The Scientist Behind Grit Says: Make Your Situation Your Ally

Grit—passion and perseverance for long-term goals—is a vital part of success. But it’s not the only part.

“You can put a really gritty person in a not-great situation—a company that’s not aligned with their values, a mentor who’s not a great mentor, a culture that’s not a fit, or even physical surroundings where they’re distracted by their phone—and that person’s grit will not have an opportunity to shine,” Angela explains. “Grit is great, but it’s not enough. You need to make your situation your ally to run the marathon of success.”

Tip 1: Make your situation work for you.

You don’t need to rely on sheer willpower to reach your goals. With a bit of planning, you can use your surroundings to get you where you want to be—a tactic Angela calls “situational agency.”

For example, where do you put your phone when you’re working? Angela surveyed teenagers about where they keep their phone when they’re studying for a big test. Some of them kept it right next to them, some within arm’s length, some across the room or in another room. The results? “The farther the phone, the higher the GPA,” Angela says.

Tip 2: Seek out people to learn from.

“One form of situational agency is changing the settings on your phone or getting into your workout clothes to get yourself out the door for a run,” Angela says. “But another form of agency is going out and proactively asking, ‘How do I learn from people who are farther down the path?'”

Angela says a mentor doesn’t need to be someone who’s in it for life—they just need to have something to teach you. “You can make mentors for a reason, mentors for a season, and occasionally mentors for life. Grit is great, and I believe in it—but a gritty person needs, among other things, a mentor.”

Want more insight from Angela?

Learn more about Angela’s work on situational agency by listening to her on the Masters of Scale podcast and the Evolving with Gratitude podcast.

Angela is also a brilliant speaker who combines scientific research and practical strategies for keynotes, fireside chats, and more. If you’re interested in booking her to speak at your event, please get in touch!

Grit—passion and perseverance for long-term goals—is a vital part of success. But it’s not the only part. "You can put a really gritty person in a not-great situation—a company that’s not aligned with their values, a mentor who’s not a great mentor, a culture that’s not a fit, or even physical surroundings where they’re distracted by their phone—and that person’s grit will not have an opportunity to shine," Angela explains. "Grit is great, but it’s not enough. You need to make your situation your ally to run the marathon of success."

Tip 1: Make your situation work for you.

You don’t need to rely on sheer willpower to reach your goals. With a bit of planning, you can use your surroundings to get you where you want to be—a tactic Angela calls "situational agency." For example, where do you put your phone when you’re working? Angela surveyed teenagers about where they keep their phone when they’re studying for a big test. Some of them kept it right next to them, some within arm’s length, some across the room or in another room. The results? "The farther the phone, the higher the GPA," Angela says.

Tip 2: Seek out people to learn from.

"One form of situational agency is changing the settings on your phone or getting into your workout clothes to get yourself out the door for a run," Angela says. "But another form of agency is going out and proactively asking, 'How do I learn from people who are farther down the path?'" Angela says a mentor doesn’t need to be someone who’s in it for life—they just need to have something to teach you. "You can make mentors for a reason, mentors for a season, and occasionally mentors for life. Grit is great, and I believe in it—but a gritty person needs, among other things, a mentor."

Want more insight from Angela?

Learn more about Angela's work on situational agency by listening to her on the Masters of Scale podcast and the Evolving with Gratitude podcast. Angela is also a brilliant speaker who combines scientific research and practical strategies for keynotes, fireside chats, and more. If you’re interested in booking her to speak at your event, please get in touch!