A Real-Life Joanie/Peggy but No Mad (Wo)man - Linda Kaplan Thaler on GRIT
KGNU Denver/Boulder's Claudia Cragg speaks here with advertising maven, Linda Kaplan Thaler (@lindathaler2), on 'Grit to Great', co-written with Robin Koval. In this, they 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. They say 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. In fact, research shows that we far overvalue talent and intellectual ability in our culture. 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. 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.

A fairly short read at 160 pages, the authors cover such key concepts as courage, resiliency, optimism, industriousness, and tenacity. With tidbits of research and a plethora of illustrative anecdotes, the authors are inspiring. Each chapter includes motivating steps to help the reader develop each of the characteristics. It did concern me, though, that all the stories were about full-on going after goals with 150% of one's energy. What about family? What about health? What about balance? Sure, great. But at what cost? I would have liked to have read stories of people who worked super hard, maybe not 150%, and still made time for family and community service. All work and no play makes Jack a very dull boy. Still and all an inspiring read. Interesting quiz at their website (grittogreat.com) whereby one can measure one's own grit level.

I gratefully received this book for free from the author, the publishers, and NetGalley in exchange for my unbiased review.