Name: Don't eat the marshmallow!
Uploaded: 2009-05-25T01:00:00Z
Duration: 5 min 45 s
Description: In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification -- and how it can predict future success. With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.

Joachim de Posada: Don't eat the marshmallow!

Don't eat the marshmallow!

In this short talk from TED U, Joachim de Posada shares a landmark experiment on delayed gratification -- and how it can predict future success. With priceless video of kids trying their hardest not to eat the marshmallow.

The key to future achievement may lie in a simple childhood test involving one marshmallow and a 15-minute wait. In a classic experiment, only a third of four-year-olds resisted eating the treat right away, and those who did went on to excel at school and relationships years later. This pattern held across cultures, revealing the power of delayed gratification. Mastering self-control early on shapes not just academic results but lifelong outcomes.