Evergreen Bookclub 1: “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth
Here are my reflection questions and exercises that I came up with while reading “Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth.
Welcome to the first edition of the Evergreen Bookclub. If you're interested in reading more about the ideas behind it and how it works, then head here.
Angela Duckworth is a Professor at the University of Pennsylvania as well as the founder and CEO of a non-profit organisation called Character Lab, which aims to advance the science of helping kids thrive. Duckworth also co-hosts a podcast called No Stupid Questions. She is additionally involved in many other projects and organisations, but, for the purposes of this first Evergreen Bookclub, we're going to focus on a book she has written (which is based on a lot of research - both hers and that of others).
The book is called "Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance"
If you haven't read the book yet (or even if you have) and want a quick introduction to what it's all about, then check out Duckworth's TED talk on the topic.
Lightning fast review: I really enjoyed this book (there's a reason why I started with this one!). I would argue that (at least for me) this is a potentially life-changing book. I would encourage anyone striving to live a satisfying life (or who wants that for the people around them) to read this book. It's probably one that I could stand to read again and again because it is full of so much wisdom.
*Note: throughout this article, anything that’s in quotation marks is a direct quote from the book (generally Duckworth’s words, but sometimes (where I’ve indicated) it has been said by someone else).
Let's start with a definition: what is GRIT? (Chapter 1 "Showing Up")
As I’ve said in the introduction to the Evergreen Bookclub, these reflections are not intended to be summaries. That being said, I do think that some context is necessary and helpful at times. Therefore, these worksheets will be mostly filled with questions and exercises (with some brief notes in between).
Here I will discuss some definitions of grit, since the concept is so central to the book, as a way of getting us all on the same page.
Duckworth offers us an evolving definition of grit over the course of the book - I've attempted to summarise it here:
Most simply, GRIT = PASSION + PERSEVERANCE
Passion: "a compass - that thing that takes you some time to build, tinker with, and finally get right, and that then guides you on your long and winding road to where, ultimately, you want to be" | Your "ultimate concern" | "The top-level goal" | "A compass that gives direction and meaning to all the goals below it."
Perseverance: "Consistency over time" | Not just "enthusiasm" (which is common and can be short-lived) but "endurance" (which is rare and long-lived).
Galton (a scientist who performed a 1869 study on the origins of high achievement) identified 3 characteristics of high achievers:
"Ability" + "Zeal" + "Capacity for hard labour"
These are all words that could be used to describe someone with a high level of grit.
Grit is more than talent - it is what we do with our potential.
Longevity is a key component of grit (this is where perseverance comes into it):
Longevity requires loyalty: "It's doing what you love, but not just falling in love - staying in love".
The good news: grit is plastic - it can change, it can develop.
Why would you want grit? Duckworth discusses this in-depth but, a very quick answer is: It's a reliable predictor of the ability to get through and succeed in challenging situations (AKA life).
Duckworth’s simple mathematical formula for defining grit as passion along with perseverance.
TALENT (Chapter 2 "Distracted by Talent")
Duckworth argues that the emphasis placed on talent when trying to understand high achievement is problematic, because it distracts from other factors, such as grit, such as effort.
Q1 How highly do you value "talent" or "natural ability" in yourself?
More specifically, consider something you think of yourself as being good at - do you think your achievements in this venture are attributable to "talent", or to other factors, or multiple sources? What is the balance?
Q2: How highly do you value "talent" in other people? (Think: children, friends, family members, people you look up to, people you envy).
Q3: If you've identified that you rate talent more highly compared to other factors, do you think this is problematic?
Do you think it is having a negative impact on what you strive to achieve, and what you succeed in achieving?
Q4: If you do value "talent" over other factors, why do you think that is the case? Were you brought up with an over-emphasis on talent (from parents, teachers etc), for instance?
Why the focus on talent?
Duckworth argues that a lot of people desire to see excellence, a great performance, or achievement as something that is "extraordinary or superhuman" - talent allows us to do this, because these great achievements can be seen as magical, rather than the result of hours and hours of mundane practice and continuous effort.
This "magic" of talent (that you either have or don't) can then be used as a convenient excuse when we're not achieving what we might like to. As Duckworth says, "mythologizing natural talent lets us all off the hook. It lets us relax into the status quo."
