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Grit to Great: How Perseverance, Passion, and Pluck Take You from Ordinary to Extraordinary
In Grit to Great, Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval tackle a topic that is close to their hearts, one that they feel is the real secret to their own success in their careers--and in the careers of so many people they know and have met. And that is the incredible power of grit, perseverance, perspiration, determination, and sheer stick-to-it-tiveness. We are all dazzled by the notion that there are some people who get ahead, who reach the corner office because they are simply gifted, or well-connected, or both. But research shows that we far overvalue talent and intellectual ability in our culture. The fact is, so many people get ahead--even the gifted ones--because they worked incredibly hard, put in the thousands of hours of practice and extra sweat equity, and made their own luck. And Linda and Robin should know--they are two girls from the Bronx who had no special advantages or privileges and rose up through their own hard work and relentless drive to succeed to the top of their highly competitive profession.
In a book illustrated with a cornucopia of stories and the latest research on success, the authors reveal the strategies that helped them, and countless others, succeed at the highest levels in their careers and professions, and in their personal lives. They talk about the guts--the courage--necessary to take on tough challenges and not give up at the first sign of difficulty. They discuss the essential quality of resiliency. Everyone suffers setbacks in their careers and in life. The key, however, is to pick yourself up and bounce back. Drawing on the latest research in positive psychology, they discuss why optimists do better in school, work, and on the playing field--and how to reset that optimistic set point. They talk about industriousness, the notion that Malcolm Gladwell popularized with the 10,000-hour rule in his book Outliers. Creativity theorist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes it takes a minimum of 10 years for one's true creative potential to be realized. And the authors explore the concept of tenacity--the quality that allows us to remain focused and avoid distraction in order to get the job done--an increasingly difficult task in today's fragmented, cluttered, high-tech, connected world.
Written in the same short, concise format as The Power of Nice and leavened with the natural humor that characterizes Linda's and Robin's lives--and books--Grit to Great is destined to be the book everyone in business needs.
In a book illustrated with a cornucopia of stories and the latest research on success, the authors reveal the strategies that helped them, and countless others, succeed at the highest levels in their careers and professions, and in their personal lives. They talk about the guts--the courage--necessary to take on tough challenges and not give up at the first sign of difficulty. They discuss the essential quality of resiliency. Everyone suffers setbacks in their careers and in life. The key, however, is to pick yourself up and bounce back. Drawing on the latest research in positive psychology, they discuss why optimists do better in school, work, and on the playing field--and how to reset that optimistic set point. They talk about industriousness, the notion that Malcolm Gladwell popularized with the 10,000-hour rule in his book Outliers. Creativity theorist Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi believes it takes a minimum of 10 years for one's true creative potential to be realized. And the authors explore the concept of tenacity--the quality that allows us to remain focused and avoid distraction in order to get the job done--an increasingly difficult task in today's fragmented, cluttered, high-tech, connected world.
Written in the same short, concise format as The Power of Nice and leavened with the natural humor that characterizes Linda's and Robin's lives--and books--Grit to Great is destined to be the book everyone in business needs.
160 pages, Hardcover
First published January 20, 2015
141 people are currently reading
1593 people want to read
About the author
Linda Kaplan Thaler
11 books33 followersLinda Kaplan Thaler has been responsible for some of the most touching, relevant and famous advertising campaigns during her 25+ years in the advertising and entertainment business. She is acclaimed within the industry for her innovative and topical approach.
Much of her work is now part of the American pop culture landscape. She has authored and composed campaign jingles that are among the industry’s gold standard. Some examples are: “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us Kid” (Toys ‘R’ Us); “Kodak Moments” (Eastman Kodak) and “The Heart of Communication” (Bell Atlantic). Of her 13 Clio Awards, two were for Best Original Music and Lyrics.
Today, Linda is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of The Kaplan Thaler Group, which she founded in 1997. Now a billion-dollar advertising and entertainment company, The Kaplan Thaler Group is consistently ranked by industry publications as one of the fastest-growing agencies in the United States, touted for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. Linda and her agency are responsible for some of the most memorable advertising in America, including the beloved Aflac duck and Herbal Essences “Totally Organic Experience” ad campaigns. Its clients include Wendy’s, U.S. Bank, Continental Airlines and Pfizer, as well as Procter and Gamble’s Dawn, Cascade and Swiffer brands.
Linda is also a best-selling author. Her three collaborations with coauthor Robin Koval have all received national recognition. Their most recent title, The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, debuted as an instant national bestseller and shows that in a big picture world, every pixel counts. Linda and Robin’s previous book, The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness, debunked the notion that nice “guys” finish last and debuted on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Bang! Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World, a savvy marketing book and their first title, was also a national bestseller.
Much of her work is now part of the American pop culture landscape. She has authored and composed campaign jingles that are among the industry’s gold standard. Some examples are: “I Don’t Wanna Grow Up, I’m a Toys ‘R’ Us Kid” (Toys ‘R’ Us); “Kodak Moments” (Eastman Kodak) and “The Heart of Communication” (Bell Atlantic). Of her 13 Clio Awards, two were for Best Original Music and Lyrics.
Today, Linda is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Creative Officer of The Kaplan Thaler Group, which she founded in 1997. Now a billion-dollar advertising and entertainment company, The Kaplan Thaler Group is consistently ranked by industry publications as one of the fastest-growing agencies in the United States, touted for its breakthrough creative and immediate results. Linda and her agency are responsible for some of the most memorable advertising in America, including the beloved Aflac duck and Herbal Essences “Totally Organic Experience” ad campaigns. Its clients include Wendy’s, U.S. Bank, Continental Airlines and Pfizer, as well as Procter and Gamble’s Dawn, Cascade and Swiffer brands.
