Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

If you want to bring forth grit in your child, first ask how much passion and perseverance you have for your own life goals.

With effort, talent becomes skill and, at the very same time, effort makes skill productive.

Grit has two components: passion and perseverance.

“Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in and day out. Not just for the week or month, but for years. And working really hard to make that future a reality.”

Which is to say, as Duckworth puts it, “All high achievers are paragons of perseverance.”8

I see two ways to do so. On your own, you can grow your grit “from the inside out”: You can cultivate your interests. You can develop a habit of daily challenge-exceeding-skill practice. You can connect your work to a purpose beyond yourself. And you can learn to hope when all seems lost. You can also grow your grit “from the outside in.” Parents,