GRIT AND DELAYED GRATIFICATION CORRELATION TO SUCCESS
Why are they important?
Grit and delayed gratification otherwise known as “deferred gratitude” have more to it rather than the 4- and 13-figure words that are presented to our vision. Grit is the passion and perseverance for long term and meaningful goals while delayed gratification is the ability to delay the impulse for an immediate reward to receive a more favorable reward at a later time.
Scientists have conducted numerous research on the subject matter to try and determine if it’s a good predictive element for becoming successful in any venture someone sets his/her eyes to. As a matter of fact they tried it with the UNITES STATES OF AMERICA Army at the WestPoint Military Academy with over 11,000 Cadets. This is how they came up with the idea that maybe grit is what they should be looking for, in interested candidates among other conventional elements such as Grades and Physical Fitness.
The training officers were stricken by the number of trainees who quitted halfway after what they considered ‘intense training’. They knew they had separated the wheat from the chaffs by recruiting the candidates who had the best grades and physical fitness. After recruitment, for economic viability, they always hoped that the whole lot will finish the training. Unluckily it’s not always the case.
To curb this, Scientist decided to incorporate a ‘GRIT-SCALE’ assessment test which had twelve points, given during the first week after recruitment as a mode of research on what they thought was a predictor if someone would finish the training. The research was done over a 4 year period recording points at which the trainees would quit.
The observation truly achieved what was being investigated. They observed that people who scored high on the grit scale test were more likely to finish the training unlike average and below average lads. This clearly meant Character abilities such as GRIT are more predictive when it comes to success rather than conventional academic and physical prowess.
“A skilled sailor is never made in a calm storm” .Any effort you make counts twice towards your goals, it’s never in vain.
BOOK RECOMMENDATION: Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
