Coye Law February 2018

Discovering True ‘Grit’

If you’ve ever been told you won’t succeed because you lack talent, bring a copy of “Grit” to your next meeting. While teaching high school math, author Angela Duckworth noticed some of her highest-achieving students weren’t the ones with the highest IQs, while some of her “smartest” students weren’t doing all that well in class. “Why?” she wondered. She followed her curiosity to Penn State’s psychology program. There, she studied several demographics, including cadets at West Point, young teachers, and sales representatives. After numerous psychological studies, Duckworth discovered that “grit” was the common denominator in successful people. Duckworth defines grit as “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.” People who display grit don’t start a project and abandon it a month later. They devote themselves to an

overarching goal that drives everything they do. She explained that someone who practices grit goes through life like a marathon, not a sprint. Perhaps most instructive is Duckworth’s equation (she was a math teacher, after all): “Effort counts twice” could be the battle cry of grit. Gritty people are willing to put in the extra effort to achieve their goals, and that’s what helps them reach their goals if they don’t have innate talent. While this provides a strong case that those born with grit will succeed, grit doesn’t factor luck and opportunity into the equation, something that Duckworth is transparent about in her book. She says those who aren’t born with grit can develop it in four simple steps. Talent x effort = skill. Skill x effort = achievement.

First, identify an interest that can blossom into a passion. Second, practice that passion, a lot . Third, develop the belief that your passion has purpose. While it’s not an overnight transformation, these guidelines can at least give us hope, which is the fourth step: Hold on to hope that you can succeed. Our biggest takeaway from “Grit”? Look at failures as milestones on the journey to success. Getting gritty means failing and learning from it. Any of us can get gritty if we’re willing to put in a little elbow grease.

BACON-WRAPPED TATER TOT BOMBS Sure, your showoff pal can wrap a tater tot with a piece of bacon and call it “The Daniel,” but you can take it a step further. Prepare a couple batches of these savory snacks for your party or the next family get-together. Snag a few for yourself before they disappear!

Ingredients

4 slices bacon, quartered

2 cups frozen tater tots, defrosted

1/4 cup brown sugar

1 ounce sharp cheddar, cut into 1/4-inch squares

Coye Law Firm’s Referral All-Stars!

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

Every month, we give a big shout-out to clients who gave us referrals. This month, we’d like to recognize ...

Directions

1. Heat oven to 400 F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and set aside. 2. Press a cheese square into each tot, then wrap with a piece of bacon. Dredge each tot in brown sugar. 3. Place tots seam side down on baking sheet. Bake for 20–25 minutes, using metal tongs to turn halfway through. 4. Garnish with parsley, if desired, and serve immediately.

Sabrina Magwood

Mirasol Rios

Ty Hillman

Bill Falcone

Eduardo Sanchez

Raymond Zimmer

Thank you all for trusting us with the legal needs of your family and friends!

(Recipe inspired by ThisGrandmaIsFun.com.)

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