《Grit》读后感精选10篇

　　《Grit》是一本由Angela Duckworth著作，Scribner出版的Hardcover图书，本书定价：USD 28.00，页数：352，文章吧小编精心整理的一些读者的读后感，希望对大家能有帮助。

　　《Grit》读后感(一)：重新发现“坚毅”

　　引言

　　从1955年开始，西点军校就一直在考虑如何发明一套更准确地评估机制，以便更好地挑选出适合美国军队的将领型人才。他们为每一名想要进入学校的青年人设计了一套“野兽营计划”：

　　5:00 起床

　　5:30 集合

　　5:30-6:55 体能训练

　　6:55-7:25 个人卫生清整

　　7:30-8:15 早餐

　　8:30-12:45 训练/上课

　　1:00-1:45 午餐

　　2:00-3:45 训练/上课

　　4:00-5:30 组织体育活动

　　5:30-5:55 个人卫生清整

　　6:00-6:45 晚餐

　　7:00-9:00 训练/上课

　　9:00-10:00 指挥官训导

　　10:00 熄灯就寝

　　每年都有大量的学生因为无法通过“野兽营计划”而放弃了入学。到底是什么的因素在发挥作用？为什么一些SAT成绩很高的人，选择了放弃？西点的军人们希望能够有一个更好地筛选机制来淘汰一些申请者，本文作者Angela博士参与了这项计划，也就是从这个时候开始，她发现了成功者的秘密——坚毅。

　　01天赋和坚毅，哪个更重要？

　　Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.

　　我们的潜能是一回事，我们拿潜能做什么却是另一回事。

　　到底是什么会让一些人成为改变世界的科学家、蜚声海外的政治家、创造财富的企业家、温暖人心的文学家？比尔·盖茨、巴菲特、奥巴马、麦肯锡等等，那些能够登上《时代》和《财富》的人，到底是靠什么获得成功的呢？我们在生活中常常会看到，有一些人无论是学习、工作、生活，都取得了远超其他人的成就，是他们天生的智商更高，还是有什么别的因素？

　　虽然我们都认为天赋，包括智商、才能等等，起到关键性的作用。但Angela Duckworth结合自己为白宫、世界银行、NBA以及NFL等组织工作的精力，通过大量的实证分析，毫不犹豫地给出了答案：坚毅。如果我们排除了其他的社会因素和运气等不可意料的情况，判断一个人是否能成功的因素只有一个：坚毅。你越坚毅，你成功的几率也就越大。

　　02坚毅是什么，它又为何重要？

　　先做两个测试吧：

　　测试A

　　1.新的想法和目标有时会把我把注意力从以前的想法和目标转移开。

　　2.我常常会确定一个目标，而后又追求另外一个目标。

　　3.如果某些任务需要花费好几个月才能完成，我常常难以在这些项目上集中注意力。

　　4.我的兴趣每年都会发生变化。

　　5.我曾经对某个想法或者任务十分着迷，但后来又失去了兴趣。

　　测试B

　　1.挫折不会使我灰心。我不会轻易放弃。

　　2.我是个工作努力的人。

　　3.无论我开始了什么工作都会完成。

　　4.我非常勤奋。我从不放弃。

　　5.我克服困难，成功迎战了某个重要的挑战。

　　在测试A中，如果“一点也不像我”记5分，“不是特别像我”记4分，“有点像我”记3分，“基本上像我”记2分，“非常像我”记1分。

　　在测试B中，则相反，“一点也不像我”记1分，“不是特别像我”记2分，“有点像我”记3分，“基本上像我”记3分，“非常像我”记4分。

　　你的坚毅指数=所有选项的总分数÷10

　　只有不到1%的人，分数会在4.9分以上

　　如果你进入前99%了，恭喜你，你具有成为一个成功者的潜质。

　　坚毅包含两个方面的因素：热情和坚持。两者缺一不可。测试A检测的是热情（passion)维度，测试B检测的是坚持（perserverance)维度。

　　是不是你的坚持维度分数要高于热情维度分数？

　　对于大多数人来说，都是这样。让一个人坚持一个星期、一个月甚至一年的时间都是很简单的，人人都可以有这样的毅力。但是让一个人对某件事情坚持十年、二十年甚至三十年，那么就需要热情了。

