THE STANDARD MONEY & CAREERS Angela Duckworth, the author of “Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance,” argues that talent alone is not enough for success. She says a person also needs to have grit – a mental toughness that helps you persevere even in the face of obstacles. So what exactly is grit? It is passion and perseverance. It is having a firmness of character and an indomitable spirit. It is setting goals and following through despite obstacles, setbacks and in spite the urge to give up. No doubt, you will certainly be weak sometimes and you might lose focus on your goal for a day or even two, or a week. But grit will always bring you back on track and redirect your eyes to the prize - especially in career advancement.