Got Grit?
One of my dad’s favorite sayings was “Patience and Fortitude.” He always finished what he started and was engaged in the same enterprise for more than 70 years.
In Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, Angel Duckworth explores how grit impacts success and challenges conventional wisdom about achievement.
She says “Grit is about working on something you care about so much that you’re willing to stay with it.” She outlines four components of Grit:
- Interest: The intrinsic enjoyment and meaning in what you do.
- Practice: The daily discipline of improvement.
- Purpose: The passionate importance of the work to you and others.
- Hope: How to keep going when there is a setback or difficulty.
Questions of the Month
- What helps you finish what you start?
- What is your capacity for grit?
- When are you willing to try again?
Practice of the Month
Self-Observation: Exploring Grit
For one week, notice your level of passion and perseverance on a project that is important to you. Notice what helps you stick with it. Notice what takes you away from the project.
How will you use this knowledge going forward?