Name: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance
Uploaded: 2013-05-09T14:59:48Z
Duration: 5 min 59 s
Description: Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success.

Angela Lee Duckworth: Grit: The power of passion and perseverance

Grit: The power of passion and perseverance

Leaving a high-flying job in consulting, Angela Lee Duckworth took a job teaching math to seventh graders in a New York public school. She quickly realized that IQ wasn't the only thing separating the successful students from those who struggled. Here, she explains her theory of "grit" as a predictor of success.

Perseverance and passion, not IQ or talent, predict who thrives in tough environments. In studies from West Point to the Chicago public schools, those who stuck with their goals over years achieved more, even when facing setbacks. One vivid finding: high school juniors with higher grit scores were far more likely to graduate, regardless of grades or family income. The challenge now is discovering how to instill this resilience in every child.