Maybe She’s Born with (Gr)it
“Stubborn Dutchman” was a phrase I heard almost weekly as a child. It was applied to grandparents, aunts and uncles, my parents, siblings, and yes, to me. It seemed to be a regular explanation to a tenacity and commitment against all odds, even when the activity or hypothesis was less than iron-clad. Sometimes an insult, other times given as a badge of honour (depending on which side the accuser was on regarding the idea), it was a way of talking about the nurtured quality of stubbornness against the odds. Where does this come from? Is it in the DNA, directly related to Dutchness? Or did it grow from a people who grew up against the odds – in a land literally below sea level. Are Dutch people born ‘gritty’ [1], a term Angela Duckworth uses in her book, Grit: the Power of Passion and Perseverance, or did they work at it?
Duckworth, a psychologist who pivoted into education, working with elementary children who faced and prevailed against incredible odds, developed the concept of grit that contributes to success in life. It’s more than IQ, SAT scores or even talent, skill or pure effort. Grit reveals that “our potential is one thing. What we do with it is quite another [2].
I like the simplicity of her equation for how one gets from talent to achievement. It looks like this:
Talent x effort = skill
Skill x effort = achievement [3]
And I think there is merit in her assessment that “[w]ith effort, talent becomes skill and, at the very same time, effort makes skill productive” [4]. I think this points to grit being something vital for success against remarkable odds, and pairs with concepts like tenacity, focus, and purpose. These are all things we can possess innately, but can also develop through practice. This is why Duckworth admits that “grit is “in part” in our DNA [5], but also confirms that with maturity, humans “develop the capacity for long-term passion and perseverance as we get older” [6]. In his work, Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell makes this point in what he refers to as “the 10,000 Hour Rule” [7]. People become proficient, even if they lack genius, by putting in the time. Carol Dweck likewise asserts that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort, strategies and help from others [8]. So, grit is part nature, part nurture, and part maturity.
What I find missing
I like the importance of skill development, and at midlife, feel that previous effort to develop various crafts has led to an increase of unconscious competence in many areas, which require less effort than conscious competence or incompetence, and less of the clumsiness with unconscious incompetence. However, even taking the grit test and ending up with a grit score of 4.3 [9], I agree with David Denby in his critique of Duckworth’s paradigm, calling it ‘instrumentalist’ [10]. The end goal of grit, as Duckworth presents it is not character formation, or existential purpose, but success in one’s craft. The examples Duckworth prefers are related to military training, math, spelling bees, and apply nicely to athletics and business.
I am left wondering about the importance of members of society who have little grit, who need to hear affirmation despite being perceived as weak, faint hearted, flighty, or unfocussed. As the Apostle Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 12:10, “…for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong”. If I had more time, I would explore how measuring grit could still marginalize those who suffer from performance anxiety or undo pressure to prove their worth through success. I am convinced, therefore, that grit has its limits. Maybe it’s because of my Dutch stubbornness.
_________
[1] Angela Duckworth, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, First Scribner hardcover edition, New York: Scribner, 2016.
[2] Grit, 21.
[3] Grit, 44.
[4] Grit, 51.
[5] Grit, 71.
[6] Grit, 76.
[7] Malcolm Gladwell, Outliers : The Story of Success, Vol. First edition, New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2008, Chapter 2.
[8] Carol Dweck, Mindset : Changing the way you think to fulfil your potential. (Revised edition) UK: Robinson, 2017, 7.
[9] Grit, 52-53.
[10] David Denby, “The Limits of ‘Grit.’” The New Yorker, June 21, 2016. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/the-limits-of-grit, 2016.
About the Author
Joel Zantingh
Joel Zantingh is a catalyst for peacemaking and intercultural teams, speaker, theologian and consultant. He is the Canadian Coordinator of the World Evangelical Alliance's Peace and Reconciliation Network, and the Director of Engagement with Lausanne Movement Canada. He has served in local and national roles within the Evangelical Missionary Church of Canada, and led their global mission arm. He has experience teaching in formal and informal settings with Bible college students and leaders from various cultures and generations. Joel and Christie are parents to adult children, as well as grandparents. They reside in Guelph, Ont., situated on the treaty lands and territory of the Mississaugas of the Credit, and home to many past, present and future First Nations peoples, including the Anishinnabe and Hodinöhsö:ni'.16 responses to “Maybe She’s Born with (Gr)it”
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Hi Joel, Thank you for your post. It seems like you’re saying that without character, grit can ultimately lead to shallow results. Can you say more about the disconnection and/or perhaps suggest a grand image of grit + character?
