These traits help successful people achieve goals
According to the psychologist, people who consistently achieve their goals have a few key characteristics. Angela Duckworth.
For more than 15 years, Duckworth, a University of Pennsylvania professor and bestselling author, has been exploring the concept of “grit,” or what drives a person to commit to and ultimately achieve their long-term goals. Many people with high levels of courage share these four qualities, he said in a speech on Oct. 13. section “Mel Robbins Podcast”:
- They pursue projects that truly interest them.
- They diligently and consciously apply the skills they need for these projects.
- They have a strong sense of purpose, meaning they feel like they are helping not only themselves but other people as well.
- They truly hope that their efforts will help them thrive in the future.
“When you look at people who are great at what they do… their mind comes to that and they want to stay there,” Duckworth said, adding, “I don’t believe you can grow passion without the seed of interest.”
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I“If you don’t know exactly what you’re really passionate about or what you’re really interested in, take note when people around you say things like, ‘By the way, you’re spending a lot of time thinking about
“Don’t think, just do it. Stop writing in your journal. Stop asking yourself questions,” Duckworth said. “Really go out and do something. Interests are like food. You have to taste it to know if you like it.”
Duckworth also used herself as an example, highlighting the difference between low-quality execution and true dedication to self-improvement. Duckworth, an avid runner, said she went out running regularly and wondered why she wasn’t improving as much as she expected.
In response, his late mentor, psychologist Anders Ericsson, asked him some insightful questions: Did he have a specific goal? Was he working with full effort and concentration? Did he receive feedback on areas that needed improvement?
“Never,” Duckworth said. “I was doing low-quality training.”
Robbins noted that the third trait, purpose, is one that is often studied, and that feeling like you have a responsibility to other people can help you stay accountable when trying to achieve a long-term goal. Be careful: Focusing too much on your big-picture goal can cause you to underestimate the path or process it will take to get there, author and physician Jordan Grumet wrote for CNBC Make It in April.
Focusing on the process of achieving your goal rather than the outcome can help you live a more fulfilling life, Grumet noted: “Unlike big audacious goals that take years or even decades to achieve, smaller, more personal types of goals are ongoing projects that provide joy regardless of the consequences.”
If you’re struggling with discouragement at any point, you can try the tactic Duckworth herself uses, she said.
“I take out my pen and create a ridiculously simple to-do list like ‘On’ [a] Google Doc.’ Then I open the Google Doc and check. “It’s a small win,” Duckworth said. “If you break down those things that discourage you, you have to think to yourself, ‘It’s too big.’ “Not that it’s impossible.”
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