Grit
The Power of Passion and Perseverance
Angela Duckworth
Grit, more than talent, IQ, looks, or wealth, is a powerful indicator of success.
Author of Grit, the #1 New York Times Bestseller | Pioneering Researcher on Grit, Perseverance, and the Science of Success
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It takes more than IQ or talent to thrive at work, especially in today’s fast-paced world. But why do some of us get and stay ahead when we face challenging circumstances, compared to others? In her pioneering work on grit, psychologist Angela Duckworth reveals the importance of personal character for achieving success—showcased in both her instant New York Times bestseller and massive viral TED Talk. Today, using her landmark research, she shows us how we can develop the grit we’ll need to carry us forward into the post-pandemic age.
“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day-in, day-out … Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
— Angela DuckworthAngela Duckworth is the co-founder and chief scientist of Character Lab, a nonprofit whose mission is to advance scientific insights that help children thrive. She is also the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania, faculty co-director of the Penn-Wharton Behavior Change For Good Initiative, and faculty co-director of Wharton People Analytics. A 2013 MacArthur Fellow, Duckworth has advised the World Bank, NBA and NFL teams, and Fortune 500 CEOs. Prior to her career in research, Duckworth founded a summer school for underserved children that was profiled as a Harvard Kennedy School case study and, in 2018, celebrated its 25th anniversary. She has also been a McKinsey management consultant and a math and science teacher in the public schools of New York City, San Francisco, and Philadelphia.
Duckworth completed her undergraduate degree in Advanced Studies Neurobiology at Harvard, graduating magna cum laude. With the support of a Marshall Scholarship, she completed an MSc with Distinction in Neuroscience from Oxford University. She completed her PhD in Psychology as a National Science Foundation Graduate Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth’s TED talk is among the most-viewed of all time. Her first book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, is a #1 New York Times best seller. She is also co-host, with Stephen Dubner, of the podcast No Stupid Questions.
Testimonials
“Angela was outstanding. We can’t say enough great things about her. The team loved meeting her, she did an excellent job on the show, and was all around professional and easy to work with.”
Mawer Investment Management Ltd.
Testimonials
“Angela was fantastic—her message landed perfectly as a wrap-up to our kick-off week. I heard feedback it was one of the highlights, and have heard people quoting her in various meetings since. It gave our leaders some much needed thought provocations.”
Hilti North AmericaSpeech Topics
Grit at Work
Grit in the Post-Pandemic Age Pursuing Resilience
It was the core components of grit—courage, conscientiousness, perseverance, resilience, and passion—that shone through in the acts of heroism we witnessed during the pandemic. But it wasn’t just frontline workers who inspired us—we all cultivated our own resilience in the face of unprecedented adversity. Now that we’ve made it through the worst of it, Angela Duckworth’s pioneering work on grit is a guiding light as we continue to grow in the post-pandemic landscape.
As Duckworth says, “If you don’t learn something in this crisis, then you aren’t paying attention.” So how can we capitalize on the skills that helped us survive our darkest days? And how should we address our renewed priorities, and pursue goals that serve our higher selves over the long-term? Drawing from her landmark research, Duckworth shows us how to adapt to a new way of living. This timely and practical presentation will help audiences recognize their inner fortitude, nurture their true potential, and prepare to flourish—not merely survive— in the face of whatever may be around the next bend.
As Duckworth says, “If you don’t learn something in this crisis, then you aren’t paying attention.” So how can we capitalize on the skills that helped us survive our darkest days? And how should we address our renewed priorities, and pursue goals that serve our higher selves over the long-term? Drawing from her landmark research, Duckworth shows us how to adapt to a new way of living. This timely and practical presentation will help audiences recognize their inner fortitude, nurture their true potential, and prepare to flourish—not merely survive— in the face of whatever may be around the next bend.
Psychology
True Grit The Surprising, and Inspiring, Science of Success
Who succeeds in life? In this talk, Angela Duckworth presents her influential work on grit—the tendency to pursue long-term goals with perseverance and passion. She describes the predictive power of grit for performance in a variety of fascinating contexts. Duckworth has studied groups like the West Point cadets, National Spelling Bee competitors, rookie teachers, students from the Chicago Public Schools—all people performing in high-stress environments—to look at the correlation between grit and achievement. Drawing from these examples, and others, Duckworth explains what makes gritty individuals different from others, and, shares her belief that grit “can be instilled and cultivated by anyone, anywhere, and at any time in life.”
Related Links & Articles
Official Website
AngelaDuckworth.com
The New York Times
Graduating and Looking for Your Passion? Just Be Patient
Smithsonian
If Grit Breeds Success, How Can I Get Grittier?
The New York Times
There Are 3 Things We Have to Do to Get People Wearing Masks
The Washington Post
Why Angela Duckworth thinks “gritty” leaders are people to emulate
PBS News Hour
Grit or Quit?
Scientific American
Review of *Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance*
The Wall Street Journal
The Virtue of Hard Things
New York Times
Angela Duckworth on Passion, Grit and Success
National Geographic
Grit Trumps Talent and IQ: A Story Every Parent (and Educator) Should Read
New York Times
What if the Secret to Success Is Failure?
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Renowned psychologist Angela Duckworth joins Reshma Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, for an...
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What really drives success? Is it our families, our cultures, our upbringings? Our socio-economic...
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