Grit to Great

Grit is the key to unlocking extraordinary success through perseverance, passion, and hard work.

Success isn’t just about talent; it’s about grit—the ability to stay focused, work hard, and bounce back from setbacks. Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval outline how grit can help you reach your goals and make your dreams a reality.

Why It Matters

In a world that celebrates talent, it’s easy to overlook the importance of hard work and perseverance. Grit to Great challenges this notion, showing that resilience and passion are often more important than talent when it comes to achieving long-term success. For business leaders, managers, and entrepreneurs, grit is essential for overcoming challenges, pushing through failures, and maintaining the stamina needed to build lasting success.

Expected Outcomes

• Learn how to cultivate grit in yourself and your team.
• Understand why perseverance and hard work matter more than talent in achieving success.
• Gain practical tips for staying motivated, learning from failure, and taking risks.

Target Audience

CEOs, entrepreneurs, managers, and professionals looking to develop resilience and achieve long-term success.

The Authors

Linda Kaplan Thaler: An Advertising Hall of Fame icon and the mastermind behind famous advertising campaigns. She is the chairman of Publicis Kaplan Thaler and co-founded the Kaplan Thaler Group.

Robin Koval: CEO of the Truth Initiative and co-founder of the Kaplan Thaler Group, Koval is also a faculty member at NYU’s Steinhardt School.

Executive Summary

Grit to Great explains how perseverance, passion, and hard work—collectively known as grit—are key to long-term success. The authors explore how grit can outshine talent, why taking risks is necessary, and how patience and persistence ultimately lead to extraordinary achievements. By embracing grit, you can learn to overcome obstacles, handle failure, and keep pushing toward your goals, no matter the challenges.

Talent Won’t Get You as Far as Hard Work and Passion

While talent may give some people a head start, it’s hard work and passion that truly lead to success. People who rely solely on their talent often fall behind those who are willing to put in the effort to improve. Hard work, combined with a passion for what you do, is a greater predictor of success than natural ability.

Application: Focus on consistent effort over innate talent.

• Step 1: Identify areas where you can improve through hard work, regardless of your current level of talent.
• Step 2: Set goals that push you to work harder and stay passionate about your work.
• Step 3: Celebrate small victories to maintain motivation for the long haul.

Tip: Passion and hard work are contagious. Share your enthusiasm with your team to inspire a culture of grit.

At Some Point, You Need to Take a Risk

Success often requires stepping out of your comfort zone and taking risks. Grit allows you to move forward, even when the path is uncertain. Whether it’s launching a new product, entering a new market, or making a bold career move, calculated risks are essential for growth.

Application: Embrace risk by preparing and trusting your abilities.

• Step 1: Assess the potential risks and rewards before making a decision.
• Step 2: Take small, calculated risks to build confidence in your ability to handle uncertainty.
• Step 3: If a risk doesn’t pay off, use it as a learning experience to improve for next time.

Tip: Don’t let fear of failure paralyze you. Remember, even setbacks are opportunities to build resilience.

Success Doesn’t Come Overnight—Patience Is Essential

Achieving success requires patience and persistence. Many successful people faced years of hard work and rejection before reaching their goals. By focusing on the process rather than the end result, you can stay motivated even when progress is slow.

Application: Cultivate patience by focusing on small achievements along the way.

• Step 1: Break down long-term goals into smaller, manageable tasks.
• Step 2: Celebrate minor successes to stay motivated during long-term projects.
• Step 3: Keep a forward-looking mindset, even when results take time to materialize.

Tip: Practice perseverance by reminding yourself that overnight success is a myth. Focus on progress, not perfection.

Learn from Failures and Adapt

Everyone faces failures and setbacks, but the key to success is how you respond to them. Instead of letting failure define you, use it as an opportunity to learn and adapt. Grit allows you to recover from setbacks, gain new insights, and approach future challenges with more resilience.

Application: Use failure as a learning tool to improve and grow.

• Step 1: After a failure, reflect on what went wrong and how you can improve next time.
• Step 2: Adjust your strategy based on the lessons learned from previous failures.
• Step 3: Stay optimistic about the future, knowing that each setback brings you closer to success.

Tip: Create a "fail-forward" culture in your organization, where mistakes are viewed as learning opportunities rather than setbacks.

Helping Others Will Boost Your Grit

Supporting others can increase your own resilience and motivation. Helping people builds empathy, strengthens relationships, and fosters a sense of purpose—all of which can increase your grit. By lifting others up, you’ll not only feel more fulfilled but also develop a stronger support network to help you overcome your own challenges.

Application: Engage in helping others to boost your own perseverance and resilience.

• Step 1: Look for opportunities to mentor, support, or assist others in their professional journeys.
• Step 2: Collaborate with like-minded individuals who share your values and goals.
• Step 3: Teach others the importance of grit and resilience to create a ripple effect of motivation.

Tip: Helping others doesn’t just benefit them—it can inspire and motivate you to keep pushing forward with your own goals.

Notable Quotes

• "Grit is the key to unlocking extraordinary success through perseverance, passion, and hard work."
• "People with grit don’t fail; they fail forward."

Key Takeaways and Actions

• Work Hard: Focus on effort and perseverance over talent for long-term success.
• Embrace Risk: Take calculated risks to push yourself out of your comfort zone and grow.
• Be Patient: Success takes time. Stay motivated by celebrating small wins.
• Learn from Failure: Use setbacks as opportunities to grow and improve.
• Help Others: Supporting others will boost your own resilience and grit.

Implementation Strategies

1. Celebrate Small Wins: Recognize and reward small achievements to keep your team motivated during long-term projects.
2. Create a Fail-Forward Culture: Encourage learning from mistakes and adjusting strategies to build resilience in your team.
3. Mentor Others: Engage in mentorship to support others while building your own perseverance.

Reflection Questions

• How can I focus more on hard work and perseverance rather than relying on talent?
• What calculated risks can I take to move closer to my goals?
• How can I create a culture of resilience and perseverance in my organization?

Dig Deeper

• "The Power of Habit" by Charles Duhigg: This book dives deeper into how habits shape success, providing practical insights into building grit through daily routines.
• "Mindset" by Carol Dweck: A must-read for understanding how a growth mindset fosters resilience, perseverance, and long-term success.