Q5: When have you given up on something because you thought you weren't "talented" enough, and therefore figured you couldn’t improve, and there was no point in continuing?
The good thing about considering factors beyond natural talent is that we can begin to see how much power we have to be great, and don't have to be limited by the belief that we can't do something if we don't have the innate talent.
Duckworth quotes sociologist Dan Chambliss. The main point: greatness is doable.
EFFORT (Chapter 3 "Effort counts twice")
Duckworth emphasises the importance of effort, arguing that it counts more than talent:
"But effort factors into the calculations twice, not once. Effort builds skill. At the very same time, effort makes skill productive."
As a mathematical representation of this concept, she also puts it this way:
TALENT X EFFORT = SKILL
SKILL X EFFORT = ACHIEVEMENT
Q6: Think of something you are really good at - How has effort played a role in developing your abilities?
Did you have to work to improve your skills?
Did you develop a daily practice?
Duckworth dives into a discussion of many famous people and what they have to say about effort:
Woody Allen suggests that "eighty percent of success in life is showing up" (ie actually doing the thing - You want to write a novel? Then write it. You want to make delicious cakes? Then bake. You want to learn a language? Then learn it).
Duckworth emphasises the consistency factor: "As any coach or athlete will tell you, consistency of effort over the long run is everything."
Will Smith argues not only for doing, not only for consistency, but also for a weight of time spent developing your skills: "Talent you have naturally. Skill is only developed by hours and hours and hours of beating on your craft."
Q7: Do you have any lingering desires (of skills you want to develop)? Things that are always somewhere in the back (or front) of your mind? Things that you want to do but don't?
What are they?
Why haven't you started developing them? What has been holding you back?
Do you think you could you devise a way to start "showing up", to start doing them?
Chapter 4 "How gritty are you?"
Duckworth has devised a "grit scale" in order to determine your grit score (a measure of how gritty you are) - between 1 (not at all gritty) to 5 (extremely gritty).
Q8: (Answer this question before you find out your grit score). What do you predict your grit score to be?
Exercise 1: Determine your grit score
Here's a link to the grit scale questionnaire.
Q9: What was your score?
Q10: Are you more or less gritty than you thought?
Exercise 2: What are other people's perceptions of your grit?
Get someone else (maybe your partner, adult child, parent - someone who knows you well) and get them to answer the grit scale questions about you - was their grit score for you different to the one you got?
Exercise 3: How gritty are those around you?
Determine the Grit score of those around you (eg your family, your colleagues) - it will be interesting to see whether gritty people go together in your life.
Duckworth emphasises the importance of having a top-level: goal/ultimate concern/guiding compass/life philosophy/something that "organises a great deal of your waking activity".
Q11: Do you have an ultimate concern that you can articulate?
If yes (great!), Exercise 4: Write down your ultimate concern!
Duckworth recommends keeping it as short as possible (max 10 words).
If no, Exercise 5: Uncover your ultimate concern (this is quite an involved exercise and these strategies may not work for you. I would definitely recommend a close reading of this chapter if you're having trouble with this) Also, it’s probable that doing this exercise is not necessarily going to lead to a clear high-level goal/purpose - that’s okay! Here, we’re simply trying to ignite some thinking about it.
Duckworth suggests that there are different levels of goals:
Low-level goal: items on your short-term to-do list (means to ends): eg "Getting out the door on time".
Mid-level goal: eg "arriving at work on time" - Why? "To be punctual" - Why do you care about that? "Being punctual shows respect for the people with whom you work".
High level goal: eg "it's an end in itself"; Why do you want to show "respect for the people with whom you work"? "Because you strive to be a good leader" If the why question is answered with: "just because", you've found your top level goal.
Write down your goals and try to determine where they sit in terms of levels.
Another way to approach this is to use Warren Buffett's 3-step career goal determination (note: this doesn't have to be limited to career goals, but arguably, your career goals should align with your ultimate concern if you spend the majority of your waking hours doing your job):
List 25 career goals
Circle the 5 highest priority goals (to help you do this: you can make notes on each of your goals and come up with a rating in terms of "interest" and "importance").
Consider the 20 goals you didn't highlight and avoid them at all costs.
