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Now I focus on two things: how well they get along with other people, and the way they exercise “R&I,” or what Duckworth calls grit. I used to consider an applicant’s GPA, the school they attended, and the information on their resume. In my role as an executive, I’ve hired hundreds of people. In her book, “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” Duckworth examines how grit is the quality that allows an individual to work hard and maintain focus-not just for weeks or months, but for years. In each study, her research team asked the question: “Who is successful here and why?” Across numerous contexts, one characteristic emerged as a significant predictor of success: grit. Over many years, she studied children and adults in challenging environments, including West Point military cadets, National Spelling Bee contestants, and rookie teachers in difficult schools. So, to be happy, Seligman suggests, focus on things you can control.Īnd then we have Angela Duckworth, also a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, who backs up the idea that resourcefulness and initiative (“R&I”) are key predictors of success. However, his research found that genetics and circumstances have less to do with happiness than the third category-the things you can control. In his book, “Authentic Happiness,” he concludes that your happiness depends on: Martin Seligman, the distinguished director of the Positive Psychology Center at the University of Pennsylvania, explores the benefits of focusing on your Circle of Influence. “I need to get better with numbers,” or “I can be more considerate of my partner.” This proactive view of the world results in proactive thinking and language. On the other hand, people with a growth mindset believe their basic abilities can be developed and enhanced through dedication and hard work, a belief that they are in the driver’s seat and can, therefore, improve and change. “I’m not good at math” or “I’ve never been good with people, so why try?” People with a fixed mindset believe their intelligence and talent are fixed and that there’s not much they can do about it. With 20 years of research behind her, Stanford professor Carol Dweck found that most people have one of two mindsets, or paradigms, about their ability to learn: a “fixed” mindset or a “growth” mindset. We now have a great deal of empirical data that backs up everything my father, Stephen Covey, wrote about proactivity back in 1989.