Instant Verses Delayed Gratification

I was inspired to write this post after a chat with a mate.We were talking about the reality of creating something, in his instance, a business and the length of time it takes to see the results of our efforts. It’s natural for us to get frustrated when we don’t see the returns on our efforts quickly but here lies the problem.

Our instant gratification society is breeding a nation of impatience.

We have instant text messages, fast food, immediate weight loss pills,instant banking  and I recently read that Tesco are  setting up shopping drive thru’s to save us time. Let’s face it technology advancements and applications mean we can Google something and get a search result in about 5 seconds flat. We buy time saving gadgets to help us lead our busy  fast paced lives and have mobiles and blackberries so we can work on the go wherever and whenever. In fact, without this I wouldn’t be able to enjoy the privilege of working from home online  but really when is instant just a little too much?

We don’t like waiting for anything. We expect instant solutions and quick results.

I admit it when I started my own business I was exactly the same. My delayed gratification muscle had got a little flabby. Having a regular income coming in meant I could buy what I wanted when I wanted. The idea of planning and saving ahead didn’t really come into the equation. When I ate out I didn’t want to sit around and wait for a prepared meal cooked to order because I was more often , than not, somewhere else in my head with stuff to do and not enough hours to achieve them.

The consequences of this kind of impatience and this kind of lifestyle is very evident . Everywhere you go people are stressed, attention deficit disorder is on the increase so too depression  and tempers are fraying.Our brain cells are frazzled.

A year on from business set-up I’m back into the rhythm  I recall when I was a kid. Save up first for what you fancy , delay  the satisfaction of experiencing the pleasure of a wonderful trip abroad, a new item of clothing or a meal out at a fancy restaurant and I can tell you it’s altogether more enjoyable and deeply rewarding.

When we have it all we don’t savour the experience.When we have to work for something it’s altogether more precious. Apparently it is one of the key ingredients to personal success. Watch this to hear more about the Marshmallow test.

Fast Tube by Casper

The most important investment we will ever make is in ourselves. We’ve got to give everything our best shot and we’ve got to be patient whilst at the same time remaining confident that our ideas are sound and are goals are obtainable. When we plant a seed in the ground we need to nurture it and  water it  to allow it time to take shape and grow.There is a gestation period and that’s no different for a great business idea.

Oh and if you’re doing what you love and being in the moment then life gets altogether more pleasurable so the moral here is slow down and enjoy the ride.