Duckworth's additions: If you're having trouble with this, you can do like Duckworth and consider if some of your goals are actually related (how many of them are means to ends?) Ask yourself: "to what extent do these goals serve a common purpose?" You're aiming to get as close to having one internal compass as possible.
Q12: How aligned are your existing goals to your ultimate concern?
Q13: If they're not aligned - How could you alter/edit your lower level goals so that they are more aligned to your ultimate concern?
Duckworth's suggestion for when low-level goals don't work out (eg something you submitted gets rejected): "you should give up when one lower-level goal can be swapped for another that is more feasible".
But, she argues that the higher up the goal hierarchy you get, "the more it makes sense to be stubborn" (and not give up or swap them out).
Q14: Now that you've articulated your ultimate concern, are there any additional medium and low-level goals that would lead you to that top-level goal that you should consider?
Chapter 5: "Grit grows"
Duckworth argues that personality never stops evolving, which is excellent for those who want to grow their grit!
She suggests that new circumstances and situations lead us to act differently in response to them ("necessity is the mother of adaptation").
Q15: Can you think of an example in your own life where your circumstances have changed and you've changed in response to them?
Q16: Did those changes end up being long-term?
Q17: What's the most recent thing you "quit"? Did you think any of the following before you quit:
"I'm bored"
"The effort isn't worth it"
"This isn't important to me"
"I can't do this, so I might as well give up"
Duckworth argues that the grittier you are the less likely you will quit your compass goal (you might quit lower-level goals, though).
Q18: Was the thing you quit a higher or lower level goal?
Not as gritty as you'd like to be? Don't worry, Duckworth explains how you can grow you grit (in fact, that's the focus of the second half of the book):
She suggests that the most gritty people have these things in common:
Interest (Chapter 6) ("captivated by the endeavour as a whole"; although it’s possible to still not enjoy every aspect)
Capacity to practice (Chapter 7) ("discipline of trying to do things better than we did yesterday")
Purpose (Chapter 8) ("the conviction that your work matters"; this might develop over time and not necessarily be there from the outset)
Hope (Chapter 9) ("rising-to-the-occasion kind of perseverance") (Duckworth argues that hope must be present all the way through - from interest to purpose).
Growing Grit: Chapter 6 "Interest"
Main advice: "Foster a passion".
But Duckworth reminds us that you don't necessarily have to have this passion from the outset: Most gritty people spent a long time trying out different interests, and generally there wasn't one moment when they found their life's purpose.
Duckworth sums up the whole process: "Passion for your work is a little bit discovery, followed by a lot of development, and then a lifetime of deepening."
START: Discovery = play/fun → need lots of encouragement (small wins) and freedom = builds interest
Q19: Consider a passion that you might be in the initial stages of cultivating (or consider the passion of someone you are playing a mentoring type role to) - what ways can you ensure that you have small wins in these early stages?
Duckworth gives a few pointers on fostering your passion in the early stages of exploration:
Define what you'd hate to do and what things seem more interesting.
Embrace trial and error - find "a direction that feels good."
Work in pencil - you don't have to have a definite answer of your "life goal", just be working toward one.
MIDDLE: Development - triggering interest again and again and again... - requires patience, is easier with mentors and support, and by asking questions.
Q20: Are you in the development stage of your passion?
Q21: How are you triggering interest again and again? If you’re not triggering interest, what are some simple ways you could do this?
Q22: Do you have a mentor or support network? If not, what are some small actions you could take to begin cultivating one?
Never-ending END: Deepening and creating novelty: "find[ing] a way to enjoy the nuances that only a true aficionado can appreciate".
Q23: What ways are you cultivating novelty in your passion?
Growing Grit: Chapter 7 "Practice"
Journalist Hester Lacey on practice: "It's a persistent desire to do better...it's the opposite of being complacent. But it's a positive state of mind, not a negative one. It's not looking backward with dissatisfaction. It's looking forward and wanting to grow."
The psychologist Ericsson argues that experts don't necessarily practice more, they practice differently (spending more of their practice time practicing deliberately). Gritty people do more deliberate practice.
What does it mean to do "deliberate practice"?
Set a "stretch goal" (focussed specifically on one small specific weakness).
Strive to reach the stretch goal (often, without an audience).
As soon as possible after that, seek feedback (with an interest in what you did wrong, so that you can fix it).
