Three Minute Leadership: Leadership… Success – It’s About Grit
To: The Great Leaders Who Have a Passion for Continuous Learning
Angel Lee Duckworth, psychologist, is known for her study of a psychological trait known as grit. In her 2013 TED presentation, The Key to Success? Grit, she defines grit: “Grit is passion and perseverance for very long-term goals. Grit is having stamina. Grit is sticking with your future, day in, day out, not just for the week, not just for the month, but for years, and working really hard to make that future a reality. Grit is living life like it’s a marathon, not a sprint.”
Dan Rockwell in a recent blog, The Editor of Forbes on Grit, cites Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes magazine, who states that “grit is a form of intelligence…. In the real world, smarts isn’t about looking for the next star student with a 4.0 or having an IQ that can boil water. Instead, it’s about the importance of hard work, of perseverance and resilience. Call it grit.”
Grit is the stuff of great leaders. It is that conscious “extra” and “above-and-beyond” that they give to everything that they do, think about or dream. It is the relentless spark that gives fire to the embers of their passion, the driving force of their life – the what they have chosen to be, the what they have chosen to do.
Vince Lombardi, renowned football coach, said: “The price of success is hard work, dedication to the job at hand, and the determination that whether we win or lose, we have applied the best of ourselves to the task at hand.” Grow, feed your grit often with renewed dedication to your life’s purpose, that each moment of your magnificent journey you have applied the best of yourself to the task at hand. Continue to be more than you ever dreamed you could be… and more… so much more.
Have a beautiful day and a magnificent week!!!
Mike
The Editor of Forbes on Grit
July 29, 2014
If you’re not pretty or smart don’t worry. Intelligence doesn’t determine success.
Emotional intelligence is more important than general intelligence, but hard work is more important than both.
get dirty
Just get dirty and do the work.
Rich Karlgaard, publisher of Forbes magazine and author of, “The Soft Edge,” believes, “grit is a form of intelligence.”
“In the real world, smarts isn’t about looking for the next star student with a 4.0 or having an IQ that can boil water. Instead, it’s about the importance of hard work, of perseverance and resilience. Call it grit.” Rich Karlgaard.
Grades or grit:
You judge young leaders by academics. But there comes a point when grades and pedigree don’t matter.
“I know this irritates a lot of people, but once you’re at a certain point in your career – and it’s not that far out, maybe five years – all the grades and academic credentials in the world don’t mean anything anymore.” Tom Georgens (CEO of NetApps in “The Soft Edge”)
Rich was quick to tell me that he believes grit is a form of intelligence.
Gritty leaders:
Create teams of doers not talkers. Sluggards love talking about what they’re going to do.
Protect gains and take new ground at the same time.
Judge themselves and teammates on track record not academic record.
Do hard stuff first.
Confront tough issues. Ask awkward questions.
Sweat small stuff. Concentrate on fundamentals. Coach Wooden taught college basketball players how to put their socks on every year.
Follow through. Don’t tell me what you start. Tell me what you finish.
Choose simple over dramatic.
Reject haste.
Keep learning. Intellectual contentment leads to leaders who feel superior and entitled.
Gritty leaders get more done.
What are gritty leaders like?
jc-rich-karlgaardThis post is inspired by my conversation with Rich Karlgaard and his new book “The Soft Edge.”
I heartily recommend “The Soft Edge” both for its rich content and engaging style.
- Three Minute Leadership: What Will Your Verse Be?
- Three Minute Leadership: The Ten Truths About Leadership