From the Gridiron to Grit
As we pay homage to our armed military veterans across the United States this week, the sports enthusiast in me would like to pay special tribute to the United States Army football team. They are ranked 18th overall in the nation in college football standings and are currently on a 14-game winning streak, the longest in the nation. The Army team is turning the heads of many college football fans as they are not the traditional extraordinary football star players who receive million-dollar NIL contracts as we see today. But what has been the difference maker for them this year? What has been the secret sauce to their success? Simple things. Consistency, dedication, perseverance, and hard work.
Ironically, West Point was also the site of Angela Duckworth’s research several years ago as she examined data from over 11,000 West Point in an effort to find out the difference between successful cadets and those who missed the bar. The study examined the cognitive and non-cognitive attributes that contribute to the success of those who graduated from West Point. “We conclude that non-cognitive aspects of human capital deserve greater attention from both scientists and practitioners interested in predicting real-world success.” [1]
It was these findings that fueled Duckworth to write Grit, The Power of Passion and Perseverance a book which details how passion and perseverance supplant talent. Duckworth, a former business consultant, moved from being a business consultant to becoming an inner-city teacher, ultimately landing in neuroscience. Using research as her methodology, she also uncovers how purpose plays a major factor; “On one hand, human beings seek pleasure because, by and large, the things that bring us pleasure are those things that increase our chances of survival… On the other hand, human beings have evolved to seek meaning and purpose.” [2]
Passion is also atop Duckworth’s list, and gritty people must maintain a great passion for something. “It’s doing what you love, but not just falling in love- staying in love.”[3] Grit is an excellent compliment to Mindset, which talks about a fixed and growth mindset. A growth mindset is about working hard, believing you can accomplish your goals, and being open to receiving support and opportunities. “People with a growth mindset don’t just seek challenge, they thrive on it.” [4] A gritty perspective requires people to believe that they can improve. An argument can be made that to possess Grit- both a fixed and growth mindset would be necessary.
I also found it interesting that one of Duckworth’s takeaways centered on extracurricular activities. She points to how a non-parental adult influence can improve grit.
I am reminiscent of two instances where this has proven true. The first takes me back to my athletic career and how coaches were instrumental in facilitating my personal growth and development. Recently I was on a college football recruiting visit and heard a coach share with the parents of recruits and his team. At the end of four years, we will develop your son into a better athlete but most of all a responsible young man.
The second instance involves a young lady who is a high school student in my community and earned the label of a class disruptor. Her history was filled with talking back, disrupting class, and finding it necessary to have the last word. Consequently, she experienced being thrown out of class, a couple of three-day suspensions, and being on the administrative watch list. Her parents? Some of the most rock-solid and credible people you could ever find on earth. Parental conferences and interventions were seemingly fruitless for this family until they met an educator who convinced the parents to bring their daughter to the school’s debate team. Fast forward, by year’s end, she would go on to win several debate awards while reaching the honor roll with no further incidents and was a school star. When asked about her dramatic turnaround, she heaped praise on her debate coach, who taught her critical thinking, reasoning, and effective response, crediting her coach for instilling patience and perseverance into her life. A living example of the Grit factor.
A counter perspective to Grit is offered by Harvard Graduate School Professor Jal Metha. Metha believes schools should spend less time boosting grit and more time revisiting their offerings to generate student purpose and passion. Citing the research results of motivation scholars Edward Deci and Richard Ryan. The duo argue that “people are fundamentally seeking autonomy, competence and relatedness.” [5] Saying that people who maximize these qualities thrive in environments critics say if institutions place a greater emphasis on priorities students will achieve similar outcomes. “In the long run, most people do not persevere at things because they are good at persevering, they persevere because they find things that are worth investing in.” [6]
While success is the end game for Duckworth, she also presents a realistic outcome for the road to it, stating that one must be willing to encounter and embrace failure. This is a practice I have experienced, taught, and passed down in my own leadership context, using the Heinz 57 Ketchup bottle as an example. The bottle’s label 57 holds significance as it represents the 57 times Heinz tried to gain a patent but failed. As Heinz’s ketchup reaches millions today, I often remind my leaders every time they taste Heinz 57 ketchup, they are tasting failure.
Personally, I can see why many are raving about this book, because it does offer practical insight with research and statistics supporting Duckworth’s findings. Overall, there is a message that speaks to the common person that you may not be an adept individual, but possessing this grit can be a game changer. Closer to home, I think many of us who are doctoral students can share in this same testimony that it was not always our desire to pursue a doctorate, with many of us shying away from the thought of it, but what has got us more than halfway to the finish line amidst our fears, insecurities, and life’s vicissitudes is nothing other than grit itself.
