[sethb]

Then what would happen to all the smart people who would think "why in bloody hell am I running a (filthy) marathon when I could be doing something important???"

That kind of evaluation works only when you're trying to breed a certain type of worker, like West Point is doing. But in a dynamic world (like our own capitalist environment), you can't predict where success is going to come from. Look at Bill Gates, he's a dropout...under that evaluation system he would have no "grittiness" whatsoever. What if he had approached achievement as a marathon? He probably still would have been "successful", but I doubt he would be bloody rich.

It's not grit that matters, nor is it self-esteem. The only thing that correlates with success/achievement in our day and age, for students and all of the above, is exploiting opportunity. Those who do, win. Those who don't, lose. Plain and simple.

[gaius]

Then what would happen to all the smart people who would think "why in bloody hell am I running a (filthy) marathon when I could be doing something important???"

You only think that for the first few miles. Then your mind enters a zone where you can really think about that tricky problem you were working on...