　　读到这里，你是不是想到了一句很熟悉的话“做你喜欢做的事情”。

　　作者Angela在这本书中最具有洞见性的一个学术创新就是发现了热情和坚毅的关系。为什么现在有些人总是觉得自己的意志力不够用呢？为什么有很多人做事情总是不能善始善终呢？最根本的原因就是他们单纯地在讨论坚持这件事情，而实验结果恰恰相反，坚持与热情是分不开的。你总是干一些你自己发自内心就讨厌的事情，当然很难以坚持下去。

　　03坚毅指数是如何提高的

　　坚毅是会随着年龄增大而增加的。作者通过对不同年龄层的调查发现，年龄越大，人的坚毅指数往往越高。

　　当然，有的人可能认为以前的人们接受的教育不同，更倾向于坚持某项具体工作。但更为合理的一个解释是，人变得更加成熟了。人越成熟，对自己喜欢的事情把握越准确，坚持某件事情的能力越强。

　　那么，作为一个年轻人，如何提高自己的坚毅指数呢？从内在因素来看，提高坚毅的能力，主要有四个方面：

　　1）兴趣

　　如果一个人不能从自己所从事的工作中获得快乐，那么是不可能坚持下去的。这是已经被反复印证的事实。所有那些在某个领域中取得辉煌成绩的人，无一例外对自己的工作充满了热情。

　　但是，兴趣不是天生就有的，绝大部分人是在无数次选择中和长期的实践中慢慢才发现自己的兴趣，并且把这个兴趣作为职业理想坚持下来的。假如你现在不知道自己想要干什么，这是很正常的一件事情，需要你花费一定的时间、精力还有勇气去探寻。

　　总之，从你感觉有兴趣的那件事情开始，大胆去猜想，一旦发现不合适，也别害怕否定自己。寻找兴趣的过程，就是成长的过程。

　　2）练习

　　作者发现了一个有趣的事实， 同样是在努力，但是不同的人努力的效果完全不一样。为什么会造成这么大的差别呢？主要是在于正确的练习应该包含四个条件：

　　①一个明确且可达到的目标

　　②全神贯注地投入和努力

　　③及时而富有信息的反馈

　　④带有反思和提高的重复

　　对照这个标准，可以说，许多人在日常工作中几乎没有真正练习过，他们的努力白白浪费了。由于没有办法提高自己的能力，所以始终无法在某个领域获得相应的成就与回报，因而也无法进一步坚持下去。

　　3）目标

　　如果说兴趣是内在的，那么目标就是外在的。一个人活在这个世界上总是希望干点什么有意义的事情的，或者是对社会有益，或者是对他人有益。作者通过对这些坚毅的人的调查发现，绝大部分的人都有一个高于自身的意义目标，比如发明改变人类交流方式的通信设备，比如提高可再生能源的利用比率，比如帮助贫困家庭的儿童获得更好质量的教育等等。

　　“我不为我，谁来为我；我只为我，何必有我”。一个高尚的人生追求不仅仅是一个道德口号，更重要的是，它是人类努力的强大精神动力。

　　4）希望

　　尼采说“那些杀不死我的会让我变得更强大”。什么是希望？希望就是虽然我不知道明天会怎么样，但我坚信，我可以让明天变得更好。希望是我们应对生活中挫折和失败的最重要“武器”，只有心怀希望的人，才会持续地坚持做某一件事情。

　　但是，希望不是天生的！作者通过引述Marty的研究发现，希望也是可以后天培养出来的。

　　如果一个人比较悲观，可以采取以下三个步骤：

　　①改变自己关于智力和才能的看法，相信智力和才能这两种素质都可以通过努力而得到提升；

　　②练习积极的自我对话，即当你在遇到挫折和失败的时候，不断地鼓励自己；

　　③找其他人帮忙，在困难的时候，寻找外在的帮助，可以是朋友、老师，也可以是书籍等等，借助别人的智慧解决好自己的问题。

　　结论：所谓成功，不过是“热爱”和“坚持”而已

　　这本书其实用复杂的实验和数据告诉了大家一个简单的道理：成功，靠的是热爱和坚持。但为什么很多人知道这个道理却做不好呢？不是大家智商低，恰恰相反是因为智商太高的原因。在中国的传统文化中，处事圆滑和八面玲珑一直是大家所赞扬的，美其名曰“原则性和灵活性的统一”。很多人在日常生活中，不管这件事情自己喜爱不喜爱、适合不适合，一旦有了好处，就蜂拥而上；一旦好处没了，就一哄而散。

