Grit: HBR Emotional Intelligence Series
Various Contributors
Harvard Business Review Press (November 2017)
“Champions Get Up When They Can’t.” Jack Dempsey
This is one of the volumes in the HBR Emotional Intelligence Series, offering cutting-edge thinking about how to persist in especially difficult situations. “You’ll learn how to convince yourself to complete difficult tasks, find support in trying circumstances, and know when you’re pushing yourself too hard.”
The nine “classic” articles were originally published in HBR and if all were purchased separately as reprints, the total cost would be at least $110.oo. Amazon now sells a paperbound volume for only $15.77. That’s not a bargain; that’s a steaL.
Here is some specific information about each of the articles.
o “To Build Grit, Go Back to Basics”: Shannon Huffman Polson on HOW to recognize your story and know your core purpose
o “Gauging Your Grit”: Thomas H. Lee and Angela Duckworth on how to conduct a personal assessment
o “How to Deal with High-Pressure Situations At Work”: Thomas Chamorro-Premuzic on HOW to aim for emotional stability
o “How to Convince Yourself to Do Hard Things “: David Rock on HOW to embrace discomfort
o “Mentors Were What Helped Me Survive”: Misty Copeland on HOW to build strength in collaboration rather than going it alone
o “”When to Grit — and When to Quit”: And ißré Spicer on WHY to beware the dark side of determination
o “Are You Pushing Yourself Too Hard?”: Rebecca on WHY taking care of yourself is essential to success
o “How to Cultivate Gratitude, Compassion, and Pride”: David DeSteno on the best way to instill grit and grace
o “Organizational Grit”: Thomas H.Lee and Angela Duckworth on HOW to turn passion and perseverance into performance
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Only you can apply the relevant knowledge and common sense wisdom that are provided in this book. However, you will need help from associates and probably some luck such as being in the right place at the right time.” You also need to know when an opportunity is “knocking on your door,” and be prepared to take full advantage of it. (Sometimes it whispers.) You can also benefit from having role models. There is a great deal of value to learn from their successes and, especially from their [begin italics] failures [end italics]. However, to repeat, your success (however defined) ultimately depends on you.
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Here are two other suggestions while reading Energy + Motivation: First, highlight key passages Also, perhaps in a lined notebook kept near-at- hand, record your comments, questions, action steps (preferably with deadlines), page references, and lessons you have learned as well as your responses to key points posed within the narrative. Also, record your responses to specific issues or questions addressed, especially at the conclusion of articles.
These two simple tactics — highlighting and documenting — will facilitate, indeed expedite frequent reviews of key material later.