For years, people have recommended this book to me. Finally, I made the time to read it and wished I had heeded the advice much earlier. I also wish author Angela Duckworth would have been alive and as prolific back when I was a teen. It’s a long way of saying this is a book for every adult and every young adult wanting more out of life. In other words, Grit is for all of us who have passions, professions, or pursuits and desire to understand how to excel in these endeavors.

The book ruffles the theory that success results from talent and luck.

While these two elements play a part—certainly shortening the timeline—grit is the most significant factor. So, what is grit? Angela defines it as “passion and perseverance towards goals. Grit keeps a person going when they feel down or when a task seems impossible. With grit, one can accomplish difficult tasks without giving up.”

The good news is that grit can be nurtured. And often, the older you get, the grittier you become. There’s a lot to the theory that regular pursuit of an endeavor makes all the difference. It seems obvious when you think about it, but as she cites, many give up the fight when setbacks arise. That’s not grit. Instead, grit is embracing these turns in the tide and examining what went wrong, then getting back up and doing the learning and tweaking necessary to make progress. Inspiring!

She shares her discoveries through dogged studies of gritty folks, such as West Point Cadets, spelling bee champions, Olympic athletes, and success moguls, several with rough or late life starts, or like many of us, floundering. Readers will find multiple relatable examples and mountains of insight and inspiration. What also amazes me is how many icons she’s rubbed elbows with throughout her journey. Those in the scientific community, high achievers, endurance authorities, and many others who’ve made their life work a study of tenacity and success. If you’re into personal development, you know Erik Erikson, Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, and Martin Seligman, to name a few.

Anyway, the proof is in the pudding—or, in this case, the book. Angela Duckworth’s Grit is a must-read for all who aspire. Period!

Source: Purchased

Image Courtesy of Simon and Schuster and Scribner Books