talent to grow your skill, and in the second one you expend effort on your baseline skill to achieve something.

An important caveat that Duckworth points out here: “My theory doesn’t address … outside forces, nor does it include luck. It’s about the psychology of achievement, but because psychology isn’t all that matters, it’s incomplete.“.

Although there is one thing the equations above do not capture very well – and that is the importance of perseverance. And not diffused perseverance.

Perseverance needs to be focused to only a one (or a few at most) pursuits to allow greatness to emerge.

And this pursuit needs to be thing that you really care about – this is so critical and has appeared in many of the books I’ve read, most recently The Art of Impossible.

“Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay loyal to it.”

Duckworth suggests thinking of passion as a compass.

This compass isn’t instantly ready; it requires time, effort, and adjustment to build and fine-tune.

Once it’s aligned, it becomes a reliable guide, helping you navigate the challenges and uncertainties of a long-term journey toward your goals.

In essence, Duckworth is emphasising that passion isn’t something that ignites in a single glorious moment – it’s something you cultivate, refine, and follow with perseverance.

It’s a lesson in seeing passion not as a flash of inspiration but as a lifelong direction.

You need not follow a compass exactly and can take relevant detours. What matters is that you stay true to the compass over the long haul.

Similarly, you need not dedicate yourself to your passion all day long, seven days a week. You are free to live life and tend to other responsibilities, as well as swap low level goals towards your passion if you hit a wall. But over the decades you should be putting in consistent effort in its direction.

What matters most is consistency over time, not perfection in the moment. “… grit is not at all about stubbornly pursuing—at all costs and ad infinitum—every single low-level goal … dogged perseverance toward a top-level goal requires, paradoxically perhaps, some flexibility at lower levels in the goal hierarchy.“.

If you are to develop grit in anything, the foundational requirement is that the thing must interest you.

Being interested in what you are doing has two benefits:

1. You are happier while doing it (quite obviously)
2. You tend to do it better

Now, interest is rarely found by thinking about it. And neither does interest dawn on you like an epiphany on your first encounter with the craft that is going to become your lifelong obsession. Also, childhood (and maybe even adolescence) is far too early to be making definitive calls on your interest.

Instead, what is more likely to get you to discover your interest is a period of semi-random experimentation.

• The period will need to be reasonably long, and will generally be longer the sooner one decides to start experimenting.
• And semi-random because instead of rolling the dice you can set the broad direction of your experimentation like exploring areas that spark curiosity or align with your values, skills, or even a vague sense of excitement.
• You tinker, try, fail, and adapt – gradually narrowing your focus as patterns of genuine interest begin to emerge.

For example, if you’re drawn to creativity but unsure of the exact medium, your semi-random experimentation might involve dabbling in writing, photography, graphic design, or music production. Over time, one of these pursuits may click, not because of a sudden epiphany, but because repeated engagement deepens your connection and reveals its true potential.

“… interests are not discovered through introspection … interests are triggered by interactions … messy, serendipitous, and inefficient.“.

Support and encouragement are also needed at the time of interest exploration. So if you are a parent or a teacher of young(ish) children, be mindful of giving them inviting them to explore their curiosities, celebrate curiosity for its own sake and give warm and encouraging feedback.

And if you are someone who wants to find your passion, start by figuring out generally what interests you, that which you can do “just because” and not as a means to an end, and then experiment in that field. As the author says “[when] you have even a general direction in mind … trigger your nascent interests … by going out into the world and doing something … [and] … have patience.”.

You may have seen people who rose quickly in their field. And you may have also seen those who, despite spending the same time, languished at the same level more or less for several years. What’s going on?

“Upskilling” has become quite the buzzword in the corporate world, but the concept of deliberate practice will tell us that just passing those online tests and getting the digital certificate is not real upskilling. Real upskilling is when we apply deliberate practice to what we want to upskill in.

Deliberate practice is time spent by an individual honing their craft with the following additional characteristics:

1. A clearly defined stretch goal: This keeps practice targeted and challenging, pushing individuals beyond their current comfort zone.
2. Immediate and relevant feedback: Without feedback, it’s impossible to identify mistakes or refine techniques. Feedback sharpens focus and accelerates improvement.
3. Undivided attention and focus: Half-hearted efforts—like multitasking while practicing—fail to yield results. Concentrated effort is essential.
4. Time for reflection and repetition based on the results of that reflection: Progress doesn’t just happen during practice; it also comes from analyzing what worked, what didn’t, and using those insights to improve.

Further, deliberate practice need not be a major time suck – done right it will only take a few hours a day and be worth it. Steven Kotler, in his book The Art of Impossible chalks out only 1.5-2 hours per day for focused work in one’s daily schedule.