Linda is also a best-selling author. Her three collaborations with coauthor Robin Koval have all received national recognition. Their most recent title, The Power of Small: Why Little Things Make All the Difference, debuted as an instant national bestseller and shows that in a big picture world, every pixel counts. Linda and Robin’s previous book, The Power of Nice: How to Conquer the Business World with Kindness, debunked the notion that nice “guys” finish last and debuted on the New York Times and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. Bang! Getting Your Message Heard in a Noisy World, a savvy marketing book and their first title, was also a national bestseller.
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October 29, 2015
Where I got the book: my local library. A Strength Training read.
Grit, say Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, is all you really need. It’s the great leveler, available to all regardless of age, income, physical ability or IQ.
I started the Strength Training readalong group for writers because I wanted to make various aspects of my life stronger, better able to support the weight of a writing career that really wants to be the boss of everything.
I chose Grit as the first topic because I was about to go into NaNoWriMo with a 90,000 word goal, so I needed the image of grit in my head. I did NOT need the image of the tightrope walker who starts wobbling when he’s 1,500 feet above the Grand Canyon—that pings my vertigo EVERY time I think about it.
The authors define grit as Guts, Resilience, Initiative and Tenacity—see what they did there? Apart from the aforementioned tightrope walker image, you don’t need any of those things to read this book, which is 143 small pages short and mostly made up of stories. Several of those stories are drawn from the authors’ own experiences, building up a New York advertising agency from scratch and so on, and are inevitably self-laudatory.
Enemies of grit include 1. the self-esteem movement 2. the false concept of retirement 3. the myth of talent. I kind of agree that the whole self-esteem thing is doing nobody any favors and that retirement is just dumb (I never did want to play golf) but would argue that there is such a thing as being born with a gift.
I liked some of the stories, especially the one about James Patterson, but the advertising agency ones not so much. There were some grit-building exercises at the end of each chapter, but I found them a bit too vague. Conclusion: kind of an entry-level self-help book. Not bad, but not great, which sort of destroys their premise.
Grit, say Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, is all you really need. It’s the great leveler, available to all regardless of age, income, physical ability or IQ.
I started the Strength Training readalong group for writers because I wanted to make various aspects of my life stronger, better able to support the weight of a writing career that really wants to be the boss of everything.
I chose Grit as the first topic because I was about to go into NaNoWriMo with a 90,000 word goal, so I needed the image of grit in my head. I did NOT need the image of the tightrope walker who starts wobbling when he’s 1,500 feet above the Grand Canyon—that pings my vertigo EVERY time I think about it.
The authors define grit as Guts, Resilience, Initiative and Tenacity—see what they did there? Apart from the aforementioned tightrope walker image, you don’t need any of those things to read this book, which is 143 small pages short and mostly made up of stories. Several of those stories are drawn from the authors’ own experiences, building up a New York advertising agency from scratch and so on, and are inevitably self-laudatory.
Enemies of grit include 1. the self-esteem movement 2. the false concept of retirement 3. the myth of talent. I kind of agree that the whole self-esteem thing is doing nobody any favors and that retirement is just dumb (I never did want to play golf) but would argue that there is such a thing as being born with a gift.
I liked some of the stories, especially the one about James Patterson, but the advertising agency ones not so much. There were some grit-building exercises at the end of each chapter, but I found them a bit too vague. Conclusion: kind of an entry-level self-help book. Not bad, but not great, which sort of destroys their premise.
September 9, 2015
I received a free advanced copy of this book through Goodreads Firstreads for review. I was actually really excited to read this short little advice guide because of my current situation. I was hoping that it would be full of great tips, helpful advice, and the occasional story of achieving greatness and sustainability to keep my head up and keep pushing through to achieve my goals. That’s not, however, what I got.
This is a short book written by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, two very successful women working in advertising. They have worked with huge clients including, but not limited to, Wendy’s and Aflac. These two women share advice that they have gained over the years in an attempt to tell you how you, too, can achieve success.
Sounds like a fun little book, right? What I described above is what I was expecting to get. Two successful women giving advice, I was all about that. But, that’s not what I got. What this book mostly consists of is anecdote after anecdote after anecdote of rags-to-riches stories. That’s all this book is. Thaler and Koval just take turns telling story after story of people who achieved success. And, not even really how they achieved success – just that they didn’t have it before, they worked hard and had a lot of luck along the way, and now they’re rich. This book gives zero instruction (not that there are really instructions on how to achieve success) on how to reach your goals.
The first 15 pages started out promising with a definition of each trait it takes to make it big and be successful. It was nice. These women said that success is out there for anyone to achieve and you don’t even have to be exceptionally talented to reach it – Success comes to those who work hard and practice. Okay, that I can get on board with. I liked the opening and was all ready to take notes on the advice these women were about to impart on me.
Then, by about page 35, after the 5th anecdote, I started to get bored. But, I was hoping that things would get better. I was hoping that there would be some more helpful advice imparted to follow and not just the women summarizing the story they had just told in an attempt to turn it into some sort of vague advice. I really thought this book would turn around.
It didn’t.
It just got worse.
There were so many anecdotes that I just didn’t care about, and the stories of “success” just kept getting worse and more boring, as if Thaler and Koval were attempting to grasp words that didn’t even exist. This is a very short book, only about 130 pages, but I found myself really struggling to finish. I was bored. I wanted it to end. I didn’t learn anything.
In fact, the word Pluck that’s in the title of the book, I don’t even know how it applies. It was never even explained in the book. Why is it in the title if you’re not going to explain what exactly “Pluck” means and how you can use it to help you gain success.
