Do you have true grit? Why do some people succeed and others fail? Find out when author Angela Duckworth visits Seaside in March.
Sharing new insights from her landmark research, pioneering psychologist and MacArthur “genius” Angela Duckworth will discuss why talent is hardly a guarantor of success. But rather, other factors can be even more crucial such as identifying passions and following through on commitments. She will further discuss the relationship between grit and achievement as well as the importance of helping others to develop grit and other positive traits.
Synopsis: In her new book, “Grit,” debuting in May, Duckworth writes to those striving to succeed — parents, educators, athletes, students, and business people — both seasoned and new — that the secret to outstanding achievement is not talent, but a focused persistence called “grit.” She explains the importance of discipline, willingness to defer gratification, and drive to achieve a successful life.
About the author: For the last 14 years, Duckworth has been conducting groundbreaking studies at the University of Pennsylvania on grit—the quality that enables individuals to work hard and stick to their long-term passions and goals. She studies intangible concepts such as self-control and grit to determine how they might predict both academic and professional success. In her late 20s, Duckworth left a demanding job as a management consultant at McKinsey to teach math in public schools in San Francisco, Philadelphia and New York. After five years of teaching seventh graders, she went back to grad school to complete her Ph.D. in psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is now an assistant professor in the psychology department. Her research subjects include students, West Point cadets, and corporate salespeople, all of whom she studies to determine how “grit” is a better indicator of success than factors such as IQ or family income.