Continue to do it again again "until what was a struggle before is now fluent and flawless".
Once the stretch goal is mastered, repeat the process with a new stretch goal.
Duckworth argues that "even the most complex and creative of human abilities can be broken down into its component skills, each of which can be practiced, practiced, practiced."
But deliberate practice is extremely taxing - even people at the top of their game can only handle 3-5 h of it a day.
Q24: What are some examples of "deliberate practice" in your field?
Q25: Do you do deliberate practice? If yes, how often and for how long? If no, why not? (eg because you didn’t know about it? Because it is too difficult?…)
If you're not doing deliberate practice, Duckworth suggests to determine "when and where you're most comfortable doing deliberate practice and then doing it in that environment and at that time every day.
Q26: Do you have a time and place where you can do deliberate practice? If not, how could you make it a ritual?
Growing Grit: Chapter 8 "Purpose"
Purpose = "The intention to contribute to the well-being of others".
Purpose often comes later - after interest and practice.
Q27: What is your purpose in what you do? How does it help others? (Note: It doesn't have to be major, like "save the world" or "cure cancer"!)
Grittiness is associated with increased purpose.
Purpose → motivation
Duckworth discusses the difference between a "Job" vs "a career" vs "a calling" (she argues that "any occupation can be a job, career, or calling").
"Whatever you do...you can continually look at what you do and ask how it connects to other people, how it connects to the bigger picture, how it can be an expression of your deepest values."
You're never too old: "Whatever your age, it's never too early or late to begin cultivating a sense of purpose."
Q28: How is "the work you're already doing making a positive contribution to society?" (This is not my own question, but one by David Yeager, a psychologist that Duckworth quotes)
Amy Wrzensniewski: Job crafting - "how, in small but meaningful ways, you can change your current work to enhance its connection to your core values".
Q29: What are some ways to "craft" your current job? (ie make more of your activities/roles align with your life’s purpose)
Duckworth discusses the importance of having role models that demonstrate purpose.
Q30: Who inspires you to be a better person? Who is a good example of someone who has purpose? (Note: I would argue that it doesn't have to be someone you know personally). What are some ways you could learn from this person and use them as a role model?
Growing Grit: Chapter 9 "Hope"
The final characteristic/feature that Duckworth argues all gritty people have is, hope. She begins the chapter with the old Japanese saying, "Fall seven, rise eight".
She discusses the difference between optimists and pessimists - that everyone has bad things happen to them, the difference is their response: optimists "search for temporary and specific causes of their suffering, whereas pessimists assume permanent and pervasive causes are to blame."
Higher grit is associated with higher optimism.
Q31: Would you describe yourself as an optimist or a pessimist?
Duckworth also outlines the difference between having a growth vs fixed mindset (which are related to optimism and pessimism) and argues that having a growth mindset and grit are also associated.
Q32: Would you say you have a growth or a fixed mindset? Do you believe people can get better at things or that there are naturals, and if you're not a natural then you'll never be good at the skill in question?
Again, the good thing is that you can cultivate hope:
This can simply involve modifying the language you use (or at least being aware of it as a start): "You're a natural!" (fixed mindset) vs "You're a learner!" (growth mindset).
Q33: What type of language do you use (to others, but also to yourself)? Does it align with a fixed or a growth mindset?
Here are Duckworth's recommendations for teaching yourself hope:
"Update your beliefs about intelligence and talent" - studies show that people can increase their IQ scores; "there's never a time in life when the brain is completely "fixed"".
"Practice optimistic self-talk" - this may require something more extreme like cognitive behavioural therapy, Duckworth argues, depending on how deep your pessimism is.
"Ask for a helping hand" - seeking someone (or multiple people) to tell you to keep going and to give you hope when you're lacking.
Growing Grit: Chapter 10 "Parenting for grit"
Even if you're not a parent, this is chapter still relevant - most people know someone they're "mentoring" to some degree, a niece or nephew, friends' kids, colleagues etc). You could even extend this philosophy of parenting to how you look after and talk to yourself.
Parents that raise gritty children generally practice "wise parenting".
Wise parents/mentors are:
Supportive: warm, respectful
But also, demanding
They "encourage children to emulate their parents".
Q34: How much passion and perseverance do you have for your own global goal?