Next, I don’t even know who the target audience of this book is supposed to be. I think it’s meant for middle-aged people who have made mistakes in their life but have a desire to turn themselves around and be successful. I know this book was not meant for my age group. Thaler and Koval excessively talk down to millennials and make my generation (and everyone born after me) sound like horrible, lazy people who don’t want to work or do anything and just expect things to be handed to them. This is not how you sell a book. I was so angry by the end of this book, I just about threw it in the garbage. I want to send these women an email and be like “Hey, so excuse you, but many people of my generation work exceptionally hard and it’s not our fault that we live in a ruined economy and are doing our best with what we have.”
This book in no way helped me or made me feel like success was achievable.
You can’t talk down to an entire generation and then expect to profit off them buying a book you’re promoting that you claim will help them achieve success, when you explicitly say in said book that we are lazy, ungrateful humans who don’t deserve success. What kind of game is this? I don’t want to play. Count me out.
There’s also a few points where Thaler and Koval try to talk about metal disorders and obviously have no idea what they’re talking about. At one point there was an actual generalized sentence that said all pessimists were depressed and all optimists were happy people no matter what immune to all mental disorders. I’m sorry, but do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?
Finally, there were so many contradictions in this book, I have no idea how Thaler and Koval expect me to achieve success. They were like be this and then later said but don’t be this and do that but then later said but don’t do that. The one that got me the most was in the beginning when they said talent didn’t matter and it was, in fact, practice that counted, and then later they said practice isn’t everything, you have to have talent too. Alright-yyyy then.
I did not enjoy this book and definitely do not recommend or endorse it. This was boring, blah, and reaching to achieve something that wasn’t there to begin with. I suggest Thaler and Koval stick to advertising and stay away from writing any more books or giving advice.
This is a short book written by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval, two very successful women working in advertising. They have worked with huge clients including, but not limited to, Wendy’s and Aflac. These two women share advice that they have gained over the years in an attempt to tell you how you, too, can achieve success.
Sounds like a fun little book, right? What I described above is what I was expecting to get. Two successful women giving advice, I was all about that. But, that’s not what I got. What this book mostly consists of is anecdote after anecdote after anecdote of rags-to-riches stories. That’s all this book is. Thaler and Koval just take turns telling story after story of people who achieved success. And, not even really how they achieved success – just that they didn’t have it before, they worked hard and had a lot of luck along the way, and now they’re rich. This book gives zero instruction (not that there are really instructions on how to achieve success) on how to reach your goals.
The first 15 pages started out promising with a definition of each trait it takes to make it big and be successful. It was nice. These women said that success is out there for anyone to achieve and you don’t even have to be exceptionally talented to reach it – Success comes to those who work hard and practice. Okay, that I can get on board with. I liked the opening and was all ready to take notes on the advice these women were about to impart on me.
Then, by about page 35, after the 5th anecdote, I started to get bored. But, I was hoping that things would get better. I was hoping that there would be some more helpful advice imparted to follow and not just the women summarizing the story they had just told in an attempt to turn it into some sort of vague advice. I really thought this book would turn around.
It didn’t.
It just got worse.
There were so many anecdotes that I just didn’t care about, and the stories of “success” just kept getting worse and more boring, as if Thaler and Koval were attempting to grasp words that didn’t even exist. This is a very short book, only about 130 pages, but I found myself really struggling to finish. I was bored. I wanted it to end. I didn’t learn anything.
In fact, the word Pluck that’s in the title of the book, I don’t even know how it applies. It was never even explained in the book. Why is it in the title if you’re not going to explain what exactly “Pluck” means and how you can use it to help you gain success.
Next, I don’t even know who the target audience of this book is supposed to be. I think it’s meant for middle-aged people who have made mistakes in their life but have a desire to turn themselves around and be successful. I know this book was not meant for my age group. Thaler and Koval excessively talk down to millennials and make my generation (and everyone born after me) sound like horrible, lazy people who don’t want to work or do anything and just expect things to be handed to them. This is not how you sell a book. I was so angry by the end of this book, I just about threw it in the garbage. I want to send these women an email and be like “Hey, so excuse you, but many people of my generation work exceptionally hard and it’s not our fault that we live in a ruined economy and are doing our best with what we have.”
This book in no way helped me or made me feel like success was achievable.
You can’t talk down to an entire generation and then expect to profit off them buying a book you’re promoting that you claim will help them achieve success, when you explicitly say in said book that we are lazy, ungrateful humans who don’t deserve success. What kind of game is this? I don’t want to play. Count me out.
There’s also a few points where Thaler and Koval try to talk about metal disorders and obviously have no idea what they’re talking about. At one point there was an actual generalized sentence that said all pessimists were depressed and all optimists were happy people no matter what immune to all mental disorders. I’m sorry, but do you realize how ridiculous that sounds?
Finally, there were so many contradictions in this book, I have no idea how Thaler and Koval expect me to achieve success. They were like be this and then later said but don’t be this and do that but then later said but don’t do that. The one that got me the most was in the beginning when they said talent didn’t matter and it was, in fact, practice that counted, and then later they said practice isn’t everything, you have to have talent too. Alright-yyyy then.
I did not enjoy this book and definitely do not recommend or endorse it. This was boring, blah, and reaching to achieve something that wasn’t there to begin with. I suggest Thaler and Koval stick to advertising and stay away from writing any more books or giving advice.
August 2, 2015
I received this book as an ARC from a First Reads giveaway.
The message is nice. It celebrates perseverance and drive, or "grit" as the book calls it. My main problem is that it doesn't say anything that hasn't been said in a hundred books like it.
It's essentially a series of examples, successful people that failed and got back up. Mixed throughout are stories of how the authors succeeded against all odds. These examples have a self-congratulatory tone, all in the third person, and some of their advertising triumphs (the Wendy's story struck me as particularly egregious) have a strange feeling of shilling for the companies they represent. Which is their entire job, technically, but it's not the feeling I should get when the examples are meant to inspire me.
