In my personal experience, a key behavior or skill that you need to possess in order to have continual success is that you need to possess is self mastery. I can say that if you already posses some willpower, good for you and that is what I would like to talk about today.

Delaying Gratification

Starting with a bit of science. Studies will show that the ability to delay gratification as kids is a leading indicator on how successful of an adult will be. If you like, read further on this on the link below, particularly the follow up studies with further backs up the findings. Just remember to come back when you are finished :)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_marshmallow_experiment

ADDRESSING THIS 3 WAYS

I believe that part of this comes down to genetics or nurture or a flip of the coin. So then what do we do if we do not feel we do not possess the ability to delay gratification or it that doesn't come naturally. What do we do?

1.Start small & build confidence

We need to work continually on our own self-discipline. There are many ways that we can do this. I like to think of two ways such as:

• identifying cravings or things that we want that we know we don't need

• purposefully trying to deprive yourself of these cravings for as long as possible in order to build strength and develop a strong disciplined mindset. 

Having small wins and frequently is so important and it will give us momentum to keep going

2.Realise everything affects everything

I heard this from a Jim Rohn talk on Youtube. The smallest things that are easy to do and easy not to, will do affect us. We must have a psychological shift and realise that ‘just one more cookie won’t mean a thing’. Not true, a small lack of discipline in one area will show up in another area.

3.Think CLEAR & Big

Have a vision and detailed plan of what the future looks like.

Can we see the future? Do we have a vision of what the future will hold.

Having the future well planned can really help those daily disciplines take care of themselves.

PUTTING IT TOGETHER TO BUILD SUCCESS

Step 1

Develop the core mind-set in order to be successful

Step 2 

Learn how to develop a strategy and goals

Step 3

Develop the ability to set a financial budget.

Money isn’t everything but it ranks up there with oxygen (Zig Ziglar)

A few side notes

• Understand that being rich does not equal happiness

• Understand that achieving goals = short term happiness

• Continually setting and achieving goals on a continual basis is the right way to live and one of the ways to attain true long-term success and happiness