True grit
A recent 99 percent article examined the relationship between achievement and a quality of self control called ‘grit’.
The article highlights a number of studies looking at the divide between talent (or intelligence) and the qualities that assist us in unlocking and delivering talent. So, looking at a large number of people, from Einstein to Darwin, right through to West Point graduates, musicians and finance bankers, and exploring what enabled those at the top of their field to unlock their talent, and in some cases, to succeed even where talent isn’t immediately obvious (apparently Darwin never considered himself an intelligence powerhouse).
One of the researches, psychologist Angela Duckworth, isolated those qualities that might serve as a predictor of outstanding talent:
- The tendency not to abandon tasks from mere changeability. Not seeking something because of novelty. Not “looking for a change.”
- The tendency not to abandon tasks in the face of obstacles. Perseverance, tenacity, doggedness.
Which Duckworth boils down to the quality of ‘grit’.
People who accomplished great things, [Duckworth] noticed, often combined a passion for a single mission with an unswerving dedication to achieve that mission, whatever the obstacles and however long it might take.
Seems some of us have grit in spades, while others can barely scratch together a few grains, and to help figure out how much grit one possesses, Duckworth constructed a test: The Grit Scale.
On a scale of 1 to 5, I scored a 2 on my grit test. As sobering as that is, it’s pretty much what I expected.
Of all the qualities I posses (I haven’t tagged them all, but I’m assured there are some), grit would not be my high point. Sure, in some aspects of my life I likely display more grit than in others, but on the whole, discipline and self control have always been my kryptonite.
I am the person who announces they are writing a book, and then a month later, doesn’t want to talk about it. I become discouraged when obstacles appear, often losing sight of the end goal long before the horizon is even visible. Just the thought of pursuing a final story more than five drafts away exhausts me (that said, I do exhibit some amount of grit in my keenness for drafting).
In a way, I like the marketing of my ideas more than the execution.
But, if you are like me, do not despair. I tell you where our grit lies. Our grit is in the consistent pursuit of discipline and self control.
While we may never have an inherent reservoir of grit to draw on (oh how sweet it must be to have a well stocked grit larder), we can definitely pump it in from other places. We can try and fail, let ourselves down, but its the grit that shines through when we pick things up again and carry on.
Of course, as grit can only exist after the fact, you’ll just have to trust me that somewhere in the background that ’2′ score is inching its way towards a ’3′ (long term goal setting here).
Check out the TEDx talk from Angela Duckworth in the video above. Take the test and if you’re brave enough, put your score below and let us know whether you think it’s a fair appraisal.
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3 Comments
Now that’s a cool way of looking at things. Enjoyed the talk, took the test and scored exactly 3 (36). I suspect that had I not just finished something that took years to commit to, that I would have scored lower. Something to work on, perhaps.
Great post Mark. Wish I had your marketing grit as that’s what I find tricky. I scored a 4! Also just completed a long term project – a book. Still doggedly working on it – now the promotions. EEK! Onwards and upwards.
A 4 is pretty impressive Edwina. I wonder which came first, your grit or your book?
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