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š Rethinking Grit
Beyond the Hustle and Hype
Grit isnāt just about grinding it out. Itās the ability to hold on when the path gets hardāand still believe the effort is worth it.
Here are three powerful ways to rethink grit, through the lens of three standout authors:
1ļøā£ Grit = Passion + Perseverance
š Grit by Angela Duckworth
Psychologist Angela Duckworth studied top performersāfrom cadets at West Point to spelling bee champsāand found one common thread: they kept going. Grit, she says, is sticking with your future, day in and day outānot just for the week, but for years.
ā Smartest takeaway: Grit isnāt talent. Itās the choice to stay the course when others quit.
2ļøā£ Grit Is Grown in Community
š 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.
ā Smartest takeaway: Grit isnāt bornāitās built. And often, itās built together.
3ļøā£ Grit Means Dignity Through Struggle
š A Cup of Water Under My Bed by Daisy HernĆ”ndez
In her lyrical memoir, Daisy HernƔndez shares how she navigated growing up queer, Latina, and working-class. Her story is proof that grit can be soft, spiritual, and deeply personal.
ā Smartest takeaway: Grit can look like survival. Itās rewriting your story when the world tries to write it for you.
SMARTER INSIGHT
Grit isnāt loud. Itās often quiet, consistent effortāthe decision to keep showing up, even when no oneās watching and the results arenāt instant.
USE IT TODAY
Pick one long-term goal youāve drifted from. Take one small action toward itāsend the email, open the doc, revisit the idea. Then do it again tomorrow. Thatās grit.

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