GRIT by Angela Duckworth | Animated CORE Message

Summary

In 'Grit' by Angela Duckworth, the psychologist from the University of Pennsylvania explores the true determinants of success, challenging the common belief in natural talent. Through various studies, she concludes that effort is twice as important as talent, as encapsulated by her formula: Talent x Effort = Skill, and Skill x Effort = Achievement. Duckworth advocates for cultivating grit through four strategies: developing fascination, striving for daily improvement, recognizing a greater purpose, and adopting a growth mindset. She inspires the belief that anyone can achieve greatness by applying consistent effort, regardless of innate talent.

Takeaways

• 🔍 Angela Duckworth's research indicates that effort is twice as important as talent in determining success.
• 🧠 The formula for achievement is talent multiplied by effort, which equals skill, and then skill multiplied by effort, which equals achievement.
• 🏆 Grit, or the sustained application of effort towards long-term goals, is identified as the biggest predictor of lifelong success.
• 🚫 Society often overvalues natural talent and underestimates the power of consistent effort.
• 🚀 Recognizing that talent counts once and effort counts twice can be liberating, suggesting that anyone can achieve great things with enough effort.
• 🏋️‍♂️ There are limitations to what anyone can achieve, but effort can help individuals maximize their potential within those limits.
• 🌱 Growing grit is possible by focusing on four areas: developing fascination, striving for daily improvement, reminding oneself of the greater purpose, and adopting a growth mindset.
• 🤔 Fascination with a subject can drive individuals to maintain grit and persist in the face of challenges.
• 💪 Daily improvement, competing with oneself, and constant self-competition can foster a gritty mindset.
• 🌟 A strong sense of purpose, beyond personal pleasure, is linked to higher levels of grit.
• 🧠 A growth mindset, believing in the potential for change and learning, is essential for developing grit and achieving success.

Q & A

What is the main focus of Angela Duckworth's research?

Angela Duckworth's research focuses on understanding who is successful and why, with a particular interest in whether talent or effort is the biggest predictor of success.

What does Angela Duckworth's formula for achievement suggest?

Angela Duckworth's formula suggests that 'talent times effort equals skill, and skill times effort equals achievement,' highlighting the importance of effort in achieving success.

What is grit according to Angela Duckworth?

Grit, as defined by Angela Duckworth, is the sustained application of effort towards a long-term goal, which she has found to be the biggest predictor of lifelong achievement.

How does Angela Duckworth propose to grow grit?

Angela Duckworth suggests growing grit by developing a fascination with what you're trying to do, striving to improve each day, reminding yourself of the greater purpose, and adopting a growth mindset.

What role does fascination play in developing grit according to the book 'Grit'?

Fascination plays a crucial role in developing grit as it drives curiosity and interest, which in turn motivates sustained effort and persistence towards long-term goals.

Why is striving to improve daily important for building grit?

Striving to improve daily is important for building grit because it fosters a habit of constant learning and self-improvement, which are key components of maintaining effort over time.

How does having a greater purpose contribute to one's grit, as per Angela Duckworth's research?

Having a greater purpose contributes to grit by providing a sense of meaning and direction that goes beyond personal pleasure, which can motivate individuals to sustain their efforts towards their goals.

What is the significance of a growth mindset in achieving success according to the book 'Grit'?

A growth mindset is significant for achieving success because it involves believing that one's abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work, rather than being fixed, which encourages sustained effort and resilience in the face of challenges.

How does Angela Duckworth's research challenge the common belief about natural talent?

Angela Duckworth's research challenges the common belief about natural talent by demonstrating that while talent is important, effort is even more critical in determining success, as it can be applied to develop skill and ultimately achievement.

What is the significance of the 'talent counts once, effort counts twice' principle in the context of the book 'Grit'?

The principle 'talent counts once, effort counts twice' signifies that while talent is necessary, it is the application of consistent effort that truly drives skill development and achievement, emphasizing the value of hard work over innate ability.

How does the book 'Grit' encourage readers to approach their limitations?

The book 'Grit' encourages readers to approach their limitations by recognizing that while certain physical or innate talents may be fixed, the capacity for effort and growth is not, allowing individuals to excel within their own contexts through perseverance and determination.

Outlines

00:00

📚 The Power of Grit Over Talent

Angela Duckworth, a psychologist at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the determinants of success through various studies involving National Spelling Bee champions, elite military personnel, and top salespeople. She challenges the societal belief that natural talent is the key to success by demonstrating that effort is twice as important as talent. Duckworth's formula, 'talent x effort = skill, and skill x effort = achievement,' underscores the significance of sustained effort towards long-term goals. She encourages developing grit by finding fascination in one's work, striving for daily improvement, remembering the greater purpose, and adopting a growth mindset. The narrative also highlights how historical figures like Charles Darwin exemplify grit through their relentless curiosity and pursuit of knowledge.

