{"id":29715,"date":"2021-03-28T08:02:56","date_gmt":"2021-03-28T12:02:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?p=29715"},"modified":"2021-04-01T21:26:27","modified_gmt":"2021-04-02T01:26:27","slug":"define-gumption","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

How does Robert Pirsig<\/a> define gumption in In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance<\/a><\/em>? What does gumption help you achieve?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Gumption is a huge part of In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenanc<\/em>e. But how do you define gumption? Pirsig lays out some rules about what it means to have gumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Keep reading to find out how to define gumption.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Define Gumption: Gumption Traps, and Motorcycle Maintenance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In the morning, Pirsig packs everything up before waking Chris. Made mischievous by the coldness of the morning, Pirsig screams \u201cWake!\u201d to rouse him and immediately starts reciting Persian poetry (which Chris, in his half-awake state, doesn\u2019t appreciate). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon they\u2019re on the road again. As they cross into Oregon, Pirsig is still reciting verses from The Rub\u00e1iyat of Omar Khayy\u00e1m <\/em>to himself. Chris yells to Pirsig that he has diarrhea again, breaking Pirsig\u2019s reverie. They pull over at a stream, and Chris hops off to clean himself. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chautauqua: On Gumption<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how you define gumption: in the process of attending to our task with a calm mind, there\u2019s always the possibility that unforeseen problems may arise. Pirsig calls these annoyances \u201cgumption traps,\u201d for they siphon off the initial enthusiasm\u2014the gumption<\/em>\u2014we feel as we become attuned to Quality and immersed in our work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although there are likely an infinite number of gumption traps, Pirsig narrows the field to two main types: Setbacks<\/strong>, which are external circumstances <\/em>that divert us from the Quality path; and Hang-Ups<\/strong>, which are internal circumstances <\/em>that do.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

An all-too-common setback is the \u201cleftover part\u201d setback<\/strong>. Say, for example, you\u2019re assembling an engine and nearly have it completed…when you discover not only that you\u2019ve forgotten an essential part but also that you have to reassemble the whole thing! A setback like this can absolutely drain your gumption reservoir. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pirsig offers two techniques to reduce the effects of this particular setback and elaborate on how to define gumption:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Take Disassembly Notes<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you disassemble, make note of any particulars that you think might give you trouble as you reassemble.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lay Parts Down in Order<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pirsig spreads newspaper on the floor of his garage and lays the parts down left-to-right, top-to-bottom in order of disassembly. When you begin to reassemble, you can pick up the parts in reverse order.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A second common setback is the \u201cintermittent failure\u201d setback<\/strong>. <\/strong>This is a malfunction that seems to fix itself right as you begin to repair it, then later crops up again (typically at the worst possible time). Intermittent failures are a gumption trap because you\u2019re constantly being waylaid for a problem you think you\u2019ve solved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make Note of Correlations<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pirsig\u2019s solution to intermittent failures is to pay close attention to what else <\/em>is going on with the cycle when the failure occurs. Is the road bumpy? Are you making a turn? These correlations can help guide you as you develop hypotheses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The third most common setback is the \u201cparts\u201d setback<\/strong>. This setback encapsulates a number of challenges involving parts: one, needing them in the first place; two, finding them at a reasonable price; and three, discovering the part you\u2019ve purchased doesn\u2019t fit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Befriend Your Local Parts Supplier<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If there\u2019s more than one parts store in your area, choose the one with the most helpful staff and get to know them. They can be a vital resource for advice (and deals!).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t Sleep on Wholesalers<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dealerships and dedicated cycle shops will occasionally jack up prices on individual parts to compensate for low motorcycle-purchase costs. It can be worth your while to check out chain auto stores or wholesalers, which stock common parts at more reasonable prices. This can help us define gumption. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Do It Yourself<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have ample time and money, you might investigate machining your own parts. Pirsig uses a 6\u201d x 18\u201d lathe with a milling attachment and welding tools. This solution is doubly beneficial because it\u2019s gumption boosting<\/em>\u2014nothing speaks Quality like a motorcycle running on parts you\u2019ve created yourself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for hang-ups\u2014the internal<\/em> gumption traps\u2014a major type is the \u201cvalue\u201d hang-up, which typically manifests itself as value rigidity<\/em>. This hang-up appears when you diagnose a problem prematurely and discover your solution, based on false premises, doesn\u2019t work<\/strong>. Suddenly your gumption goes out the window\u2014the thing you were positive of has proven untrue<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re too rigid in your values\u2014if you insist that your original idea has to be true<\/em><\/strong>\u2014then you\u2019re bound to get nowhere. The solution to this gumption trap is simple.