Grit is Good

In reviewing traits of successful people in her book, How Can We Reach Our Goals? (New York:  Hudson Street Press, 2011), Heidi Halvorson identified grit as an important quality to have.  She defined grit as "a willingness to commit to long-term goals and to persist in the face of difficulty."  

Halvorson gave some examples of how grit matters:  "...gritty people obtain more education in their lifetime and earn higher college GPAs.  Grit predicts which cadets will stick out their first grueling year at West Point.  In fact, grit even predicts which round contestants will make it to the Scripps National Spelling Bee."

If you don't think you have grit, Halvorson has some good news for you:  "People who lack grit more often than not believe that they just don't have the innate abilities successful people have....  [But] effort, planning, persistence, and good strategies are what it really takes to succeed.  Embracing this knowledge will not only help you see yourself and your goals more accurately, but also do wonders for your grit."

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