“The real story of Facebook is just that we’ve worked so hard for all this time. I mean, the real story is actually probably pretty boring, right? I mean, we just sat at our computers for six years and coded.”
– Mark Zuckerberg
o Net Worth: $141 Billion
“We always overestimate the change that will occur in the next two years and underestimate the change that will occur in the next ten. Don’t let yourself be lulled into inaction.”
– Bill Gates
o Net Worth: $144 Billion
“We’ve had three big ideas at Amazon that we’ve stuck with for 18 years, and they’re the reason we’re successful: Put the customer first. Invent. And be patient.”
– Jeff Bezos
o Net Worth: $180 Billion
“In business, I think the most important thing is to position yourself for long-term and not be too impatient, which I am by nature, and I have to control myself.”
– Bernard Arnault
o Net Worth: $183 Billion
“Patience is a virtue, and I’m learning patience. That’s a tough lesson.”
– Elon Musk
o Net Worth: $202 Billion
“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
– God/ Paul
– Galatians 6:9
o Net Worth: $ ∞
Patience is a virtue. It is even part of the fruit of the Spirit mentioned in Galatians 5:22, “but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there are no law.” Through their quotes, we see the wealthiest men in the world are aware that time and a prolonged sense of gratification are essential to a business and personal growth. Despite the necessity of patience in everyday life, it is somewhat uncommon.
In a survey of 1,000 people, 80% found themselves to be patient, but 96% of those surveyed knowingly consume extremely hot food or drink that burns their mouth. 1 of every 2 hung up the phone after a minute of being on hold for a minute or less. And 71% frequently exceed the speed limit to get to their destination faster. Despite the belief that one is patient, behavior demonstrates the opposite.
Commonly known as the “marshmallow experiment,” Walter Mischel, PhD found that children, as four-year-olds, that could resist a tempting marshmallow in front of them for a certain amount of time and wait for a larger reward (two marshmallows) were more likely to finish colleges, earn higher incomes, and less likely to be overweight. However, Mischel did not find that tolerance for patience is fixed from a young-age, instead he found that it is malleable. By utilizing self-control strategies one can increase their ability to be patient.
In order to increase one’s self-control, Shahram Heshmat PhD. suggests establishing goals motivated by confidence that one can self-monitor. This requires developing a level of self-awareness and a positive attitude. These wealthiest people in the world are aware of the need for patience, and it is not to say they are perfect. In my opinion, true and perfect patience comes from our God, and we recognize that as we grow.
Citations
Heshmat, Shaharam. “10 Strategies for Developing Self-Control.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 2017, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/science-choice/201703/10-strategies-developing-self-control.
“Inspirational Quotes at Brainyquote.” BrainyQuote, Xplore, www.brainyquote.com/. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Moskowitz, Dan. “The 10 Richest People in the World.” Investopedia, Investopedia, www.investopedia.com/articles/investing/012715/5-richest-people-world.asp. Accessed 16 Feb. 2024.
Winerman, Lea. “Acing the Marshmallow Test.” Monitor on Psychology, American Psychological Association, Dec. 2014, www.apa.org/monitor/2014/12/marshmallow-test#:~:text=In%20a%20series%20of%20studies,who%20were%20more%20likely%20to.
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