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Slow Down<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re moving too quickly\u2014racing to the manual, racking your brain for whatever mechanical knowledge you already possess, trying something new without thinking it over\u2014you won\u2019t be receptive to the Quality inhering in the situation.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Stare at the Problem<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Part and parcel of slowing down is just sitting with the problem. Rather than scurrying for a solution, try to clear your mind and open yourself to a number of possible solutions, from the easy to the impractical.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Observe the Facts<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you meditate on your problem, as a fisherman does his line, possibilities\u2014facts\u2014will emerge. They might not be useful ones for this particular task, but they might have value in their own right<\/strong>. You might even find yourself more interested in these ideas than the problem you set out to solve. This <\/em>is how you know you\u2019re keyed into the Quality of the motorcycle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The riders stop in Prairie City for lunch, and Chris continues working on his letter to his mother. Pirsig thinks that he might have some value rigidity of his own that\u2019s preventing him from fully understanding his son. Chris\u2019s trouble arises when he tries to imitate Pirsig; he wants to please Pirsig more than anyone else. Pirsig remembers his recurring dream: there\u2019s a barrier between them that prevents them from communicating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Chautauqua: On Gumption (cont\u2019d)<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pirsig considers further hang-ups:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ego<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A common cause of value rigidity, ego prevents us from acknowledging when we\u2019re at a loss<\/strong>. If we refuse to recognize new facts, either because we\u2019re overly sure of ourselves or afraid of looking silly, we can never access Quality, and our share of gumption is always in danger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If humility isn\u2019t our default, we can always pretend <\/em>to be humble. That way, if our solution doesn\u2019t pan out, we get a gumption boost from being proven right. And eventually we\u2019re bound to come to a set of facts that proves us wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Anxiety<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is the near-opposite of ego: We\u2019re so worked up over getting a repair right, we either fail to start at all or fuss so much over it we end up making the problem worse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One way to beat this gumption trap is to study up on the repair. Read everything you can and take notes, then diagram your project on paper. The actual repair, then, becomes a matter of just following your own instructions<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It might also be comforting to remember that even the most skilled mechanics mess up every once in a while<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boredom<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Boredom often comes along with ego. It means you already know (or think you know) everything you need to to maintain your cycle, and now you\u2019re just going through the motions. You\u2019ve lost the ability to see your cycle anew and be attuned to Quality, which is the wellspring for original ideas<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best thing to do when boredom strikes is to stop work immediately and do a palette cleanse for your mind<\/strong>. Watch TV, walk around town, even take a nap\u2014these activities can allow you to bring renewed interest to your task.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another possibility, if you hate doing rote work like cleaning the motorcycle, is to make a ritual out of it. <\/strong>Treat it like a weekly appointment that you have to keep.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Impatience<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Few situations sap gumption like underestimating the amount of time a project is going to take<\/strong>. And when you get impatient, the risk of making a major mistake increases, putting you in danger of a gumption blowout.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You have a few choices to avoid this gumption trap. Allotting an indefinite amount of time for a particularly complex project is one; giving yourself double the amount of time you estimate for a project or scaling down your goals for the project are others. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pirsig classifies all of these hang-ups as value traps; but there are other classes of hang-ups: truth traps and muscle traps. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The principal truth trap is the \u201cyes-no logic\u201d trap<\/strong>. An outgrowth of the classical mode of understanding, yes-no logic misleads us into thinking that for any hypothesis there\u2019s only one of two possible answers. Pirsig, however, introduces a third term: mu<\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mu<\/em>, Japanese for \u201cnothing\u201d or \u201cthe negative,\u201d is a vital term in Zen Buddhism. It intimates that, for a given hypothesis, a yes-or-no answer may not be appropriate\u2014it points us outside the yes-no binary. