New York Times columnist David Brooks wrote an excellent column in mid-May titled “Putting Grit in Its Place.” In the column, Brooks cites recent research which finds that those students and professionals motivated by an altruistic end — rather than that of, say, money — generally possess more “grit,” or perseverance.Brooks puts it this way: “Grit is thus downstream from longing. People need a powerful ‘why’ if they are going to be able to endure any ‘how.&rsquo …