What Marshmallows Can Teach you About Grit
I love grit.
Whether we’re talking about the kind that gets between your toes from digging in and finishing the race, or Dr. Angela Duckworth’s definition—perseverance and passion for long-term goals—grit is one of the qualities Spartans most want to achieve.
Dr. Duckworth is THE modern authority on grit, but long before she started her work there was Dr. Walter Mischel. He created a social experiment in the late 1960s with marshmallows that has a lot to do with grit.
GRIT IS ALL ABOUT DELAYED SELF-GRATIFICATION.
Using marshmallows, Mischel studied the ability of kids to delay immediate gratification for a larger, future reward.
He gave children a choice:
“Eat the marshmallow now, or wait. If you wait, I’ll give you two marshmallows.”
He then followed his subjects for many years and discovered that kids who waited to eat the marshmallow went on to have better careers and marriages, and an overall better quality of life.
They wanted more for themselves and took better action against their impulses to work for their reward.
I know the joke about “don’t try this at home,” but when I heard about this I tried the experiment with my son, who was 6-years-old son at the time.
Instead of marshmallows I used ice cream, which was a rare treat.
His response to my offer surprised me.
“How long do I have to wait to get 15 scoops of ice cream?”
What an awesome answer!
He was going big and playing for 15 scoops. You’re never too young to learn grit.
EVERYONE HAS THE ABILITY TO LEARN GRIT.
At Spartan Race we know that it’s grit that gets you to your goal.
Whether you’re training for an Agoge, planning a major move in your career, or kicking cancer in the teeth, grit will see you through.
Go put that marshmallow aside and keep pushing short term pain for the long term win.
In the end you’ll have the satisfaction of success—and 15 scoops of ice cream if that’s what you choose.
Like this article? Check out my latest SpartanUp! Podcast
Talent Acquisition Expert | Mentor & Career Coach | Empowering Emerging Talent
7 年I'd wait because I can't stand marshmallows. Now, if you offered me chocolate that would be a whole other story...
I referenced this marshmallow study during many of my trainings. I recently found out that one of my high school classmates was IN the original study. How funny. Great article.
Managing Risk Via Insurance in the Business World and Via Health Coaching in the Personal Realm
7 年Further studies also show that the child who couldn't delay gratification can be taught strategies. They aren't doomed for life because they ate that marshmallow :)
Security Supervisor at NTT Data GDC Americas
7 年GRIT ......