'Now' or 'Later' Defines Your Success

There are two kinds of people in this world. Let's call them the ‘now' and the ‘later' types. Go through the following checklist for each category and decide which one are you?

The ‘now' people

1. They are always drawn towards fun activities and want variety in their lives, right now.
2. They look for immediate gratification in whatever they do.
3. Their actions are driven by pleasure.
4. Given a choice, they always take the easy way.
5. They spend a lot of time and resources on entertainment, television, food, shopping and mindless engagements.
6. They get unnerved by uncertainty and prefer to stay in their comfort zones.
7. They delay doing uninteresting or un-pleasurable tasks.
8. Their thoughts, words and actions often don't match. That is, they say something and do something else.
9. They make ‘short-term' goals.
10. They usually believe in ‘me-first'.

The ‘later' people

1. They are driven by results instead of immediate gratification.
2. They do not indulge in too many fun activities in the present.
3. They invest time and resources in taking care of their health.
4. They read good, informative, uplifting books and take extra training to keep themselves up-to-date with the latest in their chosen fields.
5. They always strive to improve their lives.
6. They hang out with interesting and engaging people who help them stretch their thought process.
7. They take risks when required and are not deterred by uncertainty. They like to stretch beyond their limitations.
8. They take themselves and their deep desires seriously.
9. They make ‘long-term' goals and work extra hours to accomplish them. They act while others preach.
10. They possess integrity.

Which of these two groups do you identify with? Don't be seduced by immediate pleasures of life. Success resides with those people who can forego gratification in the present moment, and do what is necessary to achieve a worthy goal. Successful people act while others are busy having fun or just whiling away their time.

Become aware. Choose success.

Author: Chitra Jha (HT Horizons)

Date: 18th April, 2011