Duckworth also recommends the following to get the most out of our deliberate practice:

1. Make it a habit: Your daily deliberate practice time should be baked into your schedule and be something you (and the people close to you, such as your family) automatically know it is time for without really having to plan in advance for it.
2. Embrace the suck: This military expression is a good one, I think, for capturing the one thing about deliberate practice – it sucks when you’re doing it. Naturally, pushing yourself outside your comfort zone is … uncomfortable. By adopting a mindset that sees discomfort as a sign of progress rather than an obstacle, you turn hardship into an ally.

Passion is what you are interested in. Purpose a desire to help others with a belief that you can actually make a difference.

Grit requires passion, yes, but it also requires purpose.

When we see what we do as having an impact on the lives of others it supercharges our ability to weather the hardships inevitable in any endeavour.

The key word here is “see” – that is, what you perceive as the meaning of your circumstances is far more important than the actual circumstances themselves.

The parable of the three bricklayers fits here – Three bricklayers are asked what they’re doing. The first responds, “I’m laying bricks.” The second says, “I’m building a wall.” The third exclaims, “I’m building a cathedral.”

Purpose isn’t always something handed to us; it’s something we often choose to see in what we do. Grittier people simply view their work as imbued with purpose.

“How you see your work is more important than your job title … realize [you] need to play an active role …”

Again, I feel I should repeat: both passion and purpose are needed for grit. You cannot just be selfishly interested in the work, nor can you just be thinking about others without liking the craft itself.

Another lesser know point about purpose is that you should believe you can personally make a difference. The absolute magnitude of difference is not important – what is important is you consider it within your means to make a difference you consider worth making i.e. meaningful.

Start cultivating your purpose by:

1. Thinking and reflecting on how your work today is already making a difference to the world you care about.
2. Take small but consistent steps that move you closer to doing work aligned with your values.
3. Find a purposeful role model.

Duckworth calls this “hope” though I feel it is better to call it “belief” – What it is, is mindset that one has the power to improve one’s ability, one’s circumstances, and one’s results. This may remind you of growth mindset propounded by Dr. Dweck, and it should, because it is.

Growth mindset is the empowering perspective that our abilities and outcomes aren’t set in stone but are shaped by effort, learning, and perseverance. This belief becomes the driving force behind grit, as it keeps us engaged in striving even during the toughest moments – basically, when you have a growth mindset, you get back up.

When individuals perceive their capabilities as fixed, setbacks often feel insurmountable—a reason to quit rather than push forward. But when we embrace the mindset that growth is possible, those same setbacks are transformed into opportunities for learning and improvement.

It’s this shift in perspective that fuels resilience and allows people to navigate challenges with determination.

“When you keep searching for ways to change your situation for the better, you stand a chance of finding them. When you stop searching, assuming they can’t be found, you guarantee they won’t.“

Importantly, growth mindset starts develops during early childhood and so two things become important:

1. People in positions of authority need to embody growth mindset so that young ones can pick up on that.
2. The young ones need to go through testing experiences that they overcome so that they can feel how growth actually happens – by overcoming challenges.

Duckworth recommends the following to strengthen your own growth mindset:

1. Update your beliefs: Whether you read the research on the topic, or study your own life as an example – you have to first believe that it is possible (indeed, quite natural if I may add) for people to grow into better versions of themselves.
2. Practice optimistic self talk: The language we use to talk to ourselves shapes our mindset. Instead of dwelling on failures or limitations, focus on potential and progress. For instance, replace “I’ll never get this right” with “I’m learning, and I’ll get better.” This reframe builds the habit of resilience.
3. Ask for help: Seeking mentorship, advice, or support is a powerful way to accelerate improvement. It also reminds you that progress is collaborative, and others can help you overcome obstacles.

Duckworth uses the word “parent” in a broader context – of course it means as a parent to a child, but it also means as a guide, mentor, teacher, trainer to others (esp. the young ones).

The right way to parent is through wise parenting – which balances performance demands with support.

• Performance demand: The base level of performance you expect in any area. Such as “I expect my child to at least get a B+ in all tests” or “I expect my child to never hit his siblings”.
• Support: The interest and involvement you have in their life. The love and help you show them as they navigate life, esp. its challenging times.

“… children of psychologically wise parents fare better than children raised in any other kind of household.“.

Wise parenting leads a child to emulate their parents, instead of just imitating them. There is a difference.

“If you want to bring forth grit in your child, first ask how much passion and perseverance you have for your own life goals. Then ask yourself how likely it is that your approach to parenting encourages your child to emulate you.“.

