Summary

The Stanford Marshmallow Experiment demonstrates that patience is a key predictor of future success, as children who delayed gratification for a larger reward later experienced greater achievements in life.

Abstract

The article discusses the significance of patience as a success indicator, referencing the 1972 Stanford Marshmallow Experiment. In this study, children were given the choice between one marshmallow immediately or two if they waited for the researcher's return. The children who waited for the greater reward were found to have higher success rates in various aspects of life, including academic performance and personal behavior. The article emphasizes that the ability to resist instant gratification is crucial for long-term achievements and personal growth. It suggests that cultivating patience can lead to better decision-making and outcomes, and it encourages readers to apply this principle to their own lives by prioritizing future goals over immediate pleasures.

Opinions

Patience is presented as a powerful trait that correlates with higher success in life.
Instant gratification is depicted as a common obstacle that can hinder long-term success and personal development.
The article implies that self-discipline and the capacity to delay immediate rewards are essential for achieving significant life goals.
It is suggested that the small, seemingly inconsequential choices made daily can have a compound effect on one's future.
The author advocates for a future-oriented mindset, where present actions are guided by long-term aspirations rather than short-term desires.
The article encourages readers to actively shape their future by consistently making choices that align with their ultimate objectives.

The Research Shows that if You Can Do This You Can Succeed Beyond Your Wildest Dreams

The simple power of patience

Let’s start with this —

Are you patient enough to read a synopsis of a study?

The Study

In 1972, psychologist Walter Mischel conducted a study now known as the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment.

25 boys and 25 girls, ranging in age from roughly three to five years old, were brought to a lab at Stanford University.

The children went into individual rooms and a researched placed a marshmallow right in front of them on a table. The researcher explained that he was going to leave the room and the child could eat the marshmallow.

But if the child could wait for the researcher to come back? The reward would be TWO marshmallows.

One marshmallow now or two marshmallows later.

When the researchers left the room, the children were filmed with the temptation of instant gratification right in front of them. Some grabbed the single marshmallow and ate it right away. Others resisted, squirming in their seats, but eventually gave in. And then some managed to wait for the greater reward.

And then here’s the interesting part — they tracked the later success of these children.

Marshmallows are pretty good, NGL— Photo by Jason Buscema on Unsplash

The children who could wait went on to be more successful according to virtually every metric: higher test scores, lower rates of substance abuse, and overall reports of better behavior from their parents.

Patience is power.

Are you still here?

Instant Gratification Kills

Instant gratification isn’t the worst thing out there. It’s not a monster to watch out for, no, it’s the marshmallow on the table.

It doesn’t even feel bad and that’s the problem. It feels good AND it keeps you from what is better.

Think of your own experience:

You have healthy ingredients in the fridge but that McDonald's just looks so inviting as you drive home
You have your book open right in front of you but then your phone lights up with an alert
Your alarm goes off but your bed feels so warm

A little McDonald’s won’t kill you. Checking your phone is normal behavior. And ten minutes of extra sleep? Why not?

I’ll tell you why not —

You’re letting your present impulses control your future. You should be letting your future control your present impulses. If you care about your future, that is.

You are the author of your future and it’s not going to write itself.

What are your goals?

What are your dreams?

Be honest.

Are you willing to sacrifice the good now for the great later? If your goal is to get an extra ten minutes of sleep every day, then by all means hit the snooze button. But if your goal is to embrace the day and cherish every moment, ten minutes of sleep isn’t going to help much in terms of energy or enthusiasm.

What Makes this Difficult

Long term thinking is difficult though. You won’t see results right away. McDonald’s will most likely feel better in the moment than a healthy home-cooked lunch — it’s more convenient, it’s designed to taste good. And you won’t notice the clogged arteries at first.

In the same way, waking up early or hitting the gym or developing a reading habit, a single action won’t seem to move the needle. The results compound.

You need to be patient.

Muhammad Ali once said, “I hated every minute of training, but I said, ‘Don’t quit. Suffer now and live the rest of your life as a champion.’”

Just because you hate patience doesn’t mean you can’t be patient. Just because it doesn’t feel easy doesn’t mean it’s wrong.

Leave that marshmallow on the table.

Roll up and get on out of bed.

Check your phone after you finish the chapter.

And then do the little things that you know, from observation and experience, will eventually create the future you want. Take control. Write your story.

A mountain isn’t climbed in a moment.

So be patient now —

And eventually, eventually we will all cheer for your success.

Thanks for Reading!