Success & The Psychology of Self-Control

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In psychological studies, two traits have been found to have the highest correlation with success. 

The first is grit, which we all recognize as the ability to go the distance, push, and persevere through hard times. It’s undoubtedly a differentiator…but this endless stride forward requires tapping into a second trait that few seem to discuss: self-control.

While your grit is pushing you forward, self-control keeps you on track and accelerating in the right direction. We all know people who had the grit to survive hard things but went in a terrible direction that ruined their lives. They lacked the self-control to keep them straight. 

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Self-control is the unsung hero of those who can take on the world. It is the ability to regulate emotion, attention, and behavior, and it keeps people on the path — locked in — and makes them relentless competitors. However, no one talks about how important this variable is. 

You see evidence of it everywhere, especially when it goes awry, but it isn’t always obvious. In fact, slips of self-control often manifest in subtle ways that end up throwing people off course, which is why you can’t ignore it. 

Not only will this edition explore how to detect these slips early so you can skip the challenges that pull most people off track, but we’ll also dive into some specific signals, intervention points, and techniques to keep you on target.

Grit is only one piece of the puzzle. A mindset of self-control is essential for anyone who wants to reach the top, so let’s talk about how to nail it.