Why Effort Matters More Than Talent | Angela Duckworth

Summary

The speaker emphasizes the importance of both talent and effort in achieving success. They share a story about a student named Eli, who excels in math without studying, to illustrate the myth of natural talent. The speaker argues that effort is crucial to hone skills and that talent alone is insufficient. They discuss research by Anders Ericsson, highlighting the need for quality practice over quantity to become an expert. The talk concludes by contrasting the continuous learning curve with the plateau of arrested development, urging individuals to maintain their skills and interests over time.

Takeaways

• 🧠 Talent and IQ are important, but they must be multiplied by effort to gain skill and achieve success.
• 📚 The story of Eli illustrates that natural talent can be impressive, but it's the effort applied to skill that leads to true mastery.
• 🏆 Talent alone doesn't guarantee success; it's the combination of talent and consistent, focused effort that propels individuals to the top.
• 🔢 The concept of 'grit' is introduced as a measure of effort and persistence, which is distinct from talent and is crucial for long-term achievement.
• 📉 Grit and talent are found to be uncorrelated or weakly inversely correlated, indicating that being smart doesn't necessarily mean being gritty.
• 💼 As leaders, hiring for talent is beneficial, but it's also important to consider an individual's potential for hard work and resilience.
• 🎯 The '10,000-hour rule' is a popular concept, but it's the quality of practice, not just the quantity, that makes a world-class expert.
• 🎼 The speaker uses the example of playing a musical instrument to highlight that skills can be lost if not actively practiced and maintained.
• 🚀 Grit is essential for staying on the learning curve, continuously improving, and avoiding the plateau of arrested development.
• 🔄 There are three paths in life: continuous learning and improvement, stagnation, or quitting, and the choice to keep learning is vital for growth.
• 🌟 The speaker emphasizes the importance of not only starting but also finishing what one has begun, and maintaining interests over time as a key to lifelong success.

Q & A

What is the main point the speaker is making about the relationship between talent and effort?

The speaker argues that while talent is important, effort is crucial as it multiplies the talent and leads to the development of skills and achievements.

What is the speaker's view on the role of effort in relation to talent?

The speaker believes that effort is as important as talent, and in some cases, may matter more, especially in the long run.

What example does the speaker use to illustrate the concept of talent versus effort?

The speaker uses the example of a student named Eli, who despite not working hard, excels in math, to contrast with the idea that effort is necessary to truly harness one's talent.

How does the speaker relate the concept of effort to the idea of 'grit'?

The speaker suggests that grit, a measure of effort, is not necessarily correlated with talent and is a separate human quality that contributes to success.

What does the speaker suggest about the correlation between measures of talent and measures of effort like grit?

The speaker finds that measures of effort like grit are not correlated with measures of talent like IQ tests, and in some cases, they may be inversely correlated.

What does the speaker mean by 'the plateau of Arrested Development'?

It refers to a state where individuals put in hours of work but do not engage in the kind of practice that leads to improvement, thus they stop developing their skills.

What is the '10,000 hours rule' mentioned in the script, and what is its significance?

The '10,000 hours rule' is a concept suggesting that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. It signifies the importance of dedicated practice in becoming an expert.

According to the speaker, what is missing in the popular understanding of the '10,000 hours rule'?

The speaker points out that the quality of practice is as important as the quantity, and that merely spending 10,000 hours does not guarantee expertise if the practice is not of high quality.

What does the speaker suggest is the key difference in the way experts practice compared to others?

The speaker implies that experts engage in a special kind of practice that is qualitatively different and more effective than the practice of others, leading to their exceptional skill.

How does the speaker use their personal experience with playing the piano to illustrate a point about skill development?

The speaker uses their experience of quitting piano to demonstrate how skills can be lost if not actively practiced, emphasizing the importance of continuous effort in maintaining and developing abilities.

What is the speaker's view on the importance of grit in relation to skill development and achievement?

The speaker views grit as essential for staying on the learning curve of becoming more excellent and for sustaining interests over time, which prevents individuals from quitting and allows them to achieve more.

Outlines

00:00

🧠 The Importance of Effort Over Talent

The speaker begins by discussing the common emphasis on talent and IQ, using the anecdote of a student named Eli who excels in math without effort. This leads to a conversation with their daughter, Amanda, about the significance of hard work. The speaker argues that talent must be multiplied by effort to develop skills and achieve mastery. They introduce the concept that effort is twice as important as talent because it not only helps in acquiring skills but also in applying them to create achievements. The speaker references Will Smith's quote to emphasize that effort can surpass talent in the long run. They also mention research on grit and talent, suggesting that these are distinct qualities and that hiring for talent does not guarantee passion or resilience. The speaker concludes with a reference to the '10,000-hour rule' but cautions that the quality of practice is more critical than the quantity, as demonstrated by the research of Anders Ericsson.

