We’re obsessed with talent, but the world is run by those who show up. The ‘overnight success’ is a myth—most breakthroughs come after years of invisible effort. Grit isn’t glamorous. It’s the writer who keeps submitting after 50 rejections. The entrepreneur who pitches 100 investors. The student who studies while others party. Talent might open doors, but grit keeps you knocking until they swing wide. The difference between good and great? Just one more try.
Grit to Great is a motivational playbook that argues talent matters less than perseverance in achieving success. Advertising executives Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval (creators of the AFLAC duck campaign) use research and real-world stories to show how ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things through sheer grit—defined as passion + persistence.
The “Grit” Advantage:
Angela Duckworth’s research shows grit predicts success better than IQ or talent.
Example: J.K. Rowling’s 12 rejections before Harry Potter was published.
Passion Over Perfection:
Obsessive focus on a goal trumps natural ability (e.g., Edison’s 1,000 failed experiments).
The 10,000-Hour Myth:
Practice alone isn’t enough—it must be deliberate and sustained.
“Stick-to-it-iveness”:
Resilience in the face of failure (e.g., Starbucks’ Howard Schultz rejected 242 times by banks).
Embrace the Grind: Love the process, not just the outcome.
Fail Forward: Every setback is data for improvement.
Small Wins Matter: Consistency compounds (e.g., writing 1 page/day = a book/year).
Grit is Contagious: Surround yourself with tenacious people.
The book blends psychology (Carol Dweck’s growth mindset) with case studies (Colonel Sanders, Steven Spielberg) to prove that ordinary people achieve greatness by refusing to quit.