Success does beget success. When Malcolm Gladwell studied the development of IQ in kids in primary school, he noted that the differences between kids from affluent families and the rest became marked after a summer break. While most kids bummed around during their vacations, kids from affluent families were taught to spend time productively, learn new skills, and continue their education.
So, what do affluent families inadvertently teach kids? Willpower.
I believe affluent families do 2 things right –
1. They teach kids to learn the most important application of willpower – forming rock solid habits. They figure out basic routines like exercise, reading great books, etc., in a way that kids have this ingrained.
2. They have kids exercising their willpower muscle from an early age. When a man on the streets in India comes into some money, he immediately spends it on alcohol. If the same man learnt to delay gratification, he could build significant wealth over a lifetime. The concept that he’s missing is delayed gratification. That only comes with willpower muscle training. Kids in affluent families “get” this concept.
If we plan to be successful as people, parents, and educators, we need to understand that the most important concept we can teach the next generation is how to understand and flex the willpower muscle. Of course, to do that, we must understand it ourselves. There are 2 great willpower books out there – Willpower by Roy Baumeister and The Willpower Instinct by Kelly Mcgonigal. I’ve read and loved the former and have the latter on my reading queue. I hope you get to it. It might just be the most important thing you ever do..
A Learning a Day 