| What Part Does Grit Play in Your Life? | | | | at stake. |
| After finishing a long scientific article picked up by | | | | Examples |
| the national media,my mind raises the sub-vox | | | | The grit research on 1,223 West Point entering |
| question, | | | | freshmen predicted success betterthan I.Q., SAT |
| "What is the writer saying in simple English?" | | | | scores and past grades. This grit thing was a |
| If I blank on the answer, the page is deleted. | | | | better predictor of winning than anything else for |
| "A Penn researcher who studies high achievers | | | | contestants in a National Spelling Bee, and kids inan |
| says it isn't I.Q., grades, or leadership skills that | | | | elite prep school. It applies to them, and to all of |
| lead to success. It's good, old fashioned | | | | us. |
| stick-to-itiveness." | | | | Until you get mad, excite your brain's amygdala, |
| The gist of the research is that success in | | | | you and I will seek out distractions and refuse to |
| everything is all about 'passion', | | | | put in the time to win the marbles. If you aint |
| (intense emotion), which is aroused through 'grit'. | | | | passionate about something in a negative way, it |
| A synonym for grit is courage or willpower, heart | | | | is a pipedream not a reality. |
| and stick-to-itiveness. | | | | Endwords |
| So what? | | | | Professor Duckworth has the nerve to say: Grit is |
| The proforma answer should now list all the | | | | more important than intelligence. |
| 'positive' emotions that producepassion and grit, | | | | Grit (heart), trains us to overcome obstacles. She |
| starting with love, joy, and peace of mind. | | | | is working on howto train people to have this |
| Surprise! The intense emotions that trigger grit | | | | gritty skill. |
| begin with rage, envy, fear, and jealousy. In fact | | | | The reason grit and passion are in short supply is |
| we are motivated ten-to-one by 'negative | | | | not the availability of TV, the Internet, and video |
| emotions' to create massive changes in our lives. | | | | games. It is boredom which cover us like a wet |
| "That's not fair! I deserved that promotion. I'm | | | | blanket in astorm whenever we decide what we |
| smarter than her. Look at thatnew Mercedes in | | | | are reading, seeing, and hearing is not linkedto our |
| his driveway, son-of-a-... It should be mine. | | | | benefit. Remember the powerful question - WIIFM |
| Something has tochange! And the killer negative | | | | (What's In It For Me?)? |
| feedback motivator, "You can't talk to me like | | | | Our ego has this WIIFM sign nailed up on our |
| that!" | | | | imagination screen. There is animmediate |
| The University of Pennsylvania professor, Angela | | | | disconnect as soon as the answer is 'Nothing!' |
| Lee Duckworth, says the secretof grit is | | | | Grit and passion keep us focused on discovering |
| 'tenaciously pursuing something over the long | | | | the details of any new idea or knowledge that is |
| term'. Sure you know that,but since the typical | | | | in-sync with our deepest needs and desires. |
| American watches TV up to five hours daily, who | | | | Convince us we can benefit from what you have |
| has time forgrit and/or passion? | | | | to say, and we're all glued tothe chair in a trance. |
| Left and Right Brain Skills | | | | Professor Abraham Maslow said, 'self interest puts |
| What about 'ordinary folks', without over-the-top | | | | usin the flow, in the zone, and produces a peak |
| I.Qs., who create extraordinarysuccesses? | | | | experience.' |
| "Persistence and determination is the secret | | | | All it takes is wake up grit is to answer WIIFM, |
| because we learn by our 'mistakes'. | | | | with, "A lot!" |
| Working on a skill daily produces 'Kaizen', small | | | | A. Einstein said, "None of my discoveries came |
| improvements thatadd up to massive reactions. | | | | from logical thinking. Imagination is more important |
| We get better, little by little, until we own the | | | | than knowledge." |
| skillor knowledge through practice." | | | | Edward Lorenz at MIT, created The Butterfly |
| Why do they call it 'trial and error', not 'trial and | | | | Effect, and its principle, |
| success'? | | | | "Small changes lead to massive reactions. |
| Answer. | | | | Predictability: Does the flapof a Butterfly's wings in |
| We learn through our mistakes and rejections, not | | | | Brazil, set off a tornado in Texas?" |
| successes because the secret isnegative | | | | Finally |
| feedback. Mistakes make us feel stupid, and we | | | | Can you answer these two questions? |
| become angry. The result is to beat ourselves up | | | | 1. What was the last thing you got obsessive and |
| to learn how avoid these mental and emotional | | | | compulsive about? |
| insults. | | | | 2. What does it take to arouse your grit and |
| Once we have learned the successful strategy | | | | passion? |
| we keep repeating it until it goes onauto pilot. | | | | Our system to train folks to have grit is not to |
| That's called programming or conditioning, not | | | | talk it to death, but to offerspecific skills to cope |
| learning. We learn byobsessing about our mistakes | | | | with boredom and normal distractions. |
| and rejections, (negative feedback), and demanda | | | | We call them BIS(TM) Behavioral Intelligence |
| practical solution. | | | | Strategies, two-minute power programsto |
| Successful folks become compulsive about | | | | condition your mind for grit and passion. |
| overcoming their ignorance in a particular area; | | | | You'll recognize them by the six-steps to practice. |
| negativity causes passion and grit. When you | | | | It's always your decisionwhether to learn these |
| could spit nails in frustration - another negative | | | | techniques. |
| emotion - you are targeted for winning. | | | | Do you have to lose your income (downsizing, |
| Grit and passion reinforced each other, activating | | | | outsourcing merger or bankruptcy), before you |
| our left and right brain in a 75%/25% proportion, | | | | get mad enough to decide to change your |
| instead of the normal, 90/10. Courage (grit), | | | | destiny? |
| changes the structure and function of our brain, | | | | My pal's Mom from San Antonio used to say, "A |
| beginning with our state of mind. Disruptyour | | | | little bit of grits goes a long way." |
| comfort zone, and you will work 90 hours weekly | | | | Get gritty, and win your personal game. |
| to pass the Bar exambecause your self-image is | | | | |