How Grit Helped Me Achieve My Goals and How I Can Help You Do the Same

Throughout my life and career, I have encountered numerous obstacles and setbacks, but I have always strived to maintain a strong sense of grit and determination to achieve my goals. I believe that my experiences demonstrate the importance of grit in achieving both career success and personal happiness.



As an adoptee and immigrant, I faced significant challenges at a young age. When I was not accepted into the school my family wanted me to attend, I was told that I would be sent back to Taiwan. But I did not let this setback deter me. I applied again and was eventually admitted, allowing me to continue my studies in the US. Later, when I declared my major as Electrical & Computer Engineering in college, I was discouraged by others who suggested I switch to something “easier.” Despite this, I persevered and graduated with a GPA of 3.9/4.0.

My determination continued to be tested as I entered the workforce. When I became an engineer and wanted to switch to Product Management, I was told that I would not enjoy it and that I should start in QA first. But I pursued my passion for PM and eventually landed a job, despite being initially rejected for not having enough experience. When I asked for a raise, I was told to feel lucky to be employed there. And when I experienced bullying/racism/sexism and was told I was too sensitive. These kinds of experiences are wounding, but I continued to work on myself to not let them deter me from my ultimate goal of being happy. In fact, it was my desire to help others achieve their goals that led me to coaching PMs.

As Angela Duckworth, a professor of psychology at the University of Pennsylvania, explains, grit is “passion and perseverance for very long-term goals.” I believe that my grit and determination make me uniquely qualified to help others develop the grit they need to not only be successful PMs but also happy PMs. If you are seeking a PM Coach who understands the importance of grit and is dedicated to helping others achieve their goals, I would be happy to chat further.

This article first appeared on my Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-grit-helped-me-achieve-my-goals-i-can-help-you-do-nancy-chu/