The book is perfectly competent otherwise, it's not bad at all. Just repetitive. It could be summed up as "Hard work is what separates the dreamers from the doers, and a lot of successful people faced a lot of failure and rejection." This, while a good message, is repeated over and over with nothing new to add.
"Grit to Great" doesn't follow its own advice. If you want to set yourself apart from the hundreds of competitors, you have to put in the extra work to make yourself stand out. Unfortunately, this book doesn't do that.
The message is nice. It celebrates perseverance and drive, or "grit" as the book calls it. My main problem is that it doesn't say anything that hasn't been said in a hundred books like it.
It's essentially a series of examples, successful people that failed and got back up. Mixed throughout are stories of how the authors succeeded against all odds. These examples have a self-congratulatory tone, all in the third person, and some of their advertising triumphs (the Wendy's story struck me as particularly egregious) have a strange feeling of shilling for the companies they represent. Which is their entire job, technically, but it's not the feeling I should get when the examples are meant to inspire me.
The book is perfectly competent otherwise, it's not bad at all. Just repetitive. It could be summed up as "Hard work is what separates the dreamers from the doers, and a lot of successful people faced a lot of failure and rejection." This, while a good message, is repeated over and over with nothing new to add.
"Grit to Great" doesn't follow its own advice. If you want to set yourself apart from the hundreds of competitors, you have to put in the extra work to make yourself stand out. Unfortunately, this book doesn't do that.
September 19, 2018
Unlike many reviews here, I will focus on the takeaways from this book. Two main reasons for this: A) I solidify key terms I learned, and B) help those who did not read the book get a glimpse of what the book is all about (we all have heard that phrase: don’t judge a book by its cover). So if you find a point catching your attention, feel free to grab the book and read it.
Eight key takeaways:
- The difference between a successful person and a less successful is not a lack of strengths, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi
Linda and Robin (I am using authors’ first names) started with the book with this very point. What makes you different from the guy next to you is nothing but the WILL to go out there and make things happen. In other words, authors are trying to communicate the idea that success is a mindset and action game.
- Failure is how we learn – it’s how we develop and acquire grit. Sounds like a given? Well, it’s true. Think of how many mistakes you have made and how you always think, “oh man, only if I have that chance again, I will absolutely make the outcomes different.” It could be that speech where you gave and blanked in front of 80 students, or that research paper you worked on last minute. Your mistakes make you realize how to perform better next time!
- Making mistakes and being aware of that makes you a better individual every time. Both authors encourage you to make mistakes because they think it could be the only form of learning certain aspects of life. This relates to the previous point, too.
- Working a little harder than everyone else who might be just as talented (or even a bit more) is what will win the day. This should be self-explanatory. There are always people who are smarter than you either in IQ or EQ. Level up and bring you “A” game and learn from others along the way.
- Do not wait for perfect moments; they don’t exist. Being picky with opportunities might come with costs. Grab each opportunity that comes your way and move forward from there. Also, do not think too positively as many books suggest you to do. Positive thinking should not be about the outcomes of your dreams, but about all the roadblocks in the way and what you can do to move past them.
- A ship is always safe at the shore – but that is not what it is built for. –Albert Einstein
A whole chapter was dedicated to this point a lone. Point here is to get out of your comfort zone. Authors suggest dressing with your eyes closed or using one hand; ordering some you have never had in a restaurant; & saying hello to a stranger in the elevator. According to Grit, research show that the brain craves novelty and that doing things that do not feel automatics has a positive effect on neurological activity. It can sharp and can make you more creative. Interesting points.
- Make your bed the moment you wake up. Sounds boring, but it will give you a sense of accomplishment for the first task of the day. It will also reinforce that the little things in life matter, because if you do not do the small things right, you will never do the big things right. And if by any chance you had a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made – that you made – which can give you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.
- Retirement is another cultural idea that may lead people to give up career and life goals before they might actually want to stop working. In other words, keep working hard until your last breath as long as your enjoy it.
Overall, Grit to great was a short read (about 157 pages). It's concise, clear and to the point.
Eight key takeaways:
- The difference between a successful person and a less successful is not a lack of strengths, not a lack of knowledge, but rather a lack of will. – Vince Lombardi
Linda and Robin (I am using authors’ first names) started with the book with this very point. What makes you different from the guy next to you is nothing but the WILL to go out there and make things happen. In other words, authors are trying to communicate the idea that success is a mindset and action game.
- Failure is how we learn – it’s how we develop and acquire grit. Sounds like a given? Well, it’s true. Think of how many mistakes you have made and how you always think, “oh man, only if I have that chance again, I will absolutely make the outcomes different.” It could be that speech where you gave and blanked in front of 80 students, or that research paper you worked on last minute. Your mistakes make you realize how to perform better next time!
- Making mistakes and being aware of that makes you a better individual every time. Both authors encourage you to make mistakes because they think it could be the only form of learning certain aspects of life. This relates to the previous point, too.
- Working a little harder than everyone else who might be just as talented (or even a bit more) is what will win the day. This should be self-explanatory. There are always people who are smarter than you either in IQ or EQ. Level up and bring you “A” game and learn from others along the way.
- Do not wait for perfect moments; they don’t exist. Being picky with opportunities might come with costs. Grab each opportunity that comes your way and move forward from there. Also, do not think too positively as many books suggest you to do. Positive thinking should not be about the outcomes of your dreams, but about all the roadblocks in the way and what you can do to move past them.
- A ship is always safe at the shore – but that is not what it is built for. –Albert Einstein
A whole chapter was dedicated to this point a lone. Point here is to get out of your comfort zone. Authors suggest dressing with your eyes closed or using one hand; ordering some you have never had in a restaurant; & saying hello to a stranger in the elevator. According to Grit, research show that the brain craves novelty and that doing things that do not feel automatics has a positive effect on neurological activity. It can sharp and can make you more creative. Interesting points.
