13 Things Mentally Strong People Don\'t Do: Take Back Your Power, Embrace Change, Face Your Fears, and Train Your Brain for Happiness and Success pdfdrive com

DELAYING GRATIFICATION MAKES US
STRONGER

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James Dyson’s journey began in 1979. When he became frustrated that his
vacuum cleaner lost suction, he set out to build a better vacuum cleaner that used
centrifugal force, instead of a bag, to separate the air from the dirt. He spent five
years building prototype after prototype—over five thousand in all—until he was
satisfied with the product.
Once he had created a vacuum cleaner he believed in, his journey was still far
from over. He spent several years trying to find a manufacturer who was
interested in licensing his product. When it became clear that the current vacuum
manufacturers just weren’t interested in his vacuum cleaners, Dyson decided to
open his own manufacturing plant. His first vacuum cleaner went on sale in 1993
—fourteen years after he began working to create his first concept. His hard
work certainly paid off, however, when the Dyson vacuum became the biggest-
selling vacuum cleaner in Britain. By 2002, one in four British households
owned a Dyson vacuum cleaner.
If James Dyson had expected to build a successful business overnight, he
likely would have given up long ago. But his patience and perseverance paid off.
Over three decades later, he sells vacuum cleaners in twenty-four countries and
he’s built a company that sells more than $10 billion in products each year.
Reaching your full potential requires you to demonstrate willpower to resist
short-term temptation. The ability to delay getting what you want now so you
can get more later is instrumental to success. Here’s what the research says about
the benefits of delayed gratification:
• Self-discipline is more important than IQ when it comes to predicting
academic success.
• College students’ self-control scores correlate with higher self-esteem, higher
grade point averages, less binge eating and alcohol abuse, and better
interpersonal skills.
• The ability to delay gratification is associated with lower rates of depression
and anxiety.
• Children with high self-control have fewer mental and physical health
problems, fewer substance-abuse problems, fewer criminal convictions, and

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greater financial security as adults.
Whether your goal is to save enough money to go on vacation next year or
you’re devoted to raising children who will become responsible adults, establish
realistic expectations for yourself and don’t expect to see results tomorrow.
Instead, be willing to commit to the long haul and you’ll increase the chances
that you’ll be able to reach your goals.