There may be many formulas for success, but Angela Lee Duckworth, a psychologist from the University of Pennsylvania, has announced to the world through her TED Talk that the key secret she discovered, which many overlook on the path to success, is grit. This short word carries a profound meaning, as it refers to passion, dedication, and perseverance towards long-term goals. Grit is about living life like a marathon, not a sprint.

Now that you understand the meaning of grit, take a moment to reflect on whether you possess it yourself.

1. You may have stumbled and looked foolish, but you never give up and are ready to fight back. A survey of 800 entrepreneurs by the College of William and Mary in the U.S. found that a key trait of successful individuals is not wasting time and energy on failures. Instead of stressing over mistakes, they choose to view failures as necessary small steps to face in order to reach their goals.

2. You rise to the challenge when you feel you are losing. Once, a reporter asked Muhammad Ali how many sit-ups he did each day. He replied that he never counted because he only started counting when he was in a tough spot, feeling pain. This warrior spirit is not only applicable in the ring but also in work. When faced with difficulties, ask yourself whether you will fight hard or accept defeat forever.

3. You step beyond your fears and try things outside your comfort zone. If you only choose to walk the familiar path, you will never discover new routes. Sometimes in work and life, you may need to try things you didn’t expect. Who knows, the results might enhance your existing skills or branch out into new knowledge you never considered.

4. You regularly check your emotional state. The greatest enemy of grit is negative emotions that undermine your ability to think and make decisions effectively. Therefore, to ensure that all your thoughts and decisions are well-considered, you must regularly check your emotions to eliminate distractions.

5. You trust your instincts. In the real world, not everything is like a math problem with a fixed answer. Trusting your instincts is one of the key factors that will help you make the right decisions.

6. You give more than you receive. One of Stanford University’s famous experiments involved giving children a marshmallow each and telling them they could eat it immediately or wait 15 minutes to receive another one. The results showed that the children who waited scored better on tests and had successful careers later in life. This experiment reinforces the power of grit, showing that patience and waiting for what you want are essential traits for success.

7. You are ready to lead when there are no followers. One test of a leader's grit is stepping up to lead when no one is willing to support you. How patient will you be in winning over or changing the minds of those who were once on the sidelines to join your side?

8. You have faced extreme deadlines and emerged with remarkable results. The only way to stand out in a crowd is to exceed expectations by delivering outstanding results.