05:01

🎹 The Consequences of Stopping Practice

In the second paragraph, the speaker explores the impact of ceasing to practice a skill, using their own experience with piano as an example. They explain that skills atrophy without regular practice, a natural human tendency. The speaker then connects this to the concept of 'grit,' which is the perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Grit is what keeps individuals on a continuous learning curve, improving their skills over time. The speaker also notes that individuals with grit are less likely to quit and more likely to sustain their interests and efforts over extended periods. The paragraph ends with a reflection on the choices available to individuals in terms of skill development and the importance of ongoing practice to maintain and enhance abilities.

Keywords

💡Talent

Talent refers to a natural aptitude or skill in a particular area. In the video's context, it emphasizes the importance of talent alongside effort. The speaker uses the example of 'Eli' to illustrate how talent can be perceived as a significant factor in success, but also points out that effort is crucial for actualizing one's potential.

💡IQ

IQ, or Intelligence Quotient, is a measure of a person's cognitive abilities. The video script mentions IQ to highlight the speaker's father's emphasis on both talent and cognitive intelligence as important factors in a person's life. However, the speaker also suggests that while IQ counts, it is not the sole determinant of success.

💡Effort

Effort is the energy and dedication put into achieving a goal. The video's theme revolves around the idea that effort is as important, if not more so, than talent. The speaker argues that effort multiplies talent and is essential for gaining and applying skills, which is illustrated through the contrast between the naturally talented 'Eli' and the need for hard work.

💡Grit

Grit is a term used to describe perseverance and passion for long-term goals. The speaker discusses grit as a measure of effort that is not correlated with talent. It is a key concept in the video, as it is presented as a predictor of success that is distinct from both talent and IQ.

💡Success

Success is the accomplishment of an aim or purpose. The video explores the factors that contribute to success, suggesting that it is not solely determined by talent or IQ, but also by the application of effort and the development of skills over time.

💡Calculus

Calculus is a branch of mathematics that deals with rates of change. In the script, it is used metaphorically to describe the advanced skills that one must learn and apply through effort, such as the fictional 'Eli' who seems to have 'invented calculus' on his own, indicating his exceptional talent.

💡10,000 Hour Rule

The 10,000 Hour Rule is a concept popularized by researcher Anders Ericsson, suggesting that it takes approximately 10,000 hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. The video script challenges this rule by emphasizing that the quality of practice is more important than the quantity.

💡Practice

Practice refers to the act of performing an activity repeatedly to improve skill. The video discusses the importance of practice in the development of expertise, but also points out that it must be a special kind of practice that is intentional and focused to be effective.

💡Expertise

Expertise is the state or quality of having a high level of skill or knowledge in a specific area. The video script uses the concept of expertise to illustrate the end goal of the learning process, which requires both talent and effort, as well as the right kind of practice.

💡Resilience

Resilience is the ability to recover quickly from difficulties. In the context of the video, resilience is implied as a necessary quality for maintaining effort over time, especially when faced with challenges or setbacks.

💡Growth-Oriented

A growth-oriented mindset is the belief that abilities can be developed through dedication and effort. The speaker suggests that hiring for talent alone is not enough; a growth-oriented mindset, indicative of potential for effort and resilience, is also important.

Highlights

Talent and IQ are important, but effort is crucial for gaining skills and achieving success.

The story of Eli, who seemingly invented calculus without effort, challenges the notion that talent alone guarantees success.

Effort should be multiplied by talent to truly master skills like calculus, writing, leadership, etc.

Talent counts, but effort counts twice, emphasizing the importance of applying skills through hard work.

Grit, a measure of effort, is not correlated with talent measures like IQ, indicating different human qualities.

Hiring brilliant people is beneficial, but it doesn't ensure hiring the most passionate or hard-working individuals.

Modern science on super successful individuals can be summarized with a graph by Dr. Anders Ericsson.

The 10,000-hour rule is a popular concept, but it lacks the nuance of practice quality over quantity.

Dr. Ericsson's research shows that the way experts practice is qualitatively different and crucial for excellence.

Life presents a multiple-choice scenario: continue learning, plateau, or exit and lose skills.

Grit helps individuals stay on the learning curve and avoid the plateau of arrested development.

Grit is associated with finishing what one starts and sustaining interests over time, preventing quitting.

