The Power of Grit

Paul Tough has written a thought-provoking new book titled, How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character.  Tough reviews and examines the extensive academic research which has demonstrated that attributes such as perseverance, conscientiousness, and self-control matter a great deal when it comes to explaining why some people succeed and others do not (ok, his last name fits the subject matter, does it not?).  In fact, researchers have questioned why two children with the same cognitive ability end up achieving very different results in school, work, and beyond.  They have come to conclude that grit matters... and it matters a great deal.  Perhaps most people won't find those results surprising... I certainly do not.   Work ethic, persistence, and resilience have always been known as important attributes that we admire.  What Tough argues, though, is that perhaps we aren't fostering these attributes sufficiently in children today.  In my view, the argument holds for teens and adults as well.  I am enjoying the book and encourage others to take a look - not just parents, but anyone who leads people.