Grit to Great by Linda Kaplan Thaler & Robin Koval Summary
Overview of Grit to Great
In "Grit to Great," advertising legends Thaler and Koval reveal why perseverance trumps talent. Endorsed by James Patterson, who declares: "You don't need brilliance to succeed - you need this book." Discover why grit, not genius, creates extraordinary success stories.
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Key takeaways
From Ordinary to Extraordinary: The Hidden Power of Grit
Ever wonder why some people achieve the impossible while others with seemingly more talent fall short? Steve Jobs had a mediocre GPA. Michael Jordan was cut from his high school basketball team. Colin Powell was an average student with little self-confidence. What transformed these ordinary beginnings into extraordinary success stories wasn't natural talent-it was grit. Those iconic Aflac Duck commercials that seemed so effortless? They required a full year of production with thirty team members working through endless rejections and setbacks. Success isn't about having special gifts-it's about stamina and resilience. Without consistent application and hard work, talent remains merely potential-"a masterpiece unpainted." When psychologist Angela Duckworth developed a simple twelve-point scale to measure grit, she discovered something surprising: sometimes there was a negative correlation between high IQ and grit. Those with higher intelligence often gave up more quickly when faced with difficult tasks, while those with comparatively lower IQs had developed grittier problem-solving approaches through necessity. Even Google stopped asking for transcripts and GPAs, finding they "don't predict anything." Instead, what matters is "results intelligence"-the ability to deliver under pressure and bounce back from difficulties.
The Self-Esteem Trap That Kills Achievement
The Four Essential Ingredients of Grit
Dreams Without Action Are Just Fantasies
Embracing Calculated Risk and Rejection
The Power of Patience and Flexibility
Grit Has No Age Limit and Serves the Greater Good
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"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
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"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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