Angela Lee Duckworth, an American academician and psychologist, has conducted several studies on what it takes to achieve consequential life outcomes. Over the course of her research, she observed certain common factors among high achievers.
Most of them have high IQs, exhibit the personality trait of conscientiousness, and are extremely talented. However, she also observed one character trait in successful people that she concluded predicts more positive outcomes above and beyond what conscientiousness, IQ, and talent can.
That trait is Grit. She defines Grit as having the passion and perseverance to achieve long-term goals. The ability to persist in something you feel passionate about and persevere even if you face obstacles. The discipline to stay committed to a task even if it is difficult and boring.
That is what makes people success. Michael Jordan had to spend hours and hours on the basketball court to perfect his skills. Bill Gates locked himself up in a hotel room to develop the code that built Microsoft. Donald Trump gave up partying and binge drinking in college to work for his father every weekend.
Grit is the power to hang in there even if the going gets tough. Keep on pushing. Keep on keeping on. The ability to be gritty is an essential component of success independent of and beyond what talent and intelligence contribute.