They can look at potential disasters and see them as opportunities for growth. People who are hardy often have grit because they persist through difficult circumstances. If you have grit, you probably feel like once you’ve decided to do something, you’re “on a mission” to complete it and you won’t stop no matter what happens. A person who has perseverance will steadfastly pursue a task in spite of obstacles or distractions, and adds a layer of passion to it. Grit is thought to be a trait of perseverance. The amount of grit that you have-your courage, perseverance, and determination-may be a better indicator of your ultimate results. It seems that no matter how cheerful, smart, or talented you are, you won’t reach your goals unless you’re also willing to put in the work to get there, and that work often has to be done under difficult circumstances. It’s in small business owners who start with nothing and build a profitable business over time, and it’s in a tired parent who does her best every single day.Īngela Duckworth, a University of Pennsylvania psychologist and MacArthur “genius,” recently defined grit as a child’s “perseverance and passion for long-term goals.” Many studies have shown that this type of attitude is a better indicator of future earnings and happiness than either IQ or talent. It’s in the students who have to study hard to pass each test, and in the average athletes who become superstars after years of practice. If you want a dictionary definition of grit, here are two: “ courage and resolve strength of character,” or “ mental toughness and courage.” You can find it in many people around you. It is grit that helps a person overcome his shortcomings or disadvantages and allows him to succeed. If Frodo had been a wizard or had the power to fly, his journey would not have required any grit. With the help of a few friends and his own great determination, he persisted through many dangers and setbacks. Consider Frodo Baggins, the small Hobbit who had never been far from home, and was tasked with carrying a volatile object across the entire known world. Grit is often found in the underdog-a person or fictional character who perseveres and ultimately succeeds despite the odds being stacked against him.

Define grit