I found this talk from Dr. Angela Duckworth on the subject of kids, success and grit. Give a listen.

What I really like about this is the way in which, through my work with KICKSTART KIDS, I get to see this first hand as year after year I have students who have futures very much in doubt who learn the hard way. They learn that failure is not a condition, but an experience and an opportunity for growth. No one in the martial arts gets it right the first time, but with time and effort (the very meaning of kung fu), anyone can become successful. This is a microcosm of life. And these kids learn that this same lesson applies to all areas of life. They learn about grit, and they learn how to develop and use it.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to discuss this with some of my colleagues in KICKSTART KIDS. I rattled off a list of some of the brightest martial artists we have produced as far as black belts are concerned. And I added, that I was not them, I was me, and even at their young ages, had I been compared to them and expected to hit that standard, I would have failed. But I am me. And the reason I was able to become a black belt, and the reason I was able to achieve success in the physical aspects of martial arts was because of my work ethic and my attitude of never accepting failure. Grit. I get it, and I am so thankful that I understand it because this puts me in a better position to teach it.

I loved this talk from Dr. Duckworth, and hope you did as well. It speaks not only to martial arts, but to education systems as well.