Growth, Grit, and Grace: Lessons from Guy Kawasaki
In our first newsletter, we explored Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Skin in the Game, reflecting on how taking real risks drives personal and professional credibility. This week, we dive into a complementary philosophy—Guy Kawasaki’s insights on growth, grit, and grace. Much like Taleb, Kawasaki emphasizes resilience, responsibility, and continuous learning. But Kawasaki adds a unique twist: the importance of humility and joy in the process.
Growth: Cultivate Curiosity, Not Passion
One of the most refreshing insights from Guy Kawasaki is his view on passion versus curiosity. Kawasaki believes that waiting for a passion to strike is a flawed idea—it’s better to pursue multiple interests and let one evolve into a passion over time.
"The pressure to ‘find your passion’ is a modern curse," Kawasaki explains. "At 18, you're told to have your life mapped out. But the truth is, I didn’t find my real passion for writing until I was almost 50!"
The takeaway? Don’t obsess over finding the “one thing.” Instead, focus on experimenting with multiple interests. You won’t know which one sticks until you try—and even then, it might take years to develop into something meaningful.
Practical Tip:
Weekly Reflection Exercise
Each week, ask yourself: What’s one new interest I can explore? Experiment with small things—sign up for a class, dive into a new hobby, or explore new software. Give yourself permission to fail fast and learn joyfully.
Grit: Make Decisions Right, Not Perfect
Kawasaki shares a game-changing insight from Harvard professor Ellen Langer: "Don’t waste time trying to make the ‘right’ decision. Make a decision—and then focus on making it right."
This philosophy aligns closely with the fast-paced, uncertain world of startups. Kawasaki himself embodies this spirit. At 44, he took up ice hockey; at 60, he started surfing. "I sucked at both," he admits, "but grit, not talent, got me to catch a wave or hit a puck."
Tool: “Make It Right” Matrix
Use this matrix to turn decisions into success:Decision Made: List the choice you made (even if it's imperfect).First Small Action: What’s one small thing you can do to make this decision work?Long-term Adjustment: What changes might you need to make if challenges arise?Measurement: How will you measure progress (e.g., revenue, learning, customer feedback)?
This mindset pushes us to embrace failure as part of growth, rather than a sign of incompetence.
Grace: The Power of Paying it Forward
Kawasaki champions a personal philosophy he calls "success oblige." Inspired by the French term noblesse oblige—the idea that those with privilege have a duty to help others—Kawasaki reframed it for the modern world.
"You didn’t get here alone," Kawasaki emphasizes. "Every success story involves teachers, mentors, parents, or friends opening doors for you. You owe it to them to keep those doors open for others."
Rather than waiting to achieve massive success, Kawasaki encourages small, daily acts of kindness and service.
Challenge: Success Oblige in Action
This week, try one small act to pay your success forward:Volunteer an hour at a local school or community center.Mentor a young professional or entrepreneur.Donate used tech or books to someone starting their career.
Every small act compounds, creating a ripple effect far beyond what we can see.
AI, Creativity, and the Future of Work
As a forward-thinking innovator, Kawasaki embraces AI technology not as a threat, but as a creative enabler. When writing his latest book, Think Remarkable, Kawasaki used tools like ChatGPT and QuillBot to assist with drafts and summaries.
"AI isn’t going to replace creativity—it’s going to enhance it," Kawasaki says. "It saved me time and helped generate ideas I never would have thought of, like Julia Child’s pivot from espionage to French cuisine!"
This aligns with his philosophy of working backward from the customer’s needs. Kawasaki urges entrepreneurs to use AI to solve real problems, not just chase trends. Instead of optimizing search results, he suggests tools like Gemini should focus on providing actionable answers.
AI Tip:
Explore AI tools that can enhance your business processes:For Marketing: Jasper.ai for content generation.For Customer Service: Intercom’s AI chatbot.For Data Analysis: Power BI with AI-driven insights.
Kawasaki’s core message is that adapting to change is non-negotiable—and AI is no exception. The key is to approach technology with the same grit, grace, and growth mindset that defines remarkable leaders.
Balancing Hustle and Well-being
Kawasaki acknowledges the complexity of hustle culture. While working hard is essential, burnout is real, and balance evolves throughout life.
"In your 20s and 30s, you’re often underpaid and overworked," he observes. "In your 40s and 50s, you may find stability—and by the time you hit your 60s, it’s time to pay it forward."
He doesn’t sugarcoat the sacrifices involved in building something meaningful: “Jane Goodall travels 300 days a year at age 90. She’s not doing it because of hustle culture—she’s doing it because it’s her life’s work.”
Reflection:
Identify the phase of life you’re in right now.Are you sowing seeds (learning, building)?Are you reaping rewards (gaining stability, mentoring)?Are you paying it forward (helping others thrive)?
Understanding this helps align your efforts with what matters most at each stage.
Integrating Growth, Grit, and Grace into Your Life
To be truly remarkable, Kawasaki believes you need all three qualities—growth, grit, and grace. They are interconnected, reinforcing each other:
Growth mindset helps you try new things, like switching careers or learning a new skill.
Grit ensures you persist when things get tough (because they always do).
Grace reminds you to stay humble, appreciate those who helped you, and pay it forward.
Kawasaki sums it up best: "It’s not about being perfect. It’s about being willing to try, fail, and keep going—while lifting others along the way."
What’s Next?
In the spirit of Taleb’s 'skin in the game,' Kawasaki challenges us to apply growth, grit, and grace in our own lives. Here are a few ways to get started:
Take a Small Risk: Try something you’ve always wanted to but were afraid to fail at.
Help Someone Else: Find one person to mentor or support this week.
Embrace AI: Experiment with an AI tool and see how it can improve your business or workflow.
Success isn’t about following a perfect path—it’s about staying curious, working hard, and showing kindness along the way. And remember: The real impact lies in small, consistent actions.
"You don’t have to change the world—just change your corner of it."
Ashish Punj
Sr Partner
Gpounj Consulting