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In practical terms, mu <\/em>answers indicate that there\u2019s something in the context <\/em>of our problem that makes our hypothesis insufficient<\/strong>. For example, if we design an experiment to test a particular motorcycle malfunction and we don\u2019t achieve a clear result, there\u2019s no reason to get frustrated. The likelihood is that our experiment was misdirected given the problem at hand\u2014the context of the problem was larger than we understood when we designed the experiment<\/strong>. In short, mu<\/em> answers can increase knowledge as much as or more than yes-no answers can.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As for muscle (or psychomotor) traps, the worst is the \u201cinadequate tools\u201d trap\u2014gumption suffers when your tool joins your bike in a state of disrepair. A useful strategy is to buy the most durable and effective tools you can afford, even if you have to get them secondhand. Good tools don\u2019t wear out, so you\u2019re better off buying a reputable used tool than a second-rate new one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some muscle traps\u2014like low-lit and uncomfortable working environments\u2014are easily avoidable; but muscle insensitivity<\/em>\u2014essentially klutziness\u2014is less so. A motorcycle consists of a variety of parts forged from a variety of materials, and each part and material has its own toughness or delicacy. The key is to cultivate a \u201cmechanic\u2019s feel\u201d by staying aware at all times of which parts of the motorcycle you\u2019re working with. If you\u2019re working with the exterior of the cycle, you have a bit more leeway to bang things around; if you\u2019re working with the precision parts of the engine, you need to treat those parts with care (also with softer tools like brass or rubber hammers). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, even if we account for each of these traps, there are still any number that might arise in the course of a repair. Which is why Pirsig says we must live right, too<\/em><\/strong>. If we\u2019re falling into gumption traps all the time in our everyday lives and then trying to shape up to maintain our motorcycles, we\u2019ll never succeed. Our external work is a reflection of our internal condition, and so the \u201ccycle\u201d we should always be working on is ourselves<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

After a taxing stretch of road that took the riders through desert country, they arrive in Prineville Junction just as evening is coming on. They stop for gas, and Pirsig is so exhausted he plops onto a curb to just sit. Observing the drivers of the cars passing by, Pirsig remembers the biggest gumption trap of all: the self-absorption that comes with the American brand of self-reliance and ambition.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A bit further south, the riders find a forest that has been divided into lots for a development. They pick a lot distant from the road and lie down for the night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In order to define gumption, Pirsig has to explain life and his learnings. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

How does Robert Pirsig define gumption in In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance? What does gumption help you achieve? Gumption is a huge part of In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. But how do you define gumption? Pirsig lays out some rules about what it means to have gumption. Keep reading to find out how to define gumption.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":205,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42,9,43],"tags":[242],"class_list":["post-29715","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-motivation","category-psychology","category-self-improvement","tag-zen-and-the-art-of-motorcycle-maintenance","","tg-column-two"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Define Gumption and Cultivate It - Shortform Books<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"How do you define gumption? In In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains what gumption means and why it matters.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"How do you define gumption? In In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains what gumption means and why it matters.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Shortform Books\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-03-28T12:02:56+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2021-04-02T01:26:27+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"600\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"400\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Carrie Cabral\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Carrie Cabral\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"10 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Carrie Cabral\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2ababb7c63a94ff5d2190f71dc417d56\"},\"headline\":\"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-28T12:02:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-02T01:26:27+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\"},\"wordCount\":2008,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg\",\"keywords\":[\"Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance\"],\"articleSection\":[\"Motivation\",\"Psychology\",\"Self-Improvement\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\",\"name\":\"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It - Shortform Books\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2021-03-28T12:02:56+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2021-04-02T01:26:27+00:00\",\"description\":\"How do you define gumption? In In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains what gumption means and why it matters.