Hidden Potential: The Science of Achieving Greater Things

by Adam M. Grant

they got comfortable being uncomfortable.

writing is more than a vehicle for communicating—it’s a tool for learning.

feeling awkward and making mistakes was a sign of learning.

I decided to turn my critics and cheerleaders into coaches.

Instead of seeking feedback, you’re better off asking for advice.

Advice shifts attention to how you can do better next time. In

Being a sponge is not only a proactive skill—it’s a prosocial skill. Done right, it’s not just about soaking up nutrients that help us grow. It’s also about releasing nutrients to help others grow.

He knows that to be disciplined in some areas, we have to let others go.

if you’re ever lucky enough to get a 10, it’s not for perfection but for excellence.

the best experts are often the worst guides.

There are at least two reasons why experts struggle to give good directions to beginners.

the curse of knowledge: the more you know, the harder it is for you to fathom what it’s like to not know.

it’s called languishing. Languishing is a sense of stagnation and emptiness.

Languishing is the emotional experience of stalling. You may not be depressed or burned out, but you definitely feel blah.

What looks like a big breakthrough is usually the accumulation of small wins.[*]

Making progress isn’t always about moving forward. Sometimes it’s about bouncing back.

It’s more important to be good ancestors than dutiful descendants.

The responsibility of each generation is not to please our predecessors—it’s to improve conditions for our successors.

The key question is not how long people have done a job. It’s how well they can learn to do a job.

Growth mindset says, “I don’t know what I’m doing yet. It’s only a matter of time until I figure it out.”

impostor syndrome is a sign of hidden potential.