“Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.” Angela Duckworth Grit

My previous blog looked at the work of Carol Dweck and fixed and growth mindsets. Dweck’s work significantly influenced Angela Duckworth, their combined body of work being described as a complementary, and at times overlapping, framework that helps individuals sustain long-term goals. Both Dweck’s Mindset and Duckworth’s Grit are frequently cited as the two most influential social science texts in recent decades regarding achievement, effort, and success.

The full title of the book is Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance and Duckworth has stated that a growth mindset is essential for building grit, as it allows individuals to view challenges and failures as opportunities for improvement rather than reasons to quit. 

Best selling book, popular TEDtalk

This was psychology professor Duckworth’s first book, and was an instant success. It stayed on The New York Times bestseller list for 21 weeks. The accompanying TEDtalk is among the most viewed of all time:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H14bBuluwB8  

Natural talent or grit?!

Duckworth was born in Pennsylvania to Chinese immigrant parents. A Guardian interview states that growing up, her father’s comments along the lines of “you’re no genius!” did not have a negative impact.  It concludes that “Duckworth…doesn’t recall how she answered her father, but her book Grit is her considered reply!” 

After years of studying high achievers (athletes, artists, teachers, army recruits on gruelling training exercises, CEOs) from all walks of life, she finds that natural talent (the genius prized by her father!) does not make humans disposed to succeed as much as the qualities she sums up as “grit”. 

Grit, she says, is a unique blend of passion and perseverance over the long term. It’s about showing up, day after day, even when it’s hard, boring, or uncomfortable. It’s about sticking with your goals, your dreams, for years. Choosing to do the hard thing because you’re committed to something greater than the present discomfort.

Effort

One of the book’s key frameworks is what Duckworth calls the “effort equation”:

• Talent × Effort = Skill
• Skill × Effort = Achievement

In other words, effort counts twice. You may need some talent to learn something quickly but talent alone doesn’t make you successful. It’s effort over time that transforms raw talent into usable skill. And it’s continued effort that applies that skill to achieve something meaningful. 

The Four Psychological Components of Grit

Duckworth breaks grit down into four key elements that can be cultivated:

1. Interest

Gritty people are passionate, not in a fleeting, emotional way, but in a sustained, committed way. They have a long-term interest in their field or mission.

2.Practice

Success comes from deliberate practice – a focused effort to improve weak spots, not just going through the motions. Gritty people don’t just work hard; they work in a focussed deliberate way.

3. Purpose

Grit grows when you connect your efforts to something larger than yourself. For example, people who see their work as contributing to others tend to stick with it longer, even when the going gets tough.

4. Hope

Hope is not naive optimism but rather the belief that your efforts matter – that you can improve with time. Gritty people bounce back from failure not because they’re fearless, but because they believe in their ability to adapt and overcome. When the inevitable setbacks come they ask: “What can I learn from this?”

Can I grow grit?!

Duckworth outlines two key ways to develop grit:

1. From the Inside Out

• Cultivate a growth mindset: Believe that abilities can improve with effort. (Duckworth credits Carol Dweck’s work here (see my next blog!).)
• Set long-term goals: Define a purpose that resonates.
• Build habits that support persistence: Break big goals into small, daily actions.

2. From the Outside In

Your environment matters. Families, schools, teams, and workplaces can all create a “culture of grit” by:

• Praising effort over outcome
• Normalising struggle and setbacks
• Modeling passion and perseverance

Grit isn’t everything…

Duckworth acknowledges that grit isn’t everything. Sometimes, quitting is wise—especially if you’re pursuing something that no longer aligns with your values or growth. Grit should not become blind stubbornness. She also stresses that not everyone has the same opportunities, and grit doesn’t erase systemic barriers. 

Angela Duckworth founded the Character Lab, a non-profit organisation that applies scientific insights from her research to help children thrive. https://characterlab.org/ 

https://angeladuckworth.com/   Duckworth’s website

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2016/may/07/is-grit-the-true-secret-of-success  Guardian article quoted above 

Need some advice and support?

If you are struggling with any of the issues raised in this article, or indeed any other emotional issues or life challenges and would like to talk things over in complete confidentiality, contact me:

See also: Carol Dweck Mindset, Resilience : Hard-won Wisdom for Living a Better Life, Growing through Adversity : Phil Stutz