Grit – passion, persistence and purpose in pursuit of long-term goals
We have all observed that some people have the ability to pursue their goals while others really struggle and eventually give up. Apparently what is needed to stay focused and to achieve our goals is Grit. Grit is the passion and persistence which drives the pursuit of the goals. It is what makes us stay with what we want to accomplish rather than giving up.
It has been stated that perseverance matters more than IQ (Intelligence Quotient). Our potential is one thing but what we do with our potential is another. Angela Duckworth has proposed the following formula.
Talent x Effort = Skill
It takes effort to develop a talent into a skill.
For example musical talent requires lessons and practice. The talent requires effort before it is a skill.
Skill x Effort = Achievement
It takes further effort to develop a skill into an achievement
The skill may then require the further work of perseverance , hard work, marketing etc in order for there to be achievement.
Duckworth also states that those who have passion (internal motivation) for an activity can persist with the activity longer than those who merely have willpower or persistence. And those who have purpose (that is external motivation for example an external goal) can persist even longer than those who have passion.
Persistence (willpower) + Passion + Purpose = SUCCESS
Positive Grit has positive outcome, it will be a source of inspiration to other people. Unfortunately there is also negative grit. In fact there are three forms of Grit that are toxic and work against us.
Stupid or Stubborn Grit It can happen that people become so focused on a goal that they will not listen to good advice. For example someone may have an idea that is no longer working but they cannot ‘let it go’ and they insist on pursuing the goal to its destructive end.
False Grit This refers to people who fake their results. They do not have what it takes to pursue the difficult course and so they falsify their results. We see this in modern society where people fake their academic qualifications. It is also evident in sport and a well-known example would be Lance Armstrong
Selfie Grit In contrast to False Grit, Selfie Grit people do actually achieve the goals but they do it for accolades. Our present culture no longer supports humility and for most people it is about being the star of your own show. Taking pictures of you for Facebook, Instagram etc.is of paramount importance. There is a need to advertise achievements in order to get the acclaim of others. Selfie Grit lacks the key character strength of humility which is integral to becoming an authentically Gritty person.
When Grit is misused it does not inspire others and it does not leave the world a better place. When Grit includes the abuse of self and/or the abuse of others it is counter-productive and results in unhappiness and very often in ill-health. Healthy Grit includes a connected sense of self – that is a healthy connection to oneself and to others. There should be a sense of self that is grounded in reality. Grit needs to be combined with self-compassion because healthy self-compassion grounds us in reality and motivates us to acknowledge difficulties and not to ‘give up’ or to ‘condemn ourselves’ (See blog on Self-Compassion).
Recommended Reading
Getting grit. Caroline Adams Miller.
Grit: The power of passion and perseverance. Angela Duckworth
Why is Grit more important than IQ when you are trying to become successful? Lisa Quast (online article).
Rising Strong. Brene Brown