　　还有一部分人，生活中总是喜欢与其他人比较来比较去，把自己的付出和收获算过来算过去，小聪明太多，明明是自己喜欢的职业或者兴趣，要么碍于经济原因、要么碍于同辈评价，不敢坚持。总是去做一些“正确而无趣”的东西，本身自己就活得很痛苦，又怎么可能坚持下去呢？

　　所以，还是找一件自己真正喜欢的事情，然后十年如一日地坚持下去。因为所谓成功，不过是“热爱”和“坚持”而已。

　　《Grit》读后感(二)：旧概念新包装，加点对教育者的建议。

　　这似乎是一个商业模式,获得名牌大学的学位+找到一个热门的社会话题(在这本书这个话题是对贫穷儿童的教育)+几个白老鼠实验+名人故事+给一个新颖的名字=畅销书和一个以后可以卖到大学或者企业的产品。

　　作者说的是grit,坚持不懈的能力,其实和意志力和习惯的力量是同一件事,也就是很多书都曾经讲过, 也讲得比她好,本文最后会介绍这些比较好的书。

　　本来作者作为一个教育贫穷地区小孩的老师,可以结合她的工作背景和grit这个概念,写一本比较窄但更 可看的书,偏偏作者写得很广泛,写成一本不太好的 self-help书。

　　如果说这本书有什么值得看,就是作者有说到作为教育者(父母,团队领袖,教练)如何鼓励和制造一个有助于他们子女和队员发展的氛围。(答案是结合高期望+关心鼓励，让自己做榜样，制造经过努力可以排除万难这种积极的个人体验，来增加子女和队员的自信）

　　但这本书的主要话题,如何坚持,有其它更好的书可以看:

　　例如,书中讲到坚持不懈的关键是如何选择一个方向坚持,而其中包括放弃那些你其实不太喜欢的,和如何选择真正喜欢的,这个话题可以看Mastery（https://book.douban.com/subject/11241723/）。

　　书中也有讲过,坚持不懈最重要找到这个工作的意义,也就是除了你自己受利外,其他人也可以获益。想看这个话题,可以看The Power of Full Engagement(https://book.douban.com/subject/1884867/)。

　　书中讲到专注地练习并且进入flow的状态(全神贯注而忘记自我地工作的精神状态)是坚持不懈的关键,这方面可以看前面讲的两本书和Flow （https://book.douban.com/subject/3424266/）

　　书中也讲过积极心态的重要性,和消极的负面影响,这方面可以看Learned optimism。(https://book.douban.com/subject/1759903/)

　　最后,如果你真的觉得自己意志力不足,不能做好对自己长期目标有益的事,可以看The power of Habit (https://book.douban.com/subject/10431236/)和The Willpower Instinct (https://book.douban.com/subject/7043452/)，还有The power of Engagement从生理机制入手,从小地方开始,建立自己的坚持的能力。

　　《Grit》读后感(三)：Persistence and passion matter a lot

　　书讲的道理很简单：毅力很重要。一个人的成功基本取决于三个方面：talent+effort+luck。作者的贡献是将毅力量化了，并发现毅力的作用要远大于talent的作用。

　　作者认为毅力的形成有很多方式：一是要有兴趣，或者将事情作为事业来做；二是通过某些活动来培养，例如学乐器或者参加体育运动；三是采用恰当的方法来让自己行动起来，例如deliberate practice和采用If-then的执行意图；四是要形成growth mindset，即要有why not have a try，即使受挫也要从中学习并重新开始的态度；五是沉浸在一个鼓励坚持和努力的文化里。

