One of the biggest traits I look for when I work with someone is Delayed Gratification.
So I was talking to a friend recently about delayed gratification.
And his story really struck a chord.
He used to work as a top sales guy for one of the biggest personal development and speaking gurus in Singapore, and he was making a lot of money back then.
Around that time, another friend advised him to invest in stocks when the market was really low.
He took that advice seriously and dumped $300K into it.
Fast forward four years, that friend is now semi-retired, having reaped the rewards of delayed gratification.
Meanwhile, I had another friend who chose not to invest but to spend his money on things that gave immediate satisfaction — is still doing well… but the gap between their financial freedom is huge.
One has reached early retirement; the other is still hustling day to day.
This concept of delayed gratification doesn’t just apply to personal finance…
It’s a bigger topic in business.
Most entrepreneurs don’t grow because they are too fixated on the short term.
They are too caught up with how much they’re making or spending per day…
Here’s the thing:
If you can resist the urge to make short-term decisions for instant gains such as jumping into every shiny new opportunity, fancy funnel, or marketing idea…
And instead, stay laser-focused on the long-term trajectory of your business…
You’ll likely end up far ahead of your competition.
I’ve seen it firsthand with the companies I’ve worked with.
My most successful clients don’t just blindly chase trends.
They understand when to stick to the old, when to try something new, when to scale, and when to hire the right people.
Most importantly, they know how to say “NO” when it’s not their focus.
Delayed Gratification is a lesson I had to learn personally.
When I was making 5-figures in my agency, I held off buying a car or expensive clothes even though I could afford it.
Why?
Because the money could be better spent on ads, education, or investments.
So my question for you is:
How are you practicing Delayed Gratification in your business or life?
P.S: I get it—delayed gratification is tough.
But it’s worth remembering the famous “Marshmallow Experiment” led by psychologist Walter Mischel.
Children were given a choice: one treat now or two if they waited.
Those who waited went on to be more successful in life—academically, personally, and professionally.
The more you can delay gratification, the further you’ll go in business and life.
P.P.S: You might be wondering how I reconcile this with my recent emails about selling yourself.
Yet, here I am, wearing Uniqlo and driving an affordable car.
I want to emphasize.
How You Spend Is Down To Your Values
You decide what to spend your money on and why.
If you need to wear designer clothing and drive luxury cars to sell your brand…
Then you’re either 1) incredibly wealthy or 2) doing something wrong in your business.
Personally, I view clothing and cars as consumables that depreciate with time.
This is why I limit my spending on these things.
On the other hand, I splurged on a Rolex because:
- Unlike a car, it doesn’t lose value and can actually appreciate with time
- A good watch can last you a lifetime.
- Wearing a respected timepiece easily opens up convo with fellow watch owners.
I hope that clears things up!