- Make your bed the moment you wake up. Sounds boring, but it will give you a sense of accomplishment for the first task of the day. It will also reinforce that the little things in life matter, because if you do not do the small things right, you will never do the big things right. And if by any chance you had a miserable day, you will come home to a bed that is made – that you made – which can give you encouragement that tomorrow will be better.
- Retirement is another cultural idea that may lead people to give up career and life goals before they might actually want to stop working. In other words, keep working hard until your last breath as long as your enjoy it.
Overall, Grit to great was a short read (about 157 pages). It's concise, clear and to the point.
did-not-finish
June 7, 2016I couldn't get past the paragraphs of generalizations about lazy, ungrateful Millennials.
October 16, 2015
I am usually not a fan of non-fiction but I am trying to break out of my genre and I am glad I did. If you are a 70s-80’s kid you will truly appreciate this book. It is very entertaining and the stories told are relatable and interesting. It is written in snippets with anecdotes between chapters. The stories are ones I have never heard about from some of most successful business of our time. I did not realize who these two authors were until they began telling the stories of the marketing campaigns they were a part of, Aflac and Wendy’s just to name a few.
They spoke of this feeling of entitlement among my generation and boy did it hit home. They made me get up off my butt and reevaluate things. The tips they give are doable and they make so much sense. This would be a great book for high school students as well as college. It is a straight forward look at the old fashion word “grit”. Digging in deeper than the other guy and not using your lack of extraordinary talent or knowledge as an excuse.
I loved this book and I am definitely adding it to my list of go-to favorites. I would definitely keep a highlighter or notepad next to me while reading it.
If you are not a fan of non-fiction this book will change your mind and having wanting more from these 2 great authors.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."
They spoke of this feeling of entitlement among my generation and boy did it hit home. They made me get up off my butt and reevaluate things. The tips they give are doable and they make so much sense. This would be a great book for high school students as well as college. It is a straight forward look at the old fashion word “grit”. Digging in deeper than the other guy and not using your lack of extraordinary talent or knowledge as an excuse.
I loved this book and I am definitely adding it to my list of go-to favorites. I would definitely keep a highlighter or notepad next to me while reading it.
If you are not a fan of non-fiction this book will change your mind and having wanting more from these 2 great authors.
"I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review."
May 26, 2020
This book gets summed up in "work hard and persevere". It has quite some examples, many drawn from their background in the advertising world, that make it light to read and somewhat entertaining, and it covers the topics from many angles, but it does turn into a bit of a no-nonsense list of clichés: work more than the rest, talent is less important than hard work, take risks and leave your comfort zone, take small steps, delay gratification, be flexible and resilient, you are never too old...
Interesting, but definitely not new, just another reminder and way of telling the story.
It did leave me with the thought, as happens often with these kind of books on "following your dreams" is: what if you don't know for sure what your goal is? What is "ordinary" and what is "extraordinary"?And is it worth the effort? But I guess for that I'd have to continue reading further...
I particularly liked the last chapter, with some examples and ideas on how to channel this perseverance and passion to good causes. A reminder for me on how easy it is to help. It moved me to think on my next contribution, so for only that, it may well have been worth the read!
Interesting, but definitely not new, just another reminder and way of telling the story.
It did leave me with the thought, as happens often with these kind of books on "following your dreams" is: what if you don't know for sure what your goal is? What is "ordinary" and what is "extraordinary"?And is it worth the effort? But I guess for that I'd have to continue reading further...
I particularly liked the last chapter, with some examples and ideas on how to channel this perseverance and passion to good causes. A reminder for me on how easy it is to help. It moved me to think on my next contribution, so for only that, it may well have been worth the read!
December 5, 2017
Yikes. Aside from the humble-brags, generalizations, and vague stories about people who could've achieved for any number of reasons, this book didn't teach me about how to use grit to reach my goals. It did, however, teach me about which ad campaigns were created by the authors. If your Final Jeopardy question is "Which ad company created the AFLAC duck?", you should bet it all and answer, "What is the Kaplan Thaler Group, Alex." You're welcome.
April 14, 2021
Не тратьте время и деньги на эту книгу
September 19, 2025
This literally took me 2 months to read 150 pages…. All it did was tell me to become famous 😂 there was no real lessons or take aways.
October 3, 2017
An average self-help book. The stars are for good ideas but the book does not really build engagement.
October 17, 2015
I. Just. Couldn't. Finish. I kept thinking to myself, "this has to get better, it just HAS to!"...but it didn't. The noticeable issue started with the tale of Melissa and Ariel; if Melissa never told anyone but her husband about Ariel's intellectual deficiency, then HOW did it end up in this book?!? Next was the inspirational story about "Jim" an ad exec (and his talent, intelligence and, ahem, grit), now better known as James Patterson, who has generously provided a glowing blurb on the back of the book; credibility counts, ladies, and yours is plummeting by now. Then there's the whole chapter about two young people who decided they HAD TO do something, and spent their lives practicing it to great(ish) success; because a child who decides he wants to be a chess champion will OF COURSE make the decision to be homeschooled, then move to Spain, then to Hungary, Switzerland and back to Spain, just to be the (second) best. Because, of course. Yet, even with that single-minded determination, if you follow in the steps of Thaler and Koval, when you get bored CHANGE DIRECTION....except don't, because that means you have no grit, except do, because what's the point if you're not having fun, except then a 12 year old is better than you, so suck it chess kid. The final straw that made me stop reading was the line "With no harness or safety net, sheer grit was the only thing keeping Wallenda from plunging 1500 feet to the canyon floor as the world watched." To clarify: "Wallenda is Nik Wallenda, the world famous high wire performer who comes from SEVEN-generations of performers, and the "canyon" is the Grand Canyon" (if you need an explanation, please crack an actual book). So here we have a guy who was LITERALLY raised performing in high wire acts, who has LITERALLY decades of diligent practice and experience, who has LITERALLY prepared for MONTHS for this act, and it's GRIT that is keeping him from plummeting to a speck of roadkill??? No, no, no.