　　挺好的故事，就好像Kobe与凌晨四点LA的夜空的故事一样，基本结论是坚持和激情很重要。但比较认同看到过的一个评论：故事很好，但缺乏神经科学的直接证据。到最后有种人定胜天的感觉，也有种唯心主义的意味。

　　《Grit》读后感(四)：成为去寻求天职的勇毅者

　　听惯了“勤能补拙”，“成大事者，非有经天纬地之才，亦有坚韧不拔之志” 这样的大道理，阅读这本有点像自助（self-help)味道的畅销书，也许并无多少重大价值，但也并非毫无收获。

　　这本书是从freakonomics电台上听到的，有些好奇，一位获得麦克阿瑟天才奖的学者对成功会有怎样的见解，她讲的勇毅(grit) 到底怎样。开篇部分，她讲了她父亲，一位在杜邦敬业工作的华裔科学家如何贬损儿时的她，说她不是天才，难以成功。但倔强的作者说，她可能不是最聪明者，但却要成为家里最勇毅者。她也会找到她爱做的事，会像她父亲一样地投入，不只是一份工作（job), 她要找的是一份天职（calling), 这份天职中，她会有持续的热情，每天挑战自己，不断跌倒和爬起。

　　作者最后找到了她的天职，即对成功相关的心理学进行探究。她个人的成功清晰地诠释了勇毅的作用。作为心理科学家，她探寻了大量的案例，开展了多项实验。受调查对象中，成功并非来源于天才，更多源于勇毅。

　　那什么是勇毅呢？ Grit 这个词，原义是沙砾，但也有其比喻义。维氏辞典解释为：面对挫折与危险上，精神或思想上的坚定。但作者赋予了这个词更多外延，作者认为，勇毅意味着对一件你所倾心的事努力，并且一直持续忠实于此。也就是说，能长期精一于所做之事。勇毅，不只是一见倾心，更是长相厮守。因此，那些聪明、热情果敢的创业者未必是勇毅者，因为创业者往往跟着资本走，不会对一件事业持续努力。

　　勇毅为什么重要？ 因为现今时代，我们对个人禀赋往往强调太多，而往往忽略了勇毅的品质。勇毅意味着付出长期持续的努力，努力比起禀赋要重要得多。作者给出了取得成功的简单公式： 禀赋＊努力＝技能， 技能＊努力＝成功。因此，努力，在整个过程中起到了双重作用。禀赋，只是通过努力才能转化为技能，而技能更需要经过持续的努力才能有成功的产出。如尼采所说，是我们的虚荣，我们的自爱，催生了对天才的崇拜。如果我们认为天才是魔术般的造化，那么我们就没有必要去与卓越的人做比较，没必要去奋斗。

　　如何测量勇毅。作者作为心理学家，给出了相应的量表。值得一提的是，作者强调了目标的作用性。目标有高层次的目标，中层的目标，以及低层次的目标之分。高层次的目标，往往是不变的长期追求，是人生追求的最高鹄的。中层的目标支持最高的目标，短期支持中层目标。短期目标灵活，可调整，但往往也容易让人分心，忘了自己的中层与高层目标。（这真有点像我以前工作用的逻辑框架）

　　勇毅不是天生固定的。我们采用发展的思维模式，也能培养出勇毅的资质来。勇毅有4个心理特征。1 兴趣， 2 练习， 3 ，目的， 4 希望。

　　一方面，我们可以从个体出发，由内向外培养出勇毅来。首先是兴趣，是一个3d (discover, develop, 和 deepen)的过程。在追随我们的激情前，我们需要先培养激情。对于兴趣，我们不是通过天启或如电影里的场景一样，顿然就找到兴趣。许多勇毅的模范都是通过经年的寻找，才发掘出他们感兴趣的事物。发现兴趣后，继而发展兴趣，更进一步深化兴趣。兴趣不是通过内观发展和培养，需要通过个体与外界互动而激发，需要不断地实验与试错。同时，我们也需要从周边的朋友或支持者得到及时的反馈。