Q35: Does this passion and perseverance come across to your children (or mentees)?
Do you think they encouraged to emulate you?
Do you have evidence of them emulating you?
Are they emulating the actions you want them to emulate?
Growing Grit: Chapter 11 "The playing fields of grit"
Duckworth suggests that "[k]ids thrive when they spend at least some part of their week doing hard things that interest them." (This is arguably true for adults also).
Exercise 6: The Hard Thing Rule (Duckworth's strategy):
Note: Duckworth explains this in the context of a family environment, but I think this could be applied to any group - a friendship group, group of colleagues etc).
Everyone (in the group) has to do a hard thing (requiring daily deliberate practice).
You can quit (but you have to wait for a "natural" stopping point - eg the season is over; "finish what you begin").
You pick your own hard things - if you're a parent, this means relinquishing some of this power and responsibility (but you probably have to set some limits depending on the age of the kids and what they think is reasonable/possible).
Growing Grit: Chapter 12 "A culture of grit"
There is a symbiotic relationship between an individual and their environment (eg a team) - that is, they help each other. "The very characteristics that are selected for in certain situations are, in turn, enhanced by them". "The easy way [to get grit] is to use conformity - the basic human drive to fit in - because if you're around a lot of people who are gritty, you're going to act grittier."
Q36: Do you have an environment that supports being gritty in your chosen field/passion? That is, are you surrounding yourself with people who a gritty, who are doing things well, and encouraging you to emulate their behaviour and grow your own grit?
Duckworth outlines her encounters with the Finnish word and concept "Sisu" - "a compound of bravado and bravery, of ferocity and tenacity, of the ability to keep fighting after most people would have quit...." = grit.
Q37: Can you think of an example in your recent memory where you were able to overcome adversity, despite the difficulty? If yes, do you think you got "better" at being that way (gritty) because of that experience (ie was it easier to do it the next time adverse circumstances were thrust upon you)?
Duckworth discusses the JPMorgan Chase bank and their core values in detail, and I really resonated with them so I’m including them here (they’re also a nice outline of how to be gritty!):
"Have a fierce resolve in everything you do".
"Demonstrate determination, resiliency, and tenacity".
"Do not let temporary setbacks become permanent excuses".
"Use mistakes and problems as opportunities to get better - not reasons to quit".
"The ultimate thing is that we need to grow over time".
Duckworth discusses Seahawks coach Pete Carroll and his approach when things go wrong: "He explained that like every other negative experience, and every positive one, 'it becomes part of you. I'm not going to ignore it. I'm going to face it. And when it bubbles up, I'm going to think about it and get on with it. And use it."
Q38: Think of a time when something "negative" has happened to you (eg you didn't get the job you applied for, you got a bad review, you made a personal decision that hurt someone else) - do you push it down when "bubbles up" or do you "use it" (for instance, use it to improve yourself, make a better decision next time, act differently)?
Q39: If you haven't used it, then how could you approach this experience, reflect on it, and make it accessible for you to use and therefore, grow from?
FINAL QUESTION! Q40: What was your biggest insight from "Grit - The Power of Passion and Perseverance" by Angela Duckworth?
Final words
I hope by reading the book and interacting with my reflection questions and exercises, that you have:
Become aware of grit as a concept and the benefits of being gritty (for one: "the grittier a person is, the more likely they'll enjoy a healthy emotional life." For another: "the satisfaction that comes from doing something important - for yourself and others - and doing it well, and doing it even though it's so very hard."
Identified times in your life where you have shown grit.
Understand that grit can be developed (both via internal and external means) and have some insight into where you may have room to grow and how you can develop your own grit.
Are inspired to cultivate more grit in yourself and in others.
Further reading
Some of these are mentioned in the book and others aren't, but I think they all complement this book nicely.
James Clear has written a couple of articles about grit - here and here.
Mastery by Robert Greene.
Mindset by Carol Dweck.
Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience by Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi.
I would love to read your insights in the comments below! Feel free to provide answers to any of the questions I've outlined, or raise your own. If you don't feel comfortable doing this publicly, then please reach out to me privately here or over on Instagram.
Also, since this is the first instalment of the Evergreen Bookclub, please let me know what you think of it. As with everything, this will evolve over time - so you can play a part in shaping it with your feedback.
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