Going for Grit ...And What I Learned from Angela Duckworth

Watercolor portrait of Angela Duckworth, author of Grit

Not long ago I heard an interview on NPR with researcher and psychology professor Angela Duckworth.  Author of the bestselling book Grit, Duckworth talked about what she means by the word "grit" and why it is more important than talent in high achievers.

I went out and got a copy of the book right away and it's quickly risen to the top of my favorites list.  Since one the things I enjoy doing is painting portraits of various heroes of mine, I eagerly took on the challenge of painting Angela.  You can see the process of my painting in stages below and read on to find out why her findings on grit hold promise for anyone wanting to pursue a dream.

Pencil Sketch - Angela Duckworth

In a nutshell, Duckworth defines grit as a combination of passion and perseverance.  While she maintains someone's innate talent can give them a leg up in their chosen field, it is ultimately enthusiasm (or passion) combined with hours and hours of practice (perseverance), that propels a person to the top of their game.  

The good news? Whatever amount of grit you have now, Duckworth maintains you can improve upon it.

In Process

Here are a few chosen quotes that illustrate Duckworth's points. (And if you don't have the time or inclination to read her book, check out her TED Talk on YouTube and some of the other videos where she's interviewed.)

     "Failure is not a permanent condition."

"People who succeed fail all the time."

"Gritty people  have a growth mindset: when bad things happen,

they don't give up."

"Why were the highly accomplished so dogged in their pursuits?  For

most, there was no realistic expectation of ever catching up to their 

ambitions.  In their own eyes, they were never good enough.  ...Even

if some of the things they had to do were boring, or frustrating, or even

painful, they wouldn't dream of giving up.  Their passion was enduring."

The Final Version

As for myself, while I love painting, I still have times of extreme frustration with a particular piece.  In fact, it's fair to say that I usually experience frustration with every painting I do.   It's heartening to read about masters in all areas who just keep at it, and while they have high standards, their failures don't deter them.  They just keep on going.