　　其次，对于练习，需要的是刻意练习。作者给出了几点建议，a. 刻意练习要求：清晰定义的目标，完全的专注与努力，及时与有效的反馈，以及通过反思(reflection)和提炼(refinement)之后的重复用功。b. 要让刻意练习能有最大成效，最好让这种刻意练习称为习惯：在固定的时间、地点，以舒适的方式来进行刻意练习。c. 改善体验刻意练习的方式。要拥抱上挑战，不做情感判断。如婴儿学步一般，跌倒又爬起，未不因为未达到目标而受到折磨，没有尴尬、恐惧等负面情绪的干扰。

　　再次，要培养勇毅，需要有目的。兴趣是激情源泉之一，而为了他人的福利而奉献的目的，同样也有助于锻造激情。当然，人们会在pleasure 与purpose 之间有所侧重与取舍。作者调查的勇毅模范者，并非僧侣，他们也与普通人一样，追求个人享受，但很明显的是，这些模范者却表现出相比普通人更多的利他情怀。需指出，利他的目的，也并非是勇毅的必要条件，希特勒就是这样的例子。

　　最后，需要有希望。“杀不死你的，会使你更强壮”，这句话不一定完全适用于所有情况。通过老鼠的实验说明，在逆境下，只有在你能控制你的努力时，你才能使你更强壮。需要用发展的思维模式（growth mindset) 来看待问题，培养乐观的心态。

　　另一方面，我们也可以通过外界环境来培养勇毅。外界环境包括家庭教育，课外活动，以及组织文化。对于育儿来说，这方面有参考价值，做父母的需要以身作则，来激发对孩子的勇毅。课外活动有非常非常重要的价值（想想应试教育过来的我们这一代，忽视课外活动的教训太重）。值得一提的是，作者为自己的家庭成员提出了难事规则（ hard thing rule)。a. 每个家庭成员，都要做一件难事，这件难事需要日常的刻意练习。比如说跑步，瑜伽，练习小提琴，芭蕾等。b. 对于这些难事，成员可以放弃，但至少要坚持一定时期以后。c. 对这些难事，成员需要自己做选择，不能由其他家庭成员强加。

　　作者也提出了一些问题。勇毅是否就与个人幸福相关，尽管大多数受调查者显示出了二者的正相关性。但其他家庭成员是否也会因个人的勇毅而付出代价？ 另外，亚里士多德推崇的“中道”的幸福，那么对于勇毅者而言，是否就意味着过多的勇毅，也会有不好的结果呢？

　　《Grit》读后感(五)：科学性的激励读物

　　分享两篇关于Grit的research。

Grit: Perseverance and Passion for Long-Term Goals 这篇应该算是Grit的foundation research

　　DOI:10.1037/0022-3514.92.6.1087

　　首先引用了William James的两个问题："First, what are the types of human abilities and, second, by what diverse means do individuals unleash these abilities？ 引出Grit——"some traits might be essential to success no matter the domain. We suggest that one personal quality is shared by the most prominent leaders in every field: grit.

　　Grit的定义："perseverance and passion for long-term goals. Grit entails working strenuously toward challenges, maintaining effort and interest over years despite failure, adversity, and plateaus in progress. the gritty individual approaches achievement as a marathon; his or her advantage is stamina. Whereas disappointment or boredom signals to others that it is time to change trajectory and cut losses, the gritty individual stays the course. "

　　Development of the Grit Scale: Grit的量表

　　quot;grit, more than self-control or conscientiousness, may set apart the exceptional individuals who James thought made maximal use of their abilities." 所以 Grit量表应满足："we sought a brief, stand-alone measure of grit that met four criteria: evidence of psychometric soundness, face validity for adolescents and adults pursuing goals in a variety of domains, low likelihood of ceiling effects in high-achiving populations, and most important, a precise fit with the construct of grit. "

　　Hypothesis

　　1. "we expected grit to be associated with Big Five Conscientiousness and with self-control but, in its emphasis on focused effort and interest over time, to have incremental predictive validity for high accomplishment over and beyond these other constructs."

　　2. "we also tested the hypothesis that grit would be unrelated to IQ.