Thanks for catching the nuance, Julie. I do think that little grit with strong character / ethics can lead to a very un-gritty but beautiful person. I have people that come to mind. It’s possible to be low-capacity achievers and make extraordinary contribution. I was looking for a way to frame achievement as a mere fraction of human purpose and potential, and nothing more.
Joel,
There certainly are some cultures that demonstrate more grittiness than others. Looking at our first book we read this summer about Israel, we can certainly see a grittiness to their culture as a whole also. I guess that is the nurture aspect. It would be interesting to see how culture affects ones grit. Every one of us in this program has a high level of grit. We had to just to get to this point. Other than school, what might you do that is gritty?
Adam, I think this is an interesting question. I certainly have a list of experiences that require “grit-mode”
– care for aging parents
– family conflict resolution
– this building phase of the Peace and Reconciliation Network in Canada
– my squash league performance
– guiding collaborative networks across theological, ministry, and cultural diversity
HI Joel, I hear what you are saying about the author’s purpose of grit is to find success in one’s craft and don’t necessarily disagree with it. However, do you think that in the process of hours of practice/learning, whatever it is, over a long period of time there could be character building by the very nature of sticking with something?
Diane. Duckworth alludes to not sticking with piano and violin, against the cultural stereotype. I wonder if what we are talking about could also be characterized as discipline, or people-pleasing while bottling up resentment. In this way, I see grit as related to, but not the only thing that builds character. What are your thoughts here?
I don’t disagree that what you suggest could happen. I think many of all our thoughts come from lived experiences, Reflecting on my question to you, I realize that I was thinking about my grand daughter who was selected for a varsity sport team but not chosen to play much. Once she was wooed to be on the team she felt completely ignored. While she considered ending her participation early she decided it was more important to be on the team. She repurposed her reason to be there to show good sportsmanship and encourage others. In the course her skills also improved but she ended the season satisfied that she completed something she started, was a positive influence on others, and even played some. Maybe character has to already be present to have the capacity to be gritty.
Hi Joel,
Do you agree that the concept of grit, as presented by Duckworth, potentially marginalize individuals who suffer from performance anxiety or those who require affirmation despite being perceived as weak or unfocused?
Please read the response to Julie’s question, and see if that helps address your question.
Hi, Joel, I am wondering what you mean when you say, “I am left wondering about the importance of members of society who have little grit, who need to hear affirmation despite being perceived as weak, faint hearted, flighty, or unfocussed.”
Joel, I, too would like to hear more about this. What do you think is an appropriate response to them?
Please read the response to Julie’s question, and see if that helps address your question.
I’m one of those “stubborn Dutch” as well! Lol!
Thanks for your analysis of this important topic Joel. Are there any ways in which you could envision grit being part of character formation? What about spiritual formation?
Hi Joel, Thank you for this post. Your concluding thoughts had me thinking about my own story, my struggle with performance anxiety, and my need to prove myself. I remember public speaking being something that just seemed impossible to me. However, when God was leading me to North Africa, my passion for the people and calling suddenly outweighed my fear. After about 1,000 terrible presentations, this performance anxiety has turned into something that feels very empowering and purposeful—although I still have some flops! I appreciate the idea of grit as something that can be developed over time. I think I am not only growing in a craft but also in purpose. Thus, after reading your post, I am left asking myself, “How can we as leaders encourage and empower those who are ‘weak’ to keep trying and growing?”
You are a stubborn Dutchman and I have Irish temper. So glad we are in the same peer group.
Hey, my stubborn Dutchman! I appreciate your perspective on Duckworth’s writing, especially since it has received many rave reviews. Let me ruffle the feathers a little. You mentioned becoming older and you bought skill development into question saying it’s a need. Could one need grit for skill development?
Joel, I appreciate your article, especially your exploration of “grit” and its connection to “Dutch stubbornness.” Also, your insights on the marginalization of those who don’t fit traditional definitions of grit raise important points. It’s essential to cultivate a more inclusive understanding of perseverance that values diverse strengths. How can society better affirm those who may not display ‘grit’ but still make meaningful contributions?