If you are like millions of people around the world, you have at least peeked at the Olympic games in Rio this week – whether it be the astonishing Americans Katy Ledecky and Michael Phelps in swimming and gymnast Simone Biles, Usain Bolt of Jamaica on the track, or countless other athletes who missed a medal by hundredths of a second.
How is it that these elite athletes reach such extraordinary levels of achievement? Well, talent of course. Right? Not necessarily.
The answer came unexpectedly as I was driving home from a family reunion weekend listening to Gritby Angela Lee Duckworth, a brilliant research psychologist who set out to understand why achievers achieve. Is it talent, hard work or what?
It turns out no single thing is enough. It’s a combination.
If you have a talent – lucky you. But in order to achieve, you need a passion that drives you to put in real effort. Effort exerted across time develops skills.
Once you have the skills, it takes another round of effort to actually create achievements.
Now, there is the bad news and the good news. The bad news is that since all of us can be achievers, we no longer have the excuse that “some people are just born talented.”
The good news is each of us can apply this “double dose” of effort (or grit) and get results. You may start with talent or only with passion, but YOU can achieve “gold medal” results.
So this week think about where you want to put your passion and effort
Until next Tuesday,
Elizabeth
Elizabeth, you are an amazing resource. A great combination of talent and grit. Thanks for sharing. Just finished this book, a must read. Thanks
Thank you for your comments – YOU are an amazing resource and inspiration to many. So glad to know you.
e