Angela Duckworth, a University of Pennsylvania professor and bestselling author, has studied grit for over 15 years, exploring what drives dedication to long-term goals. On the October 13 episode of The Mel Robbins Podcast, she revealed four key qualities shared by highly gritty individuals who consistently achieve their ambitions.
Passion-Driven Projects: They pursue goals that truly ignite their interest. Focused Skill Practice: They diligently and deliberately sharpen necessary skills. Purpose Beyond Self: They find meaning in helping others through their work. Hope for Growth: They believe their efforts will fuel future improvement.
Psychologist Angela Duckworth explains why passionate people excel: “Great achievers’ minds are drawn to their craft and stay there.” She adds, “Passion grows from a seed of genuine interest.”
Unsure of your true passion? Angela Duckworth suggests listening to others: “When people say, ‘You spend a lot of time thinking about X, Y, or Z,’ take note.” She advises trying new things to uncover your interests, as passion often emerges through exploration.
Angela Duckworth urges action over introspection: “Don’t think, just do it. Stop writing in your journal or asking questions. Go out and try something.” She compares interests to food: “You’ve got to taste it to know if you like it.”
Angela Duckworth, an avid runner, shared why her running didn’t improve as expected, revealing the power of high-quality practice. Her late mentor, psychologist Anders Ericsson, posed key questions: Did she have a clear goal? Was she fully focused? Did she seek feedback for improvement? “Never,” Duckworth admitted, realizing she was engaging in low-quality practice.
Purpose, the third trait of gritty achievers, keeps you accountable to long-term goals by fostering a sense of responsibility to others, as noted by Mel Robbins. However, Angela Duckworth warns that over-focusing on the big-picture purpose might cause you to overlook the importance of the process and path to success.
Psychologist Lisa Grumet emphasizes that prioritizing the process over the outcome leads to a more fulfilling life: “Unlike big, long-term goals, small, personal purposes are ongoing, enjoyable projects, regardless of results.” Angela Duckworth shares a personal tactic to combat discouragement, helping you stay motivated on your journey to success.
Angela Duckworth shares a powerful strategy to tackle discouraging tasks: “I make a ridiculously simple to-do list, like ‘Open a Google Doc.’ Then I do it and check it off. Small win.” She advises breaking down overwhelming goals, saying, “If it feels discouraging, it’s too big—not impossible.”