Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. I have been looking forward to reading this book. Angela’s story on researching Grit begins by studying West Point’s Beast Barracks. That would be the best location to convey grit for all of us.
Her research of the national spelling bee does, in fact hold similarities to Beast. The lesson of learning your passion is indeed the key defining how you persevere over time. Swimming is a topic addressed throughout the book.
Angela’s story of Rowdy Gaines‘ love of athletics helped drive his skill in the pool. Examples of Grit lessons from swim coaches to Mark Spitz continue to inspire swimmers. When your teammates arrive by 4:00am every morning — you understand perseverance.
The idea of describing Grit versus Flow hit me (for some reason) as two approaches to playing a golf course. More than a few years ago I repeatedly played a course that hosted an annual PGA tournament.
Many weekday evenings spent at the range prepared me for a weekly test. Playing from the championship tees simulated the tournament yardage. The ‘grit’ was time at the range during the week. More often this was Monday, Wednesday and Friday while looking forward to teeing off that same Sunday.
However one Sunday I found myself changing my approach to ‘just play’ the course. Foregoing all the details approaching each shot, and moving to ‘just playing’ by feel. Angela describes this change as Flow. Many wasted efforts to perfect my swing for each shot was eliminated by simply ‘feeling’ the iron shot to be played. This turned out to be a much more relaxing round of golf. There are moments in the book that Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000 hour rules applies to flow and the amount of time to enhance your passion.
Chapter 10’s “Parenting For Grit” and Chapter 11 “The Playing Fields of Grit” both provide wonderful insights to research confirming the role of identifying and developing children. Angela writes many insights for students in high school. The lessons directly apply to approaching higher education in a post coronavirus world.
Just after World War II three organizations: the American Council on Education, the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, and the College Entrance Examination Board joined to form Educational Testing Service (ETS). All three were developing and delivering testing programs. The source for Angela’s research on follow-through was authored by Warren Willingham. Willingham was Director of the Personal Qualities Project at ETS.
Angela’s work with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation was revealing how Bill related her “Grit Grid” to his own ‘follow-through’ now used by Harvard’s Admissions Office.
Passion and Perseverance drives Grit. For my grandparent’s generation their advice of ‘character,’ ‘drive,’ and ‘determination’ have now been re-branded. Many will realize they have been taught a form of Grit throughout their lives.
TEDTalk: Grit: the power of passion and perseverance
Talks at Google: Angela Duckworth: “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance”
Family Action Network: Angela L. Duckworth: Will Power: Grit, Self-control, and Achievement
The Aspen Institute: Angela Duckworth addresses students at the 2017 Aspen Challenge Philadelphia