Trying harder might be the worst advice you've ever followed.
Matt Abrahams sits down with Angela Duckworth, MacArthur Fellow, University of Pennsylvania professor, and co-host of the Freakonomics Radio show No Stupid Questions. Her first book, Grit, became a number one New York Times bestseller, and her TED talk on the same topic is among the most viewed of all time. Her new book, Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best, is the thread running through their conversation. Together, they discuss:
• Angela's viral talk on Grit started as an impromptu TEDx performance before being cut to under seven minutes for TED.
• Her career and marriage both hit a wall when trying harder became her only plan.
• An eye-level sticky note in her office reminds her to ask for help, a task she still finds awkward.
• A study of 60-second intro videos analyzed three dimensions, with spoken words being just one.
• Her coach told her to stop naming other scientists in a talk, a cut that made the message stronger.
• Positive feedback can feel pointless to experts, yet rookies and insecure beginners may need it to stay motivated.
The stage you stand on, the voices in your circle, and the eyes guiding your rehearse-and-repeat shape your success far more than sheer willpower ever will. Before you try to rewrite who you are, redesign the room you are in.
About The Guest
Angela Duckworth, PhD, is a psychologist, a MacArthur Fellow, and the Rosa Lee and Egbert Chang Professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Duckworth’s TED talk is among the most viewed of all time. Her first book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance, was a #1 New York Times bestseller and has sold more than 5 million copies worldwide. Her second book is called Situated: Find the People and Places That Bring Out Your Best.
About Matt
Matt Abrahams is a leading communication expert, lecturer in organizational behavior at Stanford GSB, and host of the award-winning Think Fast, Talk Smart podcast. He has coached presenters at TED, the World Economic Forum, and the UN Secretary-General's office, and his online talks have garnered millions of views worldwide. He is the author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter and Speaking Up without Freaking Out, two bestselling guides to confident, spontaneous communication.
Key Quotes
• "I see grit as striving longer and more consistently than most people do." - Angela Duckworth (01:33)
• I said passion is half of grit. The other half is perseverance. - Angela Duckworth (03:30)
• "It's been a paradigm shift for me to ask whether I can make my situation my ally rather than just try harder." - Angela Duckworth (13:33)
• “Recognizing that asking for help is human and it is a grace to ask other people to do what they can do for you." - Angela Duckworth (16:00)
Chapters
00:00 Introduction
01:10 What Grit Really Means
03:35 Where Perseverance Really Comes From
05:42 Why Your Reps Aren't Enough
08:03 Who Really Makes You Better
09:03 What Praise Does That Criticism Can’t
12:06 How A Crisis Rewrote Her Rules
14:21 Why Asking for Help Stings
16:56 Matt's 3 Questions
24:24 Conclusion
Relevant Links:
• Angela Duckworth: https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/angela-duckworth/
• Angela's New Book Situated: https://bookplease.ai/duckworth/situated-find-the-people-and-places-that-bring-out-your-best?podcast=think-fast-talk-smart
• No Stupid Questions (Co-Hosted Podcast): https://freakonomics.com/podcast/no-stupid-questions/
• Angela's TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance
Episode References:
• Back Catalog
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