05:01

🌱 Cultivating Grit for Personal Growth

The second paragraph delves into the practical aspects of cultivating grit, emphasizing the importance of discarding the fixed mindset and embracing the belief that abilities can be developed. It highlights the brain's plasticity and the capacity for learning new skills at any age. The narrative encourages reflecting on personal experiences of overcoming initial fears of learning something new. Angela Duckworth's research indicates that a growth mindset is crucial for long-term success, contrasting those who believe they can no longer learn with those who continue to grow. The paragraph concludes with an offer for a one-page PDF summary of the insights from Duckworth's book for those interested, and a reminder for subscribers of the free productivity game newsletter that the PDF is already available to them.

Keywords

💡Grit

Grit refers to the sustained application of effort towards a long-term goal, which is identified by Angela Duckworth as the biggest predictor of lifelong achievement. In the context of the video, grit is portrayed as more important than natural talent. The video emphasizes that while talent may provide a head start, it is the relentless effort and perseverance that ultimately lead to significant accomplishments. For instance, Angela's formula 'talent times effort equals skill, and skill times effort equals achievement' illustrates how effort multiplies the impact of talent.

💡Talent

Talent in the video is described as a natural aptitude or skill that some individuals possess. It is often celebrated in society, and people tend to attribute success primarily to talent. However, the video challenges this notion by suggesting that while talent is important, it is the effort applied to that talent which truly determines success. The script mentions that society often overlooks the importance of effort, focusing instead on the marvel of natural talent.

💡Effort

Effort is the hard work and dedication one puts into achieving a goal. The video underscores that effort is a multiplier of talent, leading to skill and subsequently to achievement. Angela Duckworth's research indicates that effort is valued twice as much as talent in the equation of success. The video uses the example of Charles Darwin, who, despite not having great quickness of apprehension, developed an obsessive fascination with his work, which required consistent effort and led to his groundbreaking discoveries.

💡Achievement

Achievement, as discussed in the video, is the end result of applying effort to skill. It is the culmination of one's hard work and dedication towards a long-term goal. The video suggests that achievement is not just about natural talent but is significantly influenced by the grit and effort one puts into their work. It is the outcome that one aims for when they persistently strive to improve and apply themselves towards their objectives.

💡National Spelling Bee

The National Spelling Bee is mentioned in the video as one of the studies conducted by Angela Duckworth to determine the biggest predictor of success. It serves as an example of a competitive environment where both talent and effort are tested. The video implies that the champions of such competitions are not just naturally gifted but also have demonstrated exceptional effort and perseverance.

💡Elite Military Training

Elite military training is another context used in the video to illustrate the importance of effort over talent. It represents a rigorous and challenging environment where individuals are pushed to their limits, and success is often determined by one's ability to endure and apply effort, rather than relying solely on innate abilities.

💡Growth Mindset

A growth mindset is the belief that one's abilities can be developed through dedication and hard work. The video suggests that adopting a growth mindset is crucial for developing grit. It contrasts with a fixed mindset, where one believes their abilities are set and cannot change. The video encourages viewers to embrace the idea that they can improve and learn new skills, which is supported by the plasticity of the brain.

💡Fascination

Fascination, as discussed in the video, is the deep interest or enthusiasm one has for a particular subject or activity. It is one of the ways Angela Duckworth suggests growing grit. When individuals are fascinated by what they do, they are more likely to maintain effort and persistence. The video uses Charles Darwin as an example, who had an obsessive fascination with the natural sciences, which drove his relentless pursuit of knowledge.

💡Purpose

Purpose in the video is described as a sense of significance or meaning that drives individuals towards their goals. It is highlighted as a key factor in fostering grit. Angela Duckworth's survey of adult Americans revealed that a greater sense of purpose was more strongly correlated with grit than pleasure. The video suggests that individuals with a strong sense of purpose are more likely to maintain effort and resilience in the face of challenges.

💡Self-Improvement

Self-improvement is the process of enhancing one's skills, knowledge, or character. In the video, it is presented as a daily practice that contributes to the development of grit. The video references Olympic gold medal swimmer Rowdy Gaines, who exemplified self-improvement by consistently trying to outperform his previous best in every practice session.

Highlights

Angela Duckworth's research focuses on understanding who is successful and why.

Studies include National Spelling Bee champions, elite military training, graduates, and top corporate salespeople.

Duckworth's formula: Talent x Effort = Skill, and Skill x Effort = Achievement.

Grit is identified as the sustained application of effort towards long-term goals.

Grit is a better predictor of lifelong achievement than talent alone.

Society often overlooks the importance of effort in favor of natural talent.

Effort can compensate for a lack of natural talent, leading to great achievements.

There are limitations to what can be achieved, but effort can still lead to success within those limits.

Four ways to grow grit: develop fascination, strive for daily improvement, remind yourself of the greater purpose, and adopt a growth mindset.

Charles Darwin's example of developing an obsessive fascination and constant questioning.

The importance of competing with oneself and seeking constant improvement.

Higher levels of purpose correlate with higher levels of grit.

The concept of seeing one's work as having a greater meaning or purpose.

Developing a growth mindset is essential for grit, as the brain is plastic and can learn new skills.

Neuroscience supports the idea that abilities can change and grow with effort.

