A bowl of dried beans offers two possibilities. One, you can cook them up for a satisfying protein-rich meal. Or two, you can plant them, and watch the successful seeds produce many, many more. Your choice will determine whether you have food now, or food later. This situation is reminiscent of the Stanford marshmallow experiment. The Stanford marshmallow experiment was a series of studies on delayed gratification and self-discipline in the late 1960s and early 1970s, led by psychologist Walter Mischel, then a professor at Stanford University. If you are interested in learning more about the marshmallow experiment, I wrote about it (in 2007) in a Mega Minute titled Marshmallows, self-discipline, and success.
Beans … now or later
Let’s go back to the beans however. If you’re the kind of person who guards your bowl of beans so that you can consume them all yourself, then you’ll certainly have a satisfying meal. But your triumph will likely end there. On the other hand, if you’re the leader who is willing to exercise self-discipline and self-restraint, at least in the short-term, and one who plants those seeds far and wide, you’ll create much greater potential. Not only will you ensure a longer-term food supply for yourself, but you’ll also nourish others and build incredible goodwill with your staff, your colleagues, and your clients.
So, are you the leader who is willing to apply self-discipline and share your resources with others – information, your expertise, and your time – in order to build long-term success? Or are you more interested in hoarding your sources and means because you are focused on victory today? I hope you are the former, but I’d love to hear your perspectives. Please share your thoughts below.