I'm sure someone out there will find this book aspirational, or inspirational, or useful as a doorstop in a doll house, but I found it to be utter nonsense, and I have too many books on my dresser to bother with this nonsense. Grit is also knowing that walking away from crap is better than wallowing through it.
I'm sure someone out there will find this book aspirational, or inspirational, or useful as a doorstop in a doll house, but I found it to be utter nonsense, and I have too many books on my dresser to bother with this nonsense. Grit is also knowing that walking away from crap is better than wallowing through it.
February 10, 2016
Book Review: Grit to Great (Thaler and Koval, 2015, Crown Business, ISBN 978-0-8041-3912-0, $19.95)
The subtitle of this book is almost as big as the thin little volume: “How Perseverance, Passion, and Pluck Take You From Ordinary to Extraordinary”.
Written by the chairperson and CEO of Publicis Kaplan Thaler (advertising that brought the world the AFLAC duck and the re-branding of Wendy’s, among other campaigns), this is an easy read.
That doesn’t mean it’s fluff- not at all.
Just easy to digest.
I found myself marking passages and sharing the ideas with others.
Real life stories about people showing grit and ways to apply their actions in the real immediate world made this enjoyable and practical.
I highly suggest this for business, and also as a graduation gift.
(I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a truthful review. I would happily have bought it myself. It’s that good.)
Tags: Grit to Great, Linda Kaplan Thaler, Robin Koval, Crown Business, business book, book review
January 27, 2018
This book was good, in that it conveyed a handful of anecdotes/stories in which people used grit as a means of achieving their success.
The book didn’t really expand on how to be gritty, beyond the superficial advice of “work hard, set goals, be positive”, etc.
It was backed by some research studies, which was great! But more expansion/depth on some of the grit research out there would have been insightful! Also, any good book/essay would argue points by providing counterexamples and tearing them down. As such, perhaps including examples of where being gritty DID NOT bring people success, and then perhaps deconstructing those stories, would’ve been a great plus.
Nonetheless, I walk away inspired by some of the great stories in this book. If it helps: it does get better further on as compared to the beginning!
The book didn’t really expand on how to be gritty, beyond the superficial advice of “work hard, set goals, be positive”, etc.
It was backed by some research studies, which was great! But more expansion/depth on some of the grit research out there would have been insightful! Also, any good book/essay would argue points by providing counterexamples and tearing them down. As such, perhaps including examples of where being gritty DID NOT bring people success, and then perhaps deconstructing those stories, would’ve been a great plus.
Nonetheless, I walk away inspired by some of the great stories in this book. If it helps: it does get better further on as compared to the beginning!
Read
February 2, 2017Lots of upbeat stories and slogans. Impressive. However, after reading one study recently, I'm not entirely buying this. Or at least the part which generally claims that "age is nothing". A study of essay writing through age showed that after a certain point writer's vocabulary becomes poorer, and sentences simpler (alas, not in a snugly Zen way). So try as you may but some merciless limits do exist :(
January 16, 2020
Great book on perseverance! It takes grit! Grit tells you not to quit! Grit finds a way to succeed when failure is standing at the door. Lot's of stories & full of wisdom in this little book. Definite read for leadership at any level.
November 23, 2020
It just makes sense
Hardwork and dedication never hurt anyone and this book is full of positive affirmation and determination. Perfect read for anyone looking to break through barriers.
Hardwork and dedication never hurt anyone and this book is full of positive affirmation and determination. Perfect read for anyone looking to break through barriers.
April 1, 2017
Средняя книга - очень много штампованных мотивационных штучек, но мало фактов и конкретной информации. Отлично для чтения в туалете.
March 5, 2019
Grit. Grit. Grit.
What a great inspirational and easy read. I am buying a hard copy as the library loaned ebook is not enough.
What a great inspirational and easy read. I am buying a hard copy as the library loaned ebook is not enough.
August 22, 2019
I really enjoyed reading this book. It’s small but very powerful. The authors bring great examples into the book of Grit stories.
November 13, 2022
What comes to mind when you think of grit? Grit is a form of strength, courage, and passion that pushes beyond the norm despite obstacles. Authors Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval give stories and anecdotes of those that have gone through many challenges to continue to run the race that has been set before them. This book is easy to read yet chock full of meaningful information that you can use immediately. By looking at the Table of Contents from The Talent Myth, Lose the Safety Net, Get into Wait Training, and Bend Like Bamboo to No Expiration Date you know that you are in for a treat. Join me and read about Flight Attendant Lee Yoon-Hye's heroic moves on the Asiana Flight 214 in San Francisco, CA. She used her airline training to evacuate passengers despite obtaining a fractured tailbone due to the plane crash. Another intriguing story is have you asked yourself if you should retire after retirement? After working hard to keep a roof over their head, secure their future, and take care of family needs the elderly are encouraged to retire, get the gold watch, collect their pension and sit out in green pastures and wither away.
Instead, after retirement, is the time to live, fulfill those dreams, and be a kid again by exploring the unknown and taking risks. Like Clarence Nicodemus who worked as a biomechanical engineer and the Director of Spine Research at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston), at the age of 57 set out to become a doctor due to an interest in finding non-surgical ways to treat back pain. He graduated at age sixty-one and became the oldest student at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. There are so many great stories such as these in this book that you will fully enjoy. At the end of each Chapter are Grit Builders designed to provide you with nuggets for maximizing the Chapter and to help you to move forward to your greatness. Improve your life’s perspective today by getting a copy of this book today.
