What is an example of grit beats talent?

The marathon, not the sprint: The person who keeps showing up for years out-achieves the more 'gifted' one who quits.

Where do you see grit beats talent in everyday life?

The marathon, not the sprint; West Point cadets; Skill that compounds; Spelling-bee champions; 'Overnight' successes.

Pick something worth years, not weeks, and commit to showing up on the dull days — sustained effort compounds past raw talent.

Grit · Angela Duckworth

Curated by Paulo de Vries · reviewed 2026-05-30

Grit — sustained passion and perseverance — often predicts success better than raw talent. Examples:

The marathon, not the sprint
The person who keeps showing up for years out-achieves the more 'gifted' one who quits.
West Point cadets
Grit predicted who would survive the brutal training better than fitness or test scores did.
Skill that compounds
Talent gives a head start; grit keeps practising long after the talented have plateaued or stopped.
Spelling-bee champions
Winners weren't the most naturally able — they were the ones who practised the most, the longest.
'Overnight' successes
Most are a decade of stubborn perseverance that no one saw.

Pick something worth years, not weeks, and commit to showing up on the dull days — sustained effort compounds past raw talent.
When you want to quit, distinguish "this is hard" (push on) from "this is wrong for me" (a real reason to stop).
Pair perseverance with a clear long-term goal so your daily effort points consistently in one direction.

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