The importance of not just practicing, but practicing with a purpose to improve and reach expertise.

The cultural destiny of playing the piano as an example of how skills can be lost without consistent practice.

The concept that skills acquired can degrade if not actively practiced, as with musical instruments or languages.

The role of grit in sustaining long-term interests and preventing a series of quits in various endeavors.

Transcripts

my dad growing up used to talk about

talent and IQ all the time

and I want to say that it does count

I've got an 18 year old at home named

Amanda sometimes she she comes home with

stories about Eli Eli's in her math

class

Eli never works Eli never does his

homework Eli seems to have invented

calculus on his own because he still

gets perfect scores on all the math

exams and my daughter's convinced that

Eli is so prodigiously talented that

doesn't really matter in life whether

whether Eli's can't work hard or or not

work hard because he's obviously gonna

become super successful but I think by

now I have convinced my daughter that

insofar as talent counts effort counts

twice first because no matter how

talented you are you have to multiply

that talent by hours of effort to

actually gain skill to learn calculus to

know how to write a memo know how to

lead a team know how to do all the

things frankly that you have learned

your many hard earned skills but I like

to say to my daughter you know talent

counts but effort counts twice because

once you have a skill you know how to

lead a team you know how to do calculus

you know how to act in a film you have

to actually apply that skill its effort

applied to skill that creates human

achievement and so when Will Smith says

you may be more talented than me but I

will never get off this treadmill before

you I think what he's pointing to is

that effort and talent are not the same

thing and in the long run it may be just

as Darwin intuited that effort may

matter more in dated I've collected on

the grit scale and measures of talent

whether physical talent or IQ cognitive

ability

I find that measures of effort like grit

are not correlated with measures of

talent like an IQ test in some samples

they're inversely correlated weakly all

that means for you as leaders is that if

you hire brilliant tell

did smart people good for you but it's

no guarantee that you're hiring the most

passionate hardest-working resilient

growth-oriented people they're simply

different human qualities if I want to

catch you all the way up to 2020 and

what modern science knows about the

super successful I can do it with this

one graph this summarizes the research

of my friend and my colleague onder's

Erickson raise your hand for a moment if

you've ever heard this expression and I

know we're a global audience but this

expression 10,000 hours of practice the

10,000 hour rule

okay that's many of us if not most of us

if Andres Erikson were here today he's a

cognitive scientist who studies the

super successful you know world cup

soccer players he goes to tournaments

like Sudoku tournaments etc what he

would say is that what he is observed

across all fields both mental and

physical is that it indeed takes

thousands of hours of a special kind of

practice to take you from an amateur who

knows nothing to somebody who could be

considered a world-class expert now what

Andres Erickson would want you to know

however is that there's something

missing in the popular understanding of

10,000 hours of practice and that is

that you can spend 10,000 hours of

practice and just be fine mediocre

nothing special I mean just think about

it

lots of people go to work for 40 hours a

week and then if you count up the hours

I mean pretty soon they're at 10,000 but

there are not world-class experts why

and the singular insight from his

lifetime of research is that it is not

just the quantity of practice that

matters it's the quality of practice the

way experts practice is different and I

think there are powerful lessons for all

of us in this room because they apply

not only to the individual but they

apply to the overall organization before

I unpack for you what onder's has found

about the way experts

practice and how different it is

qualitatively let me suggest that life

always presents us a multiple choice and

there are more than two answers you can

become more and more expert at what you

do

that's the read learning curve you never

stop learning I think that is the

culture of Genpact and its valued

clients you can be like most

organizations and most people which is

to say that you will put in hours and

hours but they're not the kind of

practice that gets you better you you

plateau on the you know I like to call

it the plateau of Arrested Development

but the third choice if anyone has at

any time is to exit completely to stop

training at all and it is the nature of

human nature that we lose the skills

that we have acquired when we are not

practicing them let me use myself as a

personal example being an Asian female

in New Jersey I had to play piano it was

part of my cultural destiny so I did it

and I was never very good I quit after

some years and what little skill I had

in piano I now have none at all and if

you used to practice a musical

instrument or speak another language or

play a sport and you are no longer

actively doing that then you know

exactly what I mean you don't get to

hold on at the same level to all the

human skills that you have acquired so I

studied grit in part because it keeps

people on this red learning curve to

becoming more and more and more

excellent at what they do but I also

study grit because it is those greedy

individuals who prefer to finish things

that they've started and have interests

that sustain themselves over years if

not decades if not a lifetime that keeps

them from quitting one thing after

another after another