In chapter 10 of the book, Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance” by Angela Duckworth, the author shares the story of Tobi Lütke, the founder of Shopify, to illustrate how a supportive and demanding mentor can foster grit in a young person.
- Tobi was mentored by Jürgen, a master programmer at Siemens.
- Jürgen provided Tobi with constant, detailed feedback on his coding, pushing him to improve even when his work was already good.
- He would purposefully assign Tobi tasks that were slightly outside his comfort zone, giving him opportunities to stretch his abilities.
- One example was when Jürgen asked Tobi to lead a software installation for General Motors.
- Jürgen provided Tobi with a suit and the necessary resources.
- He then sent Tobi to the meeting alone, even though Tobi expected Jürgen to accompany him.
- This pattern of support and challenge repeated throughout Tobi’s time with Jürgen.
- Each time, Tobi rose to the occasion, learning through trial and error and experiencing the satisfaction of overcoming obstacles.
These experiences helped Tobi develop the confidence and resilience to take on increasingly ambitious challenges. He ultimately founded Shopify, a highly successful software company.
This story underscores the importance of mentorship in cultivating grit. A wise mentor can provide both the support and the challenge necessary for an individual to develop their passion and perseverance.
Enjoyed this short story on grit? Read the full book summary of the book Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance here or buy it on Amazon here
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