2. Their attitude about themselves

Duckworth's research is grounded in a larger mindset that parents can teach their kids, which comes from noted psychologist Carol Dweck.

Dweck found that high-achievement stemmed from "growth" mindsets, not "fixed" mindsets. Kids who learned to see themselves as capable of change — of growth — excelled far beyond those who saw themselves as inherently incompetent.

In school, this means learning from a bad grade for next time, not taking it as a sign of ominous things to come.