It turns out that intelligence might not be the best indicator of future success. According to psychologist Angela Duckworth, the secret to outstanding achievement isn’t talent. Instead, it’s a special blend of persistence and passion that she calls “grit.”
Source: Forbes, March, 6, 2017. Link. That’s why IQ and SAT scores aren’t a good indicator of someone’s future success. It’s because those scores are missing the most important part of the equation – the person’s effort level or what Duckworth calls their “grittiness” factor (their level of persistence and passion).
INSIGHTS: It’s easy to persist when the task at hand is fun. The real test of your grit is when the task necessary to succeed is boring or frustrating or even painful. That’s when your persistence and passion are put to the test.