40 Years of Stanford Research Found That People With This One Quality Are More Likely to Succeed

40 Years of Stanford Research Found That People With This One Quality Are More Likely to Succeed

Success is something that many people strive for in life, whether it be in their careers, relationships, or personal goals. But what sets successful individuals apart from the rest? According to a 40-year study conducted by researchers at Stanford University, the key to success lies in one quality: the ability to delay gratification.

In the study, children were given a choice between receiving one marshmallow immediately or waiting for a short period of time to receive two marshmallows. 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.

This finding suggests that 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 ability to resist immediate rewards in order to achieve long-term goals.

But how exactly does one develop the ability to delay gratification? The researchers found that it all comes down to experience and environment. 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 of children who were able to delay gratification 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. If we want to succeed at something, at some point we will need to find the ability to be disciplined and take action instead of becoming distracted and doing what's easy.

So how can we incorporate these findings into our own lives and increase our chances of success? Here are three actionable pieces of advice:

1. Start incredibly small. Sometimes the thought of tackling a big goal can be overwhelming and lead to procrastination. Instead, break it down into smaller, more manageable tasks. Make your new habit “so easy you can't say no.” By taking small steps consistently, you'll build momentum and increase your chances of success.