Motley Fool Money

Is Grit Overrated?

Jun 23, 2020
The discussion dives into the concept of grit and its potential downsides. David Epstein challenges the idea that unwavering determination is always beneficial. He emphasizes the importance of flexibility and exploration in achieving success. Rather than sticking to a single path, aligning personal interests and skills can lead to better outcomes. The conversation encourages a reevaluation of traditional views on perseverance.
Ask episode
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
INSIGHT

Grit's Limits

  • Grit is partly about resilience and consistent interests.
  • It predicted West Point cadet success in a 6-week orientation, but not long-term retention.
ANECDOTE

West Point Example

  • Half of West Point cadets left as soon as they could, despite initial grit.
  • This highlights grit's limitations; changing interests and match quality matter more.
ADVICE

Embrace Exploration

  • Don't overvalue grit over exploring various options.
  • Find the best fit by trying different paths and quitting when necessary to improve match quality.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
Get the app