--- added: 2022-04-15 started: 2022-04-15 read: 2022-06-07 rating: 4.5 status: read aliases: "Grit" pages: 352 ddc: 158.1 owned: false publish: true urls: kindle: thumbnail: https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/51ZMlBEI7BL.jpg --- up:: [[Books]] # Grit ## The Power of Passion and Perseverance  - Type: #book/nonfiction - Author:: [[Angela Duckworth]] - Year published:: [[2016]] --- ## Summary/Reflection A compelling argument how sucess comes from sticking with things, even when they're hard. Angela Duckworth is an empathetic and lively author and narrator. The book lacked the aggressive self-promoting tone that many self-help books have. That doesn't mean that Angela and her research doesn't pose a strong challenge to the reader. The people you meet and the arguments she presents force self-examination in regards to grittiness. I sure feel like there is space to grow. The books was a surprisingly comprehensive and nuanced treatment. I expected a "stiffen your neck and push through things" message but she also talked about the importance of hope, optimism and peers. # Notes > Talent _ effort = skill. Skill _ effort = achievement. - Grit = Passion + Perseverance - Grit is sticking with one thing to become really good at it ## The four building blocks of Grit - Interest: Captivated by an endeavour - Practice: Daily discipline to do better today than yesterday - Purpose: Meaningful work breeds passion - Hope: Defines every stage. Keep going, even in doubts ## Interest - When what we do lines up with what we love doing, we are _happier_ and _better_ at it - "Follow your passion" is actually good advice ([[Jeff Bezos]] says so too) - Passion comes not in an epiphany, but by cultivation and deepening over time ## Practice - Desire to do better today than yesterday - 10.000h rule mentioned: [[Effective learning comes from deliberate practice]] - Deliberate practice takes extreme effort and focus - It takes _strain_ and _feedback_ - Flow and deliberate practice go hand in hand but aren't the same. Deliberate practice is what you _do_ (practice), flow is what you _feel_ (performance) - Practice shame-free. Mistakes are to be embraced. - Setting stretch goals: Improve weaknesses. ## Purpose - "The intention of contributing to the lives of others" ## Optimism - When being faced with setbacks, optimism is to see them as temporary and specific - Pessimism is to see them as permanent and pervasive => Giving up on challenges or not engaging them at all - _Growth mindset_ leads to _optimistic self-talk_ leads to _perseverance over adversity_ - IQ scores usually change over life ## Growing Grit from the outside in ### Parenting - In [[Parenting]], demanding and loving aren't opposites - Demanding and supportive parents are classified as psicolocially wise, - non-demanding but supportive as x, - demanding and not-supportive as authoritarian, - non-demanding and unsupportive as y. - experiment: graded student essays were sorted into two piles. The experimental group had a note that read: “I’m giving you these comments because I have every high expectations and I know that you can reach them.” - The control read, “I’m giving you these comments so that you’ll have feedback on your paper.” - Students were then given the option of revising their essays. 80% of the students with the wise feedback turned in a revised paper, compared to 40% in the control group. - Extracurricular activities are key. It's one of the few activities that are fun and challenging at the same time. - Sticking with those activities is important too. Follow-up is the biggest factor in determining sucess later in life. ### The Hard Thing Rule 1. Everyone in the family does a hard thing that requires daily deliberate practice. 2. You can quit the thing but only at a natural stopping point. When the semester is over, the fee is up,... 3. You get to pick your hard thing. No one picks it for you. 4. In high school: Commit to a hard thing, this one or a new one, for two years. ## A culture of Grit - An easy way to be more gritty is by joining a high-grit team.