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg\",\"width\":600,\"height\":400},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"description\":\"The World's Best Book Summaries\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Shortform Books\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png\",\"width\":500,\"height\":74,\"caption\":\"Shortform Books\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/\"}},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2ababb7c63a94ff5d2190f71dc417d56\",\"name\":\"Carrie Cabral\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9aea3c95254368e6bf388b046b35bacb82e4167f4c62c0813620e3a4ec51126?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9aea3c95254368e6bf388b046b35bacb82e4167f4c62c0813620e3a4ec51126?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Carrie Cabral\"},\"description\":\"Carrie has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember, and has always been open to reading anything put in front of her. She wrote her first short story at the age of six, about a lost dog who meets animal friends on his journey home. Surprisingly, it was never picked up by any major publishers, but did spark her passion for books. Carrie worked in book publishing for several years before getting an MFA in Creative Writing. She especially loves literary fiction, historical fiction, and social, cultural, and historical nonfiction that gets into the weeds of daily life.\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/carrie\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It - Shortform Books","description":"How do you define gumption? In In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains what gumption means and why it matters.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It","og_description":"How do you define gumption? In In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains what gumption means and why it matters.","og_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/","og_site_name":"Shortform Books","article_published_time":"2021-03-28T12:02:56+00:00","article_modified_time":"2021-04-02T01:26:27+00:00","og_image":[{"width":600,"height":400,"url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Carrie Cabral","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Carrie Cabral","Est. reading time":"10 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/"},"author":{"name":"Carrie Cabral","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2ababb7c63a94ff5d2190f71dc417d56"},"headline":"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It","datePublished":"2021-03-28T12:02:56+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-02T01:26:27+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/"},"wordCount":2008,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg","keywords":["Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance"],"articleSection":["Motivation","Psychology","Self-Improvement"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/","name":"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It - Shortform Books","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg","datePublished":"2021-03-28T12:02:56+00:00","dateModified":"2021-04-02T01:26:27+00:00","description":"How do you define gumption? In In Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, Robert Pirsig explains what gumption means and why it matters.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg","width":600,"height":400},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/define-gumption\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"How to Define Gumption and Cultivate It"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#website","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","name":"Shortform Books","description":"The World's Best Book Summaries","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#organization","name":"Shortform Books","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/06\/logo-equilateral-with-text-no-bg.png","width":500,"height":74,"caption":"Shortform Books"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/2ababb7c63a94ff5d2190f71dc417d56","name":"Carrie Cabral","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/#\/schema\/person\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9aea3c95254368e6bf388b046b35bacb82e4167f4c62c0813620e3a4ec51126?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/e9aea3c95254368e6bf388b046b35bacb82e4167f4c62c0813620e3a4ec51126?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Carrie Cabral"},"description":"Carrie has been reading and writing for as long as she can remember, and has always been open to reading anything put in front of her. She wrote her first short story at the age of six, about a lost dog who meets animal friends on his journey home. Surprisingly, it was never picked up by any major publishers, but did spark her passion for books. Carrie worked in book publishing for several years before getting an MFA in Creative Writing. She especially loves literary fiction, historical fiction, and social, cultural, and historical nonfiction that gets into the weeds of daily life.","url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/author\/carrie\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/07\/grit-cover.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29715","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/5"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=29715"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29715\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":31077,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/29715\/revisions\/31077"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/205"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=29715"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=29715"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.shortform.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=29715"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}