Rethinking Grit

In partnership with

Grit isn’t just about grinding it out. It’s the ability to hold on when the path gets hard—and still believe the effort is worth it.

Here are three powerful ways to rethink grit, through the lens of three standout authors:

1️⃣ Grit = Passion + Perseverance

📘 Grit by Angela Duckworth
Psychologist Angela Duckworth studied top performers—from cadets at West Point to spelling bee champs—and found one common thread: they kept going. Grit, she says, is sticking with your future, day in and day out—not just for the week, but for years.

→ Smartest takeaway: Grit isn’t talent. It’s the choice to stay the course when others quit.

2️⃣ Grit Is Grown in Community

📘 The Other Wes Moore by Wes Moore
Two boys. Same name. Same neighborhood. But very different fates. Wes Moore explores how mentorship, structure, and belief shape our ability to persevere.

→ Smartest takeaway: Grit isn’t born—it’s built. And often, it’s built together.

3️⃣ Grit Means Dignity Through Struggle

📘 A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy Hernández
In her lyrical memoir, Daisy Hernández shares how she navigated growing up queer, Latina, and working-class. Her story is proof that grit can be soft, spiritual, and deeply personal.

→ Smartest takeaway: Grit can look like survival. It’s rewriting your story when the world tries to write it for you.

SMARTER INSIGHT
Grit isn’t loud. It’s often quiet, consistent effort—the decision to keep showing up, even when no one’s watching and the results aren’t instant.

USE IT TODAY
Pick one long-term goal you’ve drifted from. Take one small action toward it—send the email, open the doc, revisit the idea. Then do it again tomorrow. That’s grit.