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Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

I have a colleague who went to West Point. I already had a great deal of respect for her and it was increased after I read Grit by Angela Duckworth. The book opens with a description of “beast barracks”, the first six weeks of a new cadet’s life. It sounds grueling. It seems that West Point had engaged Angela to discover why the dropout rate was so high in the first six weeks. Out of 1200 recruits, representing the finest academic and athletic men and women that the country has to offer, between 60 and 70 drop out during beast barracks. The answer to why people stay, as Angela points out in the book, is Grit.

Grit as defined by Webster’s dictionary is courage and resolve; strength of character. It isn’t a talent, or something you are born with. Many of us have it bubbling below the surface waiting for the one event that brings it out. It is something that can be learned at any time in life and Grit is the perfect book to teach you how to get it. The book has three parts: What Grit is and Why it Matters, Growing Grit from the Inside Out and Growing Grit from the Outside In. She makes the case for why no one should use lack of skills as an excuse for not reaching their goals. Anyone can do it. You must find your passion and stick with it no matter how difficult it is or becomes.

I was introduced to Angela on the podcast she does with Stephen Dubner of Freakonomics fame called “No Stupid Questions”. It is a podcast I enjoy and devour on a weekly basis. She has an interesting backstory as she was a McKinsey management consultant and a math and science teacher in New York City, Philadelphia and San Francisco. She has a long series of accolades, and started the “Character Lab”, a nonprofit that works to help children thrive. She got her doctorate at Penn, and her sponsor was Marty Seligman, world renowned for his positive psychology movement.

I tend to listen to books, and the audiobook is read by the author, a real plus. I already appreciated her voice from the podcast. The research in the book is sound, and the conclusions are thoughtfully presented. Her academic achievement might have made the book a snore-fest, but her real world experience and her method of delivery makes it a page turner. Take the time to read this book. It is one of the best books I have read in the last 5 years.

Author:

Angela Duckworth

Publisher:

Scribner; Illustrated Edition

Published:

2018

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The 5 Principles of Leadership: Character

CHARACTER – Simply put, we push you to walk the talk.

Many believe character in a leader is either present or absent. In reality, every leader typically has the makings of a great character; they just need awareness around their strengths and the areas they would like to develop. The Scholz and Associates team will work with you to reinforce each of the principles you’ve learned and put a plan of action into place. Then, we’ll coach you on how to use your character to drive that forward, with a people-first mindset.

The 5 Principles of Leadership: Choice

CHOICE – Do we take the time to choose what we are going to do?

When moving toward purpose in your life – like becoming happy or achieving financial freedom – these pursuits often are ongoing.

The Scholz and Associates team use the WAYPOINT principle. It is a way of charting your course for a change in direction. Working together, we will help you determine what choices you need to make in order to change your situation. What are the possible outcomes? This helps you not only define what you want, but also identify boundaries and pinpoint what is actionable.

The 5 Principles of Leadership: Conditioning

Conditioning – Can you change your mind?

Knowing where we are and what we want are only the first steps. How do we change our minds?

If we want to change our outcomes, we need to think in different ways. Thinking differently drives different behaviors. Scholz and Associates works with you to structure your mindset for success. Changing your mind begins with how you speak to yourself. From thermals to connecting your goals with positive emotions and energy, your self talk will pave the way toward transformation in your leadership and in your business.

The 5 Principles of Leadership: Clarity

CLARITY – What is it that you want?

Simply put, clarity is knowing what you want. Not in the “I want pizza” kind of way, but deep down, where it counts. Most people don’t know what they’re working towards in their lives. Leaders often don’t as well. It all starts with the definition of success.

Whenever we ask about a leader’s definition of success, it’s never a big house or a fancy car. It’s usually things like happiness, financial freedom, spiritual awareness or other lifelong pursuits. Scholz and Associates helps you define what you want to achieve, see, experience, do and become. We help you find it, then structure our coaching around getting you there.

The 5 Principles of Leadership: Context

CONTEXT – Before you know where you are going, you must understand where you are.

Scholz and Associates takes a deep look at you, your environment and the people you surround yourself with. We help you understand your behaviors, motivations and thought patterns. We also help you with an environmental scan of the factors surrounding you. This provides a situational analysis that guides your awareness of opportunities and challenges available to you. It sets the framework for ways to strengthen your leadership.

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

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