Taken from the Ted Talk by Angela Lee Duckworth
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
In this Ted Talk, Angela Duckworth explores the key component to success. You might think this component is intelligence, or background, or talent. Turns out, the key component to success is grit. The ability to keep going no matter what; to stick with your goals no matter the circumstances.
Many people only focus on short-term goals, or become frustrated when they can’t see immediate results on long-term goals. The key to success is not giving up when you can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel. Trudging through no matter how bleak the road ahead appears.
An important contributing factor in the pursuit of grit is what is called a “growth mindset.” This is the realization that the ability to learn is not fixed. As an example, many people claim that they’re “just bad at math.” They think that no matter what they will never understand the principles behind mathematics. In some cases, this may be true. Those with a growth mindset can pursue a path wherein they find a way of learning math that makes sense to them.
There is no short cut to success. Working to build grit is the best way to ensure success in your endeavors.
Brandi-Ann Moore, PEI