[1] Mark Travers. “Scientists Look to West Point to Better Understand What It Takes to Succeed.” Forbes. Forbes Magazine, November 14, 2019. Last modified November 14, 2019. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.forbes.com/sites/traversmark/2019/11/14/scientists-look-to-west-point-to-better-understand-what-it-takes-to-succeed/.
[2] Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance (New York: Scribner, 2016), 146,7.
[3] Duckworth, 54.
[4] Carol Dweck, Mindset: Changing the Way You Think to Fulfil Your Potential, (London: Robinson, 2017). 21.
[5] Jal Metha, “The Problem with Grit (Opinion).” Education Week. Last modified September 24, 2024. Accessed November 15, 2024. https://www.edweek.org/leadership/opinion-the-problem-with-grit/2015/04.
[6] Metha, “The Problem with Grit”.
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Daren Jaime
16 responses to “From the Gridiron to Grit”
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Daren,
The debate student you write about must be my daughter! Seriously, once she started in a debate class and had an appropriate avenue to voice her descent about issues it lessened dramatically at home. I agree with you that this program has taken grit to get through. What is one aspect of this program that has taken the most amount of grit for you to continue persevering through??
Hey Adam! The biggest challenge that has brought my grit out would certainly be writing. As I already was apprehensive about writing prior to entering, more specifically the amount required for the doctoral level I became nervous. Now, I am growing accustomed to it, but the biggest issue I face is trying to write before, during, and after a eulogy. (In this program alone I have had to do 14 times) All I can say is grace and grit got me this far because it is hard to assimilate thoughts in the face of these personal and tragic losses but I persevere.
Hi Daren, While the book has focus on attaining skills by sticking with something, in thinking of your NPO in better understanding and helping young peole to participate in church, do you see passion and perseverance as being necessary to work in this ministry?
Hi Diane. In my view, passion and perseverance are on top as major prerequisites for all ministries. I have a trending statement i have said within my church and that is- Only the called survive.
With young people, grit may be required, but patience and tolerance are also key skills coupled with the checking of our pride, This would help in closing the gap with young adult absence.
Hi Daren,
I too compared Grit to Mindset. If you could recommend either Grit or Mindset to someone, which one would you choose and why?
Hi Shela! Both are great but since we are talking grit I am going to say that would be choice. Because it is possible to have a fixed or growth mindset and still lack grit. (smile)
Hi, Daren, thank you for your encouraging words. Thats the first time to hear the story of the Heinz 57. Thats a great story. What would be an example of ’embracing failure?’
Hi Noel! Thanks for asking. When a person understands that failure is not final but an opportunity to learn, restart, and grow, they begin to embrace it. In contrast, someone who encounters failure but does not recover or learn from it struggles to move forward.
Thanks for this Daren. I’m wondering, when it comes to spiritual growth and maturity, where do you see the role of grit? Or even part of grit, the part about meaning and purpose?
Hi Debbie, Grit and faith can be synonymous. I feel like in certain circumstances, it is hard to lean into your faith; this is where grit would kick in. When Grit is utilized it can help someone find meaning and purpose in a place where they were set to throw in the towel and quit. Grit could be crucial in overcoming obstacles that also have utilized faith. Faith without grit in certain scenarios is defeat.
Hi Daren,
You suggested that grit may contain elements of both fixed mindset and growth mindset. Could you say more about how fixed mindset intersects with ‘grit’?
Hey Julie, Being fixed sometimes means being unwavering and inflexible. When grit comes to play a mindset that does not move out of grit but stays in it is healthy and can also lead to a successful outcome.
Hi Daren, Your posts have helped me develop a better understanding of sports. Thank you. I also really appreciated Professor Jal Metha’s supplemental thoughts. I believe there is something to say about providing offerings that allow students to find purpose and passion. I have learned a little about your NPO through your blog posts and reading others’ comments. Did Professor Metha spark any ideas for you concerning young people in the church? Lastly, I am glad Heinz did not give up on their recipe. We enjoy finding their ketchup in stores even here in North Africa.
Hi Daren – thanks for your post. I think sports and other competitive activities can grow grit in a young person in a very special way. I grew up playing competitive sports and I look back on it and can see the impact in my life. Do you think there is any link between competition (as in the debate or football player examples) and grit?
Hey Christy! I think competition requires grit. When you have two equally skilled teams or individuals sometimes it boils down to who wants it more. And while talent and skill is present grit can be the difference maker in many settings.
Hey Elysse, I’m glad I can be your bridge builder to the sports world. Thanks for your question. Yes, indeed, I drew from Metha. One of the things Metha speaks about is priorities. The reason why young adults are absent in church presently is the feeling surrounding a lack of prioritizing needs related to their context. What does the church offer that speaks to their context rather than chasing after traditional preferences that alienate and fail to attract them? This goes in part to Metha’s methodology.