　　3. "whether grit was associated with cumulative GPA among undergraduates at an elite university. Further, using SAT scores as a measure of general mental ability, we tested whether grit would be orthogonal to intelligence and, therefore, explain variance in GPA over and beyond that explained by intelligence.

　　Results and Discussion

　　quot;more educated adults were higher in grit than were less educated adults of equal age. post hoc comparisons revealed that when age is controlled for, postcollege graduates were higher in grit than most other groups. Similarly, participants with an Associate's degree were significantly higher in grit than those with less education and, interestingly, also higher in grit than those with a Bachelor's degree, although this difference failed to reach significance. "

　　quot;when education level is controlled for, grit increased monotonically with age: however, 25 - to 34 year-olds did not differ significantly from 35- to 44-year-olds, and 45- to 54-year-olds did not differ significantly from 55- to 64-year-olds. our intuition is that grit grows with age and that one learns from experience that quitting plans, shifting goals, and starting over repeatedly are not good strategies for success. in fact, a strong desire for novelty and a low threshold for frustration may be adaptive earlier in life: Moving on from dead-end pursuits is essential to the discovery of more promising paths.

　　quot;grit related to Conscientiousness more than to Neuroticism, Agreeableness, Extraversion, and Opennes to Experience.

　　quot;Gritty students outperformed their less gritty peers: Grit scores were associated with higher GPAS, a relationship that was even stronger when SAT scores were held constant. as we expected, SAT scores were also related to GPA.

　　quot;it is interesting to note that grit was associated with lower SAT scores, suggesting that among elite undergraduates, smarter students may be slightly less gritty than their peers.

Unpacking grit: Motivational correlates of perseverance and passion for long-term goals

　　http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/17439760.2014.898320

　　hypothesis："we conjectured that individuals motivated to seek happiness through immediate pleasure would be less inclined to maintain abiding, focused interests over time. we expected individuals motivated by meaning to be more consistent in both effort and interests over time. Finally, we expected individuals motivated by engagement in flow-producing activities to be especially likely to sustain effort toward long-term goals. "

　　Findings: " in two cross-sectional online studies of adults, gritter individuals were more likely than less gritty indviduals to seek happiness through engagement, with medium-sized effects in both samples. Gritter individuals were also more likely to seek meaning, though these associations were only small-to-medium in magnitude. The positive association between grit and pleasure was driven primarily by the grit facet of interest. In other words, an orientation toward engagement may promote grit by encouraging sustained effort over time, whereas an orientation toward pleasure may impede grit by discouraging sustained interests over time."

　　In Sum: the findings suggest that the pursuit of engagement and meaning, as opposed to pleasure, comprise motivational correlates of grit. Further, whereas the desire for meaning and purpose in life seems to contribute to both facets of grit, the drive toward engagement and flow seems in particular to facilitate sustained effort over time, whereas the drive toward immediate pleasure seems in particular to undermine sustained, focused interests over time. This more nuanced understanding may someday inform interventions that increase grit by targeting the particular motivations underlying perseverance of effort and consistency of interest.

　　书中摘录如下，因个人兴趣只摘录有关culture方面和conclusion：

　　This book has been about the power of grit to help you achieve your potential. I wrote it because what we accomplish in the marathon of life depends tremendously on our grit – our passion and perseverance for long-term goals. An obsession with talent distracts us form that simple truth.

　　A culture of Grit:

　　Whether we realize it or not, the culture in which we live, and with which we identify, powerfully shapes just about every aspect of our being.

　　y culture, I don’t mean the geographic or political boundaries that divide one people from another as much as the invisible psychological boundaries separating us from them. At its core, a culture is defined by the shared norms and values of a group of people. In other words, a distinct culture exists anytime a group of people are in consensus about how we do things around here and why. As for how the rest of the world operates, the sharper the contrast, the stronger the bonds among those in what

　　ychologists call the “ingroup.”

　　How do you know you’re part of a culture that, in a very real sense, has become part of you？ When you adopt a culture, you make a categorical allegiance to that in-group.

　　The bottom line on culture and grit is: If you want to be grittier, find a gritty culture and join it. If you’re a leader, and you want the people in your organization to be grittier, create a gritty culture.

