Heart of a Friend
The Heart of a Friend podcast was born out of a desire to share some of the most important things learned from a lifetime of experience. It is hosted by Andy Wiegand. Andy retired in 2017 after 40 years of pastoral ministry. He and his wife now reside in Columbus, Ohio. They have raised six children and are now very happy to be grandparents.
Andy grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and received his education at Harvard University (B.A. ’73) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (M.Div. ’78). In his retirement Andy devotes time to charitable work, visits with friends and family, exercises and continues to do a lot of reading and thinking about life.
Heart of a Friend
Ep. 9 | Book Review of Grit by Angela Duckworth
Episode 9 - Book Review of Grit by Angela Duckworth
Episode Notes:
The Grit Scale Test
1. New ideas and projects sometimes distract me from previous ones.
2. Setbacks don't discourage me. I don't give up easily.
3. I often set a goal but later choose to pursue a different one.
4. I am a hard worker.
5. I have difficulty maintaining my focus on projects that take more than a few months to complete.
6. I finish whatever I begin.
7. My interests change from year-to-year.
8. I am diligent. I never give up.
9. I have been obsessed with a certain idea or project for a short time but later lost interest.
10. I have overcome setbacks to conquer an important challenge.
Ten Take-aways:
Talent needs grit to succeed…Behind every success story there is a grind…Enthusiasm is common; perseverance is rare…Find something you love…Grit can grow…Live for something bigger than yourself…It’s about how you practice…Learn to think optimistically…Do hard things that interest you…Grit is contagious
Questions to Ponder:
Is success the same as happiness? Are spouses and children of the grittiest people also happier? Can you have too much grit? What might excellence look like for the average person? What does grit look like for a Type B personality? How does the grit attribute align with the Christian life?
Quotes:
Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence. Talent will not: nothing is more common than unsuccessful men with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is almost a proverb. Education will not: the world is full of educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are omnipotent. Calvin Coolidge
Any successful person has to decide what to do in part by deciding what not to do. Duckworth
Whether you think you can, or think you can’t - you’re right. Henry Ford
Children have never been very good at listening to their elders, but they have never failed to imitate them. James Baldwin
If forced to choose, I’d put goodness before greatness. Duckworth
If you define genius as working toward excellence, ceaselessly, with every element of your being - then, in fact, my dad is a genius, and so am I, and, if you are willing, so are you. Duckworth
Website: angeladuckworth.com
TED Talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/ angela_lee_duckworth_grit_the_power_of_passion_and_perseverance?language=en