GRIT

Did you know that SAT scores are not a reliable predictor of college success?

Did you know that IQ is not a reliable predictor of career success?

Did you know that skill is not a reliable predictor of musical success?

Now imagine wanting something that you are passionate about. Imagine something that you are willing to work hard for. Imagine achieving your goal through perseverance and deliberate effort. Finally, imagine yourself never giving up.

I just finished reading Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth. I initially got sucked into the topic after watching Dr. Duckworth’s TED talk on grit. Who is successful and why? How do passion and perseverance contribute to achievement? These are some of the fundamental questions that drive Dr. Duckworth’s research.

I’m always a little surprised when someone tells me they could never be any good at math, or computers, or engineering. I’ll then ask, “Do you practice?”  Not surprisingly, those who claim they can’t do math don’t practice math. Even though they accept the need to practice for athletic performance improvements, practicing math seems to be a foreign concept. Perhaps what they are saying is, “I have no passion for math.” Without the passion, perseverance to do the hard work of studying math may also be missing.

I like how Dr. Duckworth describes how to develop skill and achievements:

·      Talent and effort drive skill development.

·      Skill and effort drive achievement.

·      With an algebraic substitution, talent and effort and effort deliver achievement.

“Talent – how fast we improve in skill – matters. But effort factors into the calculations twice, not once.” So an effort with deliberate practice is a crucial factor in achievement.

So, what is it that you want to achieve? Do you have the grit – passion, and perseverance – necessary for achievement? According to Dr. Duchworth’s studies, the good news is that each of us can increase our grit.

As a life and career coach, I work with clients to find their passion, develop action plans, and celebrate the perseverance necessary for achieving life goals. But, what I didn’t realize until now, is that I coach GRIT.

~Neal