　　Aristotle argued that too much (or too little) of a good thing is bad. He speculated, for example, that too little courage is cowardice but too much courage is folly. By the same logic, you can be too kind, too generous, too honest, and too self-controlled.

　　It’s an argument that psychologists Adam Grant and Barry Schwartz have revisited. They speculate that there’s an inverted-U function that describes the benefits of any trait, with the optimal amount being somewhere between the extremes.

　　o, finishing whatever you begin without exception is a good way to miss opportunities to start different, possibly better, things. Ideally, even if you’re discontinuing one activity and choosing different lower-order goals, you’re still holding fast to your ultimate concern.

　　I begin to get it. For this professional football team, it’s not solely about defeating other teams, it’s about pushing beyond what you can do today so that tomorrow you’re just a little bit better. It’s about excellence. So, for the Seahawks, Always compete means Be all you can be, whatever that is for you. Reach for your best.

　　Let me close with a few final thoughts. The first is that you can grow your grit. 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, coaches, teachers, bosses, mentors, friends- developing your personal grit depends critically on other people.

　　My second closing thought is about happiness. Success— whether measured by who wins the National Spelling Bee, makes it through West Point, or leads the division in annual sales—is not the only thing you care about. Surely, you also want to be happy.

　　And while happiness and success are related, they’re not identical. I’m certain most of us would be better off with more grit, not less. There may be exceptions—grit outliers who don’t need to be any grittier —but those exceptions are rare.

　　o, grit isn’t everything. There are many other things a person needs in order to grow and flourish. Character is plural. One way to think about grit is to understand how it relates to other aspects of character. In assessing grit along with other virtues, I find three reliable clusters. I refer to them as the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and intellectual dimensions of character. You could also call them strengths of will, heart, and mind.

　　Intrapersonal character includes grit. This cluster of virtues also include self-control, particularly as it relates to resisting temptations like texting and video games. What this means is that gritty people tend to be self-controlled and vice versa. Collectively, virtues that make possible the accomplishment of personally valued goals have also been called “performance character” or “self-management skills.” Social commentator and journalist David Brooks calls these “resume virtues” because they’re the sorts of things that get us hired and keep us employed.

　　Interpersonal character includes gratitude, social intelligence, and self-control over emotions like anger. These virtues help you get along with—and provide assistance to—other people. Sometimes, these virtues are referred to as “moral character.” David Brooks prefers the term “eulogy virtues” because, in the end, they may be more important to how people remember us than anything else. When we speak admiringly of someone being a “deeply good” person, I think it’s this cluster of virtues we’re thinking about.

　　And, finally, intellectual character includes virtues like curiosity and zest. These encourage active and open engagement with the world of ideas.

　　My longitudinal studies show these three virtue clusters predict different outcomes. For academic achievement, including stellar report card grades, the cluster containing grit is the most predictive. But for positive social functioning, including how many friends you have, interpersonal character is more important. And for a positive, independent posture toward learning, intellectual virtue trumps the others. In the end, the plurality of character operates against any one virtue being uniquely important.

　　To be gritty is to keep putting one foot in front of the other. To be gritty is to

　　hold fast to an interesting and purposeful goal. To be gritty is to invest, day after week

　　after year, in challenging practice. To be gritty is to fall down seven times, and rise

　　eight.

　　We all face limits—not just in talent, but in opportunity. But more often

　　than we think, our limits are self-imposed. We try, fail, and conclude we’ve bumped our heads against the ceiling of possibility. Or maybe after taking just a few steps we

　　change direction. In either case, we never venture as far as we might have.

　　The challenge of writing

　　Is to see your horribleness on

　　age.

　　To see your terribleness

　　And then to go to bed.

　　And wake up the next day,

　　And take that horribleness and

　　that terribleness,

　　And refine it,

　　And make it not so terrible and

　　ot so horrible.

　　And then to go to bed again.

　　And come the next day,

　　And refine it a little bit more,

　　And make it not so bad.

　　And then to go to bed the next

　　day.

　　And do it again,

　　And make it maybe average.

　　And then one more time,

　　If you’re lucky,

　　Maybe you get to good.

　　And if you’ve done that,

　　That’s a success.