Angela Duckworth, a top psychologist, has spent years studying high achievers across various fields. She’s identified passion and perseverance as the two interconnected components that work together over time to lead to success. These components are what she calls “grit.”
Grit is not just about being hardworking or resilient; it’s also about having a clear direction and staying committed to long-term goals. Duckworth defines grit as a combination of passion for long-term goals and perseverance, which includes hard work, resilience, and the ability to push through challenges.
Research has shown that grit is more important than traditional predictors of success such as intelligence or talent. In fact, studies have found that smarter students often have less grit than their peers who score lower on intelligence tests. This suggests that individuals who aren’t naturally gifted can compensate by working harder and with greater determination.
Duckworth’s research has influenced educational policy discussions and military training programs. While her work has been influential, it’s also led to ongoing scholarly debate about the uniqueness of grit as a construct. Some studies have questioned whether grit adds substantial predictive power beyond established personality traits like conscientiousness.
Despite this debate, Duckworth’s core insight remains compelling: sustained effort and commitment to long-term goals often matter more than natural ability alone. As she puts it, “Our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another.”
Source: https://fortune.com/2025/10/15/angela-duckworth-top-achievers-grit-perseverance-passion-research-west-point-spelling-bee