Musings of an Unemployed, Employable Woman! (Day 2)

Alison's top tips on how to build your resilience and stay sane when job hunting!

Mantra of the week: 'Every setback is a setup for a comeback. I will learn, adapt, and rise stronger.'

Top Tip of the Day: Let’s get GRITTY!

Book of the week: Grit: why passion and resilience are the secrets to success, by Angela Duckworth

In my introduction to this series of musings about building resilience, I recommended the book ‘GRIT’ by Angela Duckworth.? Yesterday, I talked about developing a rock star mindset and believing that we can achieve anything we put our minds to no matter what setbacks or obstacles are in our way of success.?

Today, I thought I would unashamedly steal Ms Duckworth’s hard work and research and give you an overview of the main themes of the book.? I do recommend you spending the money for this one though – it’s aimed at anyone who wants to achieve a successful life or anyone who’s feeling a bit stuck.? Apologies for the length of this article, I got carried away, so grab a coffee for this one!

"Grit" by Angela Duckworth (a psychologist and researcher) explores the concept that success is not just about talent or intelligence but is more about perseverance and passion over the long term. The book is rooted in psychological research and uses real-world examples to illustrate how grit plays a crucial role in achieving success.? Sounds easy?? Well, if it were I think there wouldn’t be a book about it, and we’d all be doing it! ?Now I could have gone the easy route here and used some of Angela’s examples, but I thought it would be fun to stick with my musical inspiration (I do like a theme!). ?

Let’s take Taylor Swift as an example! (I can hear some of you cheer and some of you groan right now!) ?- But she really is the epitome of GRIT!? Taylor Swift is a global powerhouse and she just goes from strength to strength, she is constantly writing and performing, but is she the most talented singer in the world? - possibly not (sorry if I’ve offended anyone by saying that!).? ?

She's phenomenal (this might surprise some people who know me well) - and I am indeed a Swifty!).? Here is a woman who knows how to connect with people through her music, she rises above all the negative media bashing, she has so much 'grit' and determination she is driven to succeed.? She is also incidentally one of the richest people on the planet - you don't achieve what she's achieved without some blood, sweat and tears along the way, and being super clear about your vision and goals.? Maybe the mantra for the week should be 'Be more Swifty! :) ?Anyway, enough of my fan-girling!

Let’s look at the components of GRIT and all I’m asking you to do is apply them to Miss Swifty as you read through these key musings:

?Key Messages and Frameworks for Success and Staying Gritty:

1. Grit = Passion + Perseverance: Duckworth defines grit as the blend of passion and perseverance. ?Passion involves having a clear and enduring vision or goal, while perseverance is the relentless pursuit of that goal despite challenges, setbacks, or plateaus. (Tick in the box for Miss Swift here!)
2. Talent vs. Effort: The book challenges the common belief that talent alone leads to success. Duckworth emphasises that effort counts twice: first in developing skill and then in turning that skill into achievement. Her formula is: Talent x Effort = Skill and Skill x Effort = Achievement. This means that effort is more crucial than innate talent when it comes to reaching our full potential.? (Another big tick!)
3. The Four Psychological Assets of Grit: Duckworth outlines four key components that contribute to grit: 1) Interest: Finding something you love to do. 2) Practice: Continuously improving and honing your skills. 3) Purpose: Believing that your work matters and contributes to something greater. 4) Hope: The belief that you can overcome challenges and setbacks, staying optimistic and resilient. (Big ticks for all 4 here!)
4. The Growth Mindset: Duckworth emphasises the importance of a growth mindset, a concept developed by psychologist Carol Dweck. ?I’m a big believer in developing a growth mindset – it’s the notion that our abilities and intelligence can be developed through dedication and hard work.? This mindset fuels grit by encouraging individuals to embrace challenges and learn from failures. (Definitely ticked this box, Miss Swift!)
5. The Importance of Culture and Environment: The book highlights how being in an environment that values hard work, perseverance, and continuous improvement can enhance your grit.? Duckworth discusses how cultural factors, supportive communities, and mentorship can reinforce the importance of sticking with long-term goals.? Working with others along the way helps us stay accountable and we are more likely to succeed. ?We are hard-wired to work in groups and contribute to the good of the group.? So why fight nature – Miss Swift hasn’t!
6. Goal Hierarchies: Duckworth introduces the idea of goal hierarchies, where higher-level, long-term goals are supported by mid-level and lower-level goals. Gritty individuals organise their life around a single top-level goal, ensuring that all their efforts are aligned and focused on achieving that overarching vision.? (I think world domination is Miss Swift’s overarching goal!)
7. The Role of Deliberate Practice: A significant aspect of staying gritty is engaging in deliberate practice, which involves setting specific, challenging goals, focusing intensely on them, receiving feedback, and continuously refining our skills. ?This kind of practice is essential for mastering any domain. (Another tick for Miss Swift!).

See?? Taylor Swift may not (in your opinion) be the best singer in the world, but you can’t knock her passion and perseverance for her craft – she’s certainly put in the hours and now she’s reaping the rewards.? She didn’t do that without setting goals, without putting in the practice and setting up the right environment and surrounding herself with the right people.? So, let’s get ‘gritty’!? Go through the list and ask yourself where you are with each of these points – where do you need to focus your attention right now?

Angela Duckworth has developed a ‘GRIT scale’?? You can find it on her website – link here: Angela Duckworth have a go and maybe take a moment to reflect on how gritty you are, and decide where you want to focus your attention. Write it down in your journal!

As always, don’t be afraid to write your thoughts in the comments and please feel free to repost!

Good luck all!

Onwards and Upwards,

Alison