Angela Duckworth's book offers more material to understand the science of achievement.

A one-page PDF summary of insights from the book is offered for those interested.

Transcripts

I recently read the book grit by Angela

Duckworth Angela's a psychologist at the

University of Pennsylvania and she's

obsessed with finding out the answers of

the question

who's successful and why she's conducted

studies involving National Spelling Bee

champions elite military training

graduates and top corporate salespeople

to determine what was the biggest

predictor of their success she wondered

was a talent or was it effort now our

society would have us believe that it

would be Talent we have the tendency to

marvel at natural talent and overlook

the importance of effort surveys show

that we commend people who put in the

effort but we don't actually believe it

can compete with natural talent

we often discount our own abilities when

going up against people who have a

higher IQ or appear more naturally

gifted but angela has found the

following to be true in study after

study where talent counts once effort

counts twice angela explains this using

a simple formula talent times effort

equals skill and skill times effort

equals achievement when you apply effort

to any base level talent you get skill

when you apply effort to skill you get

achievement the science shows that grit

the sustained application of effort

towards a long-term goal is the biggest

predictor of lifelong achievement for

some it's an inconvenient truth certain

people like to see natural talent and

use it as an excuse as to why they would

never achieve what those people can and

don't even bother trying in the first

place but for others it can be

liberating knowing that they're not

doomed to mediocrity due to a lack of

talent if they put in the effort they

can achieve great things sure there are

some limitations all of us can't make

the NBA we're not all six foot nine but

you could become one of the best players

in your local basketball league by

remembering that talent counts once

effort counts twice we can be hopeful

that we can one day become more than we

think we can that we can achieve great

things despite not winning the talent

lottery but being gritty is Harr

resisting endless temptations to quit or

experiencing failure is

really difficult to deal with but Angela

says we all have the ability to grow our

grit if we direct our focus in four

specific ways first develop a

fascination with what you're trying to

do

second strive to improve each day third

remind yourself of the greater purpose

and fourth adopt a growth mindset

Charles Darwin admitted to not having

great quickness of apprehension to

discover the mysteries of natural

science without possessing supernatural

intelligence Darwin developed an

obsessive fascination and was said to

keep questions alive in the back of his

mind questions that related to what he

was observing that drove him to discover

the connection between all living things

his deep interest in the natural

sciences and constant questioning led

him to the breakthrough that we now know

as the theory of evolution so what

questions are most intriguing to you

find the questions that fascinate you

and you'll find the capacity to stay

gritty while trying to achieve something

great next aim to improve yourself every

single day compete with who you were

yesterday Olympic gold medal swimmer

rowdy Gaines once said at every practice

I would try to beat myself if my coach

gave me ten 100-meter swims one day and

asked me to hold it to a minute and 15

seconds the next day he would give me

ten 100-meter swims and I would try to

hold it to a minute in 14 seconds Angela

says that the refrain of all Paragons of

grit is that whatever it takes I want to

improve it doesn't matter how excellent

they already are so how can you carve

out time each day to push your abilities

and seek constant and never-ending

improvement the third way to grow our

grit is to remind ourselves of the

greater purpose

Angela conducted a survey of 16,000

adult Americans to determine what was a

bigger contributor of grit obtaining a

feeling of pleasure or feeling a greater

sense of purpose

she found that people on the upper half

of her grit scale experienced a similar

level of pleasure in what they were

doing but she found that higher levels

of purpose directly correlated to higher

levels of grit Angela says the most

gritty people see their ultimate aims as

deeply connected to the world beyond

themselves you could be a bricklayer

some

laying the bricks for a cathedral or you

could be a bricklayer building the house

of God it's largely up to you to

determine what purpose or greater

meaning your work has whatever you come

up with has the capacity to raise your

level of grit the last way to grow your

grit is to develop a growth mindset Bill

McNab the past CEO of Vanguard the

world's largest provider of mutual funds

interviewed leaders within the

organization to see who were successful

and who weren't he found that long-term

success was dependent on a core belief

those who believe that I can't learn

anymore

I am what I am this is how I do things

routinely failed to move up to a senior

level to be gritty you need to scrap the

theory that your abilities are fixed

because it's simply not true

neuroscience has shown that we have an

enormous capacity to change our brains

and learn new skills as we get older the

brain is plastic and you can mold it

through sustained effort and experience

reflecting the time when you started

something new that you were scared you

couldn't learn but you actually did use

the memory of that experience to disrupt

any beliefs that your abilities are

fixed in the end Angela says that

learning to stick to something is a life

skill that we can all develop by

remembering that the science shows that

grit matters more than talent and that

we all have the capacity to grow our

grit we can develop the confidence to

start taking action despite how

untalented we think we are that was the

core message that I gathered from

Angela's book she has much more material

to help you understand the science of

achievement I highly recommend it if you

would like a one-page PDF summary of the

insights that I gathered from Angela's

book just click the link below and I'd

be happy to email it to you if you

already subscribe to the free

productivity game newsletter this PDF is

already in your inbox thank you for

watching