True grit

The new issue of The Atlantic is out, and features this piece of mine, for an article asking if "dogged, single-minded persistence" is always a good thing.

The article is centered around a forthcoming book by psychologist Angela Duckworth, titled Grit, where she argues that experiencing setback after setback can be beneficial in education as well as the professional realm. Overcoming these setbacks helps to strengthen one's resolve. And Duckworth found that some of the most successful people have gotten where they are due to their handling of setbacks and obstacles. This may seem self-evident, but the article questions, with the precarious nature of work these days, and how some industries appear and vanish with the trends, is it always a good idea to keep your nose to the grindstone? Is it sometimes better to give up, and try something else?

Thank you to Paul, my AD on this. Grab a copy and check out the story, or find it online here.

Up those stairs and to the left

I had the pleasure of working with David Herbick on a full-page illustration for the Summer 2012 issue of Stanford Social Innovation Review. The article details a study that looks at the growing trend towards hybrids- combinations of non-profit and for-profit organizations. The first example given in the article is the Hot Bread Kitchen in New York City; a bakery that sells breads made by immigrant women in the area, while at the same time helping them gain skills for management positions in the food industry.

 I wanted to show how the revenue generated by the for-profit side of the business helps these women advance their skills and career opportunities. Thank you, David!