The Power of Delayed Gratification: How it Leads to Success

The Power of Delayed Gratification: How it Leads to Success

"40 Years of Stanford Research Found That People With This One Quality Are More Likely to Succeed". This captivating headline refers to a landmark study conducted by Stanford researchers over a span of four decades. The study focused on the ability of children to delay gratification, particularly in a simple marshmallow test. The children who were willing to delay gratification and waited to receive the second marshmallow ended up having higher SAT scores, lower levels of substance abuse, lower likelihood of obesity, better responses to stress, better social skills as reported by their parents, and generally better scores in a range of other life measures.

The findings of this study shed light on the concept of delayed gratification and its significance in achieving success. Success usually comes down to choosing the pain of discipline over the ease of distraction. And that’s exactly what delayed gratification is all about. It's about having the self-control to resist immediate temptations and wait for a greater reward in the future.

Every time the researcher made a promise and then delivered on it, the child's brain registered two things: 1) waiting for gratification is worth it and 2) I have the capability to wait. As a result, the second group waited an average of four times longer than the first group. This suggests that the child's ability to delay gratification and display self-control was not a predetermined trait, but rather was impacted by the experiences and environment that surrounded them. This highlights the importance of experiences and environment in shaping an individual's ability to delay gratification.

So, how can we apply the principles of delayed gratification to our own lives and increase our chances of success? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

• 1. Start incredibly small: One of the reasons why delayed gratification is so challenging is that the rewards of immediate gratification are often more tangible and easily accessible. To overcome this, start by making your new habit “so easy you can't say no.” Break down your goals into small, manageable steps that you can easily accomplish. This will help you build momentum and develop the habit of delayed gratification.

• 2. Improve one thing, by one percent: Success is not always about making grand, sweeping changes. Sometimes, it's about making small, incremental improvements. Focus on improving one aspect of your life or work by just one percent every day. This gradual progress will compound over time and lead to significant results.

• 3. Use the “Seinfeld Strategy” to maintain consistency: Comedian Jerry Seinfeld once revealed his secret to staying consistent and productive. He used a calendar and marked an "X" on each day that he wrote new material. The goal was to never break the chain of "X's." This simple strategy helped him maintain consistency and build momentum. Apply this strategy to your own goals and track your progress visually. Celebrate each day of delayed gratification with an "X" on the calendar and strive to never break the chain.

Now, let's shift gears and explore the world of NFTs and why creators are choosing the cc0 license.

"Why NFT Creators Are Going cc0". NFTs, or Non-Fungible Tokens, have taken the art and digital collectibles world by storm. One interesting trend among NFT creators is their choice to release their works under the "Creative Commons Zero" ("cc0") license. This license allows creators to waive their rights and opt for "no rights reserved." While this may seem counterintuitive to traditional intellectual property strategies, there are several reasons why NFT creators are embracing this approach.

One crucial difference between cc0 and other NFT strategies is that cc0 holders don’t have the right to exclude others from using the same intellectual property. This openness and lack of exclusivity can actually increase the value of the intellectual property. Experimentation and recombination can lead to new interpretations and derivative works, which in turn can drive attention back to the original work and strengthen its place in the collective consciousness. This phenomenon is similar to platform network effects, where more users joining a platform make it more valuable to existing users.

Furthermore, the culture of the crypto world and the emphasis on open sharing and community-building plays a significant role in the adoption of cc0 licenses. By encouraging extensions and derivatives of the original project, creators can foster a vibrant and engaged community. This cooperative mindset aligns with the core philosophy of many in the crypto space.

In addition, cc0 licenses enable cooperative opportunities in decentralized systems like NFTs. Trust and coordination among strangers are essential in these systems, and cc0 licenses facilitate the internalization of co-creation results through the value that accrues to the assets and contributions of individuals. This cooperative nature is particularly effective in the context of NFTs, where giving people ownership over their digital assets allows them to benefit from the value created by derivatives and expansions.

To fully harness the potential of cc0 licenses in the NFT space, supporting infrastructure services need to be readily available to facilitate remixing opportunities. Composability is key to growth, and with interoperable infrastructure and public standards, users can easily plug their assets into different platforms. The ongoing royalties earned by cc0 NFT projects from secondary sales further incentivize the creation of derivatives and expansions, as they become potential sources of revenue.

In conclusion, delayed gratification and the power of cc0 licenses in the NFT world share a common thread - the ability to see beyond immediate gains and focus on long-term success. Both concepts require discipline, patience, and the willingness to resist distractions and easy paths. By incorporating delayed gratification into our lives and embracing open sharing and cooperative opportunities, we can unlock new levels of success and creativity.

Actionable Advice:

• 1. Incorporate delayed gratification into your daily life by starting small and gradually increasing the difficulty of tasks.

• 2. Embrace the culture of open sharing and community-building in your creative endeavors, whether it's through NFTs or other platforms.

• 3. Seek out opportunities for cooperation and remixing, as they can lead to new sources of value and revenue.

Remember, success rarely comes without discipline and the ability to delay gratification. By adopting these principles and strategies, you can position yourself for a more fulfilling and prosperous journey.