• Imitation is when a child simply copies a parent’s actions, words, or behaviors without understanding the deeper meaning behind them. It’s a surface-level replication, often done out of curiosity, observation, or habit.
• Emulation, on the other hand, goes much deeper. It’s when a child aspires to internalize the values, principles, and intentions behind their parent’s actions. Emulation reflects admiration and a conscious effort to embody the qualities they respect in their parent.

As mentioned earlier, inherent interest in the craft is essential for grit, and that requires a period of exploration. This period of exploration need not be completely random and can be informed from what the person naturally feels inclined to.

Also mentioned previously is the important of deliberate practice and how it takes us outside of our comfort zone.

Now, the author talks about one more potent ingredient you can add to this mix: follow through.

“… following through on our commitments while we grow up both requires grit and, at the same time, builds it.“.

The interplay here is: follow-through demands grit, but it also builds grit. It trains your mind and character to endure challenges/remain steadfast, creating a self-reinforcing feedback loop of perseverance.

For young people, in particular, learning to follow through on commitments – whether in academics, sports, or personal projects – sets the stage for long-term resilience and success.

Indeed, Duckworth recommends parents get their children enrolled in extra curricular activities for at least a year.

Two more things I’d like to add:

• Initially in one’s life, as a child perhaps, the time that spent exploring different activities can be short – because we’re trying to maximise exposure. But over time the number of activities should be trimmed and the time on each increased.
• How long should one stick it out? Duckworth talks about sticking it out till at least a season, and in a reasonable number of cases this will be a year. It can also be the time you have committed to yourself to invest in the endeavour.

You may call this effect of grit begetting grit “learned industriousness” – it’s the idea that exerting effort and persisting in challenging tasks creates a self-reinforcing cycle. When we push through difficulties and succeed, we build both the belief in our own capacity and the habit of perseverance, making future grit easier to summon.

“… children who’d trained on difficult (rather than easy) tasks worked harder …”

The culture we grow up in and feel connected to deeply influences who we are – how we think, what we value, and how we behave. Culture shapes our habits, beliefs, and even our sense of identity.

It affects what we see as normal or acceptable and sets expectations for how we handle challenges, pursue goals, and relate to others.

To be an iconoclast requires effort whereas because of our evolutionary design it is much easier to conform to the culture we find ourselves in, it’s the default option.

Culture is a powerful tool that unfortunately most people don’t use. Joining a culture that embodies the values you’d like to adopt is like taking the highway to personal growth – You can literally become a better person by joining a better culture.

Therefore, it should come as no surprise that Duckworth tells us, “If you want to be grittier, find a gritty culture and join it.“.

Toiling by yourself will grow grit and should definitely be done, indeed, will have to be done because places with superior culture will also have superior admission criteria i.e., they won’t just take in anybody. But when you get to certain level know that by joining a culture of grit you can supercharge the process.

Also, like all things in culture, grit benefits from then “social multiplier effect” – Essentially, the more grit you exhibit, the more grit you cultivate in those around you and vice versa.

And for those of us who are in leadership positions – we are responsible for creating a culture of grit.

Leadership here need not be only defined as “heads of large companies” – It is also things like “parent to a child” or “coach of a team” or “teacher of a class”, indeed, for the children you as the parent/coach/teacher are nothing less than the leader.

Learning from the “attrition model” and “developmental model” is helpful.

Attrition Model

• This approach uses fear and harsh treatment to push individuals to meet high standards.

Developmental Model

• This approach also maintains high standards but emphasises respect and positive leadership rather than fear and intimidation.

Your focus should be on creating an environment where:

• High standards are upheld, but without resorting to fear or intimidation.
• Respect is the foundation, fostering mutual trust and loyalty.
• Challenges are embraced as opportunities for growth, rather than as reasons to weed out “weakness.”

Intrapersonal character traits

Grit is part of this group, other traits include things like self-control, self-will, discipline, forbearance and perseverance.

These are about self-regulation and inner strength. Traits like grit, self-control, and perseverance form the backbone of academic and professional success because they enable you to stay disciplined, focus on goals, and persist through challenges. These qualities define your relationship with yourself and your ability to push forward.

Interpersonal character traits

This group include things like social intelligence, gratitude, control over emotions,

These focus on how you interact with others. Social intelligence, gratitude, and emotional regulation help you navigate relationships and form meaningful connections. These traits shape your social life and are crucial for teamwork, collaboration, and building trust.

Intellectual character traits

This includes curiosity, zest, enthusiasm, keenness, ardour, optimism – basically a desire to explore life.

These relate to curiosity and the joy of learning. They inspire deep engagement with the world around you, fuel creativity, innovation, and the desire to grow intellectually and emotionally, fostering lifelong learning.