Instead, after retirement, is the time to live, fulfill those dreams, and be a kid again by exploring the unknown and taking risks. Like Clarence Nicodemus who worked as a biomechanical engineer and the Director of Spine Research at the University of Texas Medical Branch (Galveston), at the age of 57 set out to become a doctor due to an interest in finding non-surgical ways to treat back pain. He graduated at age sixty-one and became the oldest student at the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. There are so many great stories such as these in this book that you will fully enjoy. At the end of each Chapter are Grit Builders designed to provide you with nuggets for maximizing the Chapter and to help you to move forward to your greatness. Improve your life’s perspective today by getting a copy of this book today.
June 16, 2024
Here are my notes:
Do you ever find yourself struggling to achieve your goals? Do you feel like giving up when faced with setbacks and obstacles? Well, fear not, because I have summarised a book for you that will help you develop the grit and determination you need to succeed. It’s all about the power of perseverance, passion, and pluck and how it can take you from being ordinary to extraordinary.
People with a high degree of grit are able to stay focused and motivated, no matter what obstacles or failures they face. It’s all about being a self-starter with initiative and resilience. Even if you have high IQ or talent, it’s grit and the determination to work harder than your peers that really helps you succeed. In fact if you are naturally less talented but able to put in the work to learn a skill and keep doing this, in the long run you might become more of an expert.
When you’re asked to take on an unfamiliar task that you may not feel qualified for, it’s important to look for an aspect of the opportunity that resonates with your previous experience or with your interest in learning something new. Think about how your strengths might be an asset, instead of automatically questioning whether you can do the job before you even have it. And remember, if they asked you to do it, they already believe you can.
Going the extra mile is important. Devoting an extra half-hour each day to something, whether it’s a goal, a skill, or a job, can make a huge difference in the long run. It’s all about finding the time of day when you’re most productive and really applying yourself to whatever it is you want to achieve. A half-hour each day adds up to 180 hours of extra practice a year!
It is all about grit: the guts, resilience, initiative, and tenacity to persevere in the face of setbacks, even when your dreams and goals seem out of reach. That unquenchable passion and endless zeal that gives you the grit to keep going despite the odds.
Video summary: https://youtu.be/JpX-c15Wbyc
Do you ever find yourself struggling to achieve your goals? Do you feel like giving up when faced with setbacks and obstacles? Well, fear not, because I have summarised a book for you that will help you develop the grit and determination you need to succeed. It’s all about the power of perseverance, passion, and pluck and how it can take you from being ordinary to extraordinary.
People with a high degree of grit are able to stay focused and motivated, no matter what obstacles or failures they face. It’s all about being a self-starter with initiative and resilience. Even if you have high IQ or talent, it’s grit and the determination to work harder than your peers that really helps you succeed. In fact if you are naturally less talented but able to put in the work to learn a skill and keep doing this, in the long run you might become more of an expert.
When you’re asked to take on an unfamiliar task that you may not feel qualified for, it’s important to look for an aspect of the opportunity that resonates with your previous experience or with your interest in learning something new. Think about how your strengths might be an asset, instead of automatically questioning whether you can do the job before you even have it. And remember, if they asked you to do it, they already believe you can.
Going the extra mile is important. Devoting an extra half-hour each day to something, whether it’s a goal, a skill, or a job, can make a huge difference in the long run. It’s all about finding the time of day when you’re most productive and really applying yourself to whatever it is you want to achieve. A half-hour each day adds up to 180 hours of extra practice a year!
It is all about grit: the guts, resilience, initiative, and tenacity to persevere in the face of setbacks, even when your dreams and goals seem out of reach. That unquenchable passion and endless zeal that gives you the grit to keep going despite the odds.
Video summary: https://youtu.be/JpX-c15Wbyc
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 1, 2018
“Grit to Great: How Perseverance, Passion, and Pluck Take You from Ordinary to Extraordinary” by Linda Kaplan Thaler and Robin Koval is a short, quick read that is designed to be a morale booster/pick me up. It focuses on the idea that you need to get back up and try again. Failure is part of life, and when it happens, learn from it and try again.
I had the pleasure of listening to Linda Kaplan Thaler speak about the book during a Gartner Symposium/ITXPO. She is a great public speaker, the problem I found was that while I did read the book, her presentation covered all of the important parts, so there was really no need to.
The only issue I had with this book, is that there are no new ideas. It contains research and stories that agree with the points they are trying to prove and ignores any research that would contradict it. One example is the one they give on Michael Jordan and how he succeeded because he had grit, not talent. This was based on the fact that he was not chosen to be on the high school varsity basketball team when he was a sophomore and look at him now. There rationale is that since he was not chosen he did not have the talent and if he did not have grit he would have quit. I do enjoy the way that they string there ideas together and it makes the reader feel that if they can do it, then you can too.
So, if you are looking for a book that has a new perspective on being more successful and uses data and research to prove it, this might not be the book for you. However, if you need a pep talk to get back in the game and not give up, then pick up a copy of this book and you will be ready to go another round.
I had the pleasure of listening to Linda Kaplan Thaler speak about the book during a Gartner Symposium/ITXPO. She is a great public speaker, the problem I found was that while I did read the book, her presentation covered all of the important parts, so there was really no need to.
The only issue I had with this book, is that there are no new ideas. It contains research and stories that agree with the points they are trying to prove and ignores any research that would contradict it. One example is the one they give on Michael Jordan and how he succeeded because he had grit, not talent. This was based on the fact that he was not chosen to be on the high school varsity basketball team when he was a sophomore and look at him now. There rationale is that since he was not chosen he did not have the talent and if he did not have grit he would have quit. I do enjoy the way that they string there ideas together and it makes the reader feel that if they can do it, then you can too.
So, if you are looking for a book that has a new perspective on being more successful and uses data and research to prove it, this might not be the book for you. However, if you need a pep talk to get back in the game and not give up, then pick up a copy of this book and you will be ready to go another round.
