My Favorite Wharton MBA Class with Angela Duckworth!

[@dianaambrosio1140]

This is so cool 😭 Both of you are amazing!!!

[@Damed001]

Definitely want more videos about this subject. I think it’s very valuable.

[@rareliquid]

More to come!

[@abderrahmaneel-bakkali5608]

Would love to learn more about Grit, it's super applicable and extremely valuable in the modern day!

[@willwforever]

Angela Duckworth’s work on “grit” has been widely celebrated, but a critical examination reveals significant shortcomings in her theories, methodologies, and overall intellectual contributions. Her entire concept of “grit” boils down to the idea that perseverance and passion are key to success-a notion so basic it borders on insulting. It’s hardly groundbreaking to say that persistence matters, yet she managed to repackage this banal observation into a “scientific” framework, garnished with anecdotal evidence and a catchy label, making it palatable for the self-help crowd. Her work often lacks nuance, reducing complex human experiences to simplistic metrics and buzzwords, leaving much to be desired for those seeking real insight. Duckworth’s research, while published in respected journals, has faced substantial criticism for its reliance on correlational studies. Correlation does not equal causation, yet much of her work leaps to bold conclusions. The “grit scale,” for example, is a self-report questionnaire prone to subjective biases and lacks robustness. Critics have pointed out that her findings are neither replicable nor as significant as claimed. Compounding these methodological issues, her focus on individual perseverance blatantly ignores systemic factors like poverty, racism, and inequality, which are far more impactful determinants of success. By glorifying personal resilience, her work risks blaming individuals for their failures while conveniently sidestepping the broader societal issues that create significant barriers to achievement. Duckworth’s meteoric rise to fame owes more to her ability to market herself than to the depth of her scholarship. Her TED Talk catapulted her into the spotlight, but like many viral sensations, her message is overly simplistic and designed for mass appeal. The relentless promotion of her book Grit feels more like a self-help grift than a serious academic contribution. This is compounded by the fact that her work is tailor-made for corporate America’s obsession with “soft skills” and productivity buzzwords. “Grit” is an easy sell for organizations looking to shift responsibility for success and failure onto individuals rather than addressing systemic workplace issues. It’s a feel-good narrative for executives who want to believe that hiring “gritty” employees will magically fix their problems without requiring structural change. Additionally, Duckworth’s narrative diminishes the value of innate talent and intelligence, which are critical components of success, in favor of an overemphasis on effort. While hard work is undeniably important, her framework creates a false dichotomy, as if talent and perseverance are mutually exclusive. This oversimplified narrative fails to account for the complex interplay of factors that drive achievement, leaving her framework feeling hollow and one-dimensional. Despite years of criticism and new insights in behavioral science, Duckworth continues to double down on her “grit” narrative without significant innovation. Her academic contributions appear stagnant, and her ideas feel increasingly dated in a world that has moved toward more holistic and systemic approaches to understanding human behavior. Ultimately, Angela Duckworth has built a lucrative career on the back of an unoriginal idea repackaged for mass consumption. Her work often lacks depth, fails to address systemic issues, and panders to the corporate self-help industrial complex. While “grit” might be a catchy buzzword, its overblown reception highlights more about the public’s craving for easy answers than about the merit of her contributions.

[@barryaherne215]

Really curious to hear how the Talent - Effort - Skill comes into play with how you approached KZbin starting out? You had a passion to start a business, but I can't say most people have the talent or skill to make/edit/script videos right off the bat, so where would you say you'd fall on the spectrum? Have you developed a love of making videos, or is it just a process on the backend to get to the frontend with comments, likes, views, engagement, etc? (Nothing wrong with that if it is!) Would love to hear more about her classes, too!

[@CannonTurner-x8c]

Great video easily the most underrated aspect of any successful person.

[@wallstreetzoomer]

Hey Ben, would love more videos like this where you delve into individual lecturer/classes in Wharton, or even delving into life lessons you learn from specific seniors from your JP days. The sticking with what you’re good at is so true, no one can be good at everything but a lot of people wants to be great at something, or at least be known/be respected for being great at something. I am in a position where my “interest” is just monetary security and validation seeking (which is why I am watching your videos on investment banking lol), and I am wondering how did you get away from that and discover something else. As you know, not everyone can have interests that are their income stream like Kobe (goat btw) or Tom Brady.

[@andyjimenez8248]

I want more videos like these

[@ravinduakalanka6834]

which one is more related to get into investment banking division A finance major or a economics major or a STAM majors?

[@armitageshanks2499]

Art history major

[@chinemeremkanu5666]

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