The cultural mantra that “winners never quit” is a direct path to burnout. Instead of defaulting to perseverance, high achievers should treat it as a conscious choice. This allows for strategically quitting draining endeavors to reserve energy for what truly matters, ultimately preventing exhaustion and making success more sustainable.

A decade after publishing "Grit," Angela Duckworth has revised her thinking. She now fears that teaching to "grind for the sake of perseverance" leads to burnout. True, sustainable high performance comes from a genuine passion for the craft, which makes the required hard work feel natural.

Angela Duckworth clarifies that her book 'Situated' completes 'Grit.' Personal drive (the 'inside game') is crucial, but the external environment (the 'outside game') is what enables that effort to pay off exponentially. Strategically placing yourself in better situations is key to maximizing potential and achieving outsized results.

While perseverance is crucial, focusing solely on "grinding" is a mistake. Angela Duckworth, author of *Grit*, regrets not balancing her message with the importance of passion. The ability to persevere in a field you don't love is a direct path to burnout.

Burnout isn't caused by hard work or sad jobs, but by a specific environment. Oxford research found the recipe for burnout is high expectations combined with low control over outcomes. In contrast, high expectations coupled with high control leads to thriving.

Angela Duckworth's research shows that people cannot be gritty when they are unhappy. This contradicts the image of the suffering high-achiever, suggesting that well-being is a necessary foundation for the long-term passion and perseverance required for success.

Bill Gurley highlights that Angela Duckworth, author of "Grit," has revised her thinking to emphasize passion over perseverance. Forcing yourself to "grind" through a subject you don't care about is draining and unsustainable. In contrast, pursuing a fascination is energizing and creates a self-perpetuating learning cycle.

While resilience is praised, it has a dark side. The same grit that fosters success can make you endure toxic jobs, relationships, or paths for too long simply because you *can* handle it. This is the curse of competence: just because you can carry a heavy weight doesn't mean you should.

The common interpretation of "grit" as simply enduring hardship misses the most critical component: passion. True grit isn't about gritting your teeth through work you hate. It's about caring so deeply about something that the sustained effort feels like play, allowing you to outlast competitors who are merely working.