January 15, 2019
Grit to Great is a fairly solid argument for the superiority of perseverance and resilience over pure talent or good connections.
The authors argue that having a big dream fleshed out with daily, acheivable goals will breed more passion and inspire grit. Luckily, grit can be learned.
The second key trait they identify in successful people is optimism, which they also argue can be learned. Do you see setbacks as temporary challenges that your actions can overcome?
On the whole, I found the book useful and encouraging. I especially enjoyed the journaling or thought exercises at the end of each chapter.
Lastly, I did appreciate that the authors warned the reader to not use grit for something that didn't deserve the effort. If you want true happiness, they argue, devote yourself to a cause bigger than yourself.
The authors argue that having a big dream fleshed out with daily, acheivable goals will breed more passion and inspire grit. Luckily, grit can be learned.
The second key trait they identify in successful people is optimism, which they also argue can be learned. Do you see setbacks as temporary challenges that your actions can overcome?
On the whole, I found the book useful and encouraging. I especially enjoyed the journaling or thought exercises at the end of each chapter.
Lastly, I did appreciate that the authors warned the reader to not use grit for something that didn't deserve the effort. If you want true happiness, they argue, devote yourself to a cause bigger than yourself.
March 9, 2021
Passion and perseverance are better than talent and intelligence when it comes to being successful.
Grit is about sweat, not swagger. It is about character, not charisma.
You do not have to be born with grit, you can learn it.
Excellence is not an action but a habit.
The self-esteem movement has not been a success but a flop. We have found creative ways to celebrate mediocrity, but it is not helping anyone.
Failure is how we learn and acquire grit.
Grit can be broken down into four elements:
1. Guts
2. Resilience . It’s the follow through in grit.
3. Initiative. It’s being a self-starter.
4. Tenacity. It is staying focused on the goal. It requires ingenuity and determination, and it’s what made America great in the industrial revolution.
Grit is about sweat, not swagger. It is about character, not charisma.
You do not have to be born with grit, you can learn it.
Excellence is not an action but a habit.
The self-esteem movement has not been a success but a flop. We have found creative ways to celebrate mediocrity, but it is not helping anyone.
Failure is how we learn and acquire grit.
Grit can be broken down into four elements:
1. Guts
2. Resilience . It’s the follow through in grit.
3. Initiative. It’s being a self-starter.
4. Tenacity. It is staying focused on the goal. It requires ingenuity and determination, and it’s what made America great in the industrial revolution.
March 8, 2018
I could not even get through more than a few paragraphs. While I agree that our culture of giving awards for effort instead of achievement and that perseverance and grit are necessary for actually achieving things, I immediately had a bad taste in my mouth probably given to me by the bile in the author's tone describing the generations being brought up this way. Yeah, it may be a problem. But how exactly is it their problem? I couldn't stand the cutting writing. And I've read many other books describing what has made average people into great people so even though the title is intriguing, I feel this book is unnecessary.
April 19, 2019
“If you want your dreams to become a reality, wake up already.” -Yiddish Proverb
Dreaming of success is counterproductive when one can engage their mind with immediate problems that can be solved one step at a time.
“A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.” -Dutch Proverbs
“Results intelligence” seems to be what companies need most, as well as the world. After all, nobody should be paid to just be smart. Furthermore, those with the most patience can take on the biggest challenges, which in the end give the most valuable solutions. In the end, having grit can allow one to have the most comprehensive domain knowledge of a given field and the most developed craft.
Dreaming of success is counterproductive when one can engage their mind with immediate problems that can be solved one step at a time.
“A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains.” -Dutch Proverbs
“Results intelligence” seems to be what companies need most, as well as the world. After all, nobody should be paid to just be smart. Furthermore, those with the most patience can take on the biggest challenges, which in the end give the most valuable solutions. In the end, having grit can allow one to have the most comprehensive domain knowledge of a given field and the most developed craft.
June 5, 2021
Grit is about sweat and not swagger. Grit can be the secret to success.
George Foreman was over weight and about to go bankrupt, when he went back into boxing at 45 and won the title, paid off his debt, developed the George Foreman grill and is now worth $200 million.
The least likely people can exceed expectations, with perseverance, passion and hard work.
Make yourself uncomfortable. Put on your clothes with your eyes closed, say hello to strangers on an elevator, brush your teeth with the other hand, the brain craves novelty.
Get into weight training.
Abraham Lincoln failed in business and 8 elections yet became the greatest president.
George Foreman was over weight and about to go bankrupt, when he went back into boxing at 45 and won the title, paid off his debt, developed the George Foreman grill and is now worth $200 million.
The least likely people can exceed expectations, with perseverance, passion and hard work.
Make yourself uncomfortable. Put on your clothes with your eyes closed, say hello to strangers on an elevator, brush your teeth with the other hand, the brain craves novelty.
Get into weight training.
Abraham Lincoln failed in business and 8 elections yet became the greatest president.
March 21, 2022
If you want a quick read with lots of little anecdotes about other people's perseverance, go ahead and read this. NB that Thaler and Koval work in advertising; their style is correspondingly peppy, and their choice in anecdotes reflects their background. But its brevity might make it more useful for someone needing a quick pick-me-up.
If you want a more challenging book with actual research into where grit comes from and more information about how to develop it/foster it in others, read Angela Duckworth.
If you want a more challenging book with actual research into where grit comes from and more information about how to develop it/foster it in others, read Angela Duckworth.
January 29, 2018
Overall, I think this book is quite readable, and has some very interesting, delightable stories. In terms of actual usable content, I feel that this book covers the basic points, but it will need a lot more grit (pun intended) to really go down and actually implement them into your lives.
Good reminders nonetheless!
Good reminders nonetheless!
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