#607 IQ vs. Willpower

In our last +1, we talked about the awesome CEO-dads (and Harvard interns!) who are committed to mastering their Love as much as their Work. (Inspiring!!!)

One of the things that triggered the CEO-dad’s question was the fact that I emphasized the importance of our Big 3: Energy + Work + Love.

And…

I talked about the importance of writing “algorithms” to install our best behaviors such that they run on autopilot. In that context, I might have dropped the line about the fact, as per the leading scientists out there: Willpower outpredicts IQ for academic performance by a FACTOR OF TWO.

In other words, if you know a kid’s willpower and you know their IQ, knowing their willpower score will make you twice as effective at predicting how well they’re doing in school than knowing their IQ.

Think about that for a second. (I have goosebumps as I type that.)

Then know this: Willpower is also the best predictor of pretty much everything else we want in life: great relationships, health, wealth, etc.

And… Most importantly, know this: Willpower is 100% teachable.

Then… Ask yourself: How much time is my kid spending in Willpower class these days?

I actually used that line in my pitch to the elite prep school in LA that has installed some of our Heroic content into their curriculum. It’s CRAZY that we know how important willpower is and that it can be taught and yet DON’T TEACH IT.

Ahem. I’ll save that for another discussion for another time.

For now…

Again: Willpower outpredicts IQ for academic performance by a factor of two. (Did I mention that? lol)

We have classes on Willpower 101 and Habits 101 and Optimizing Algorithms 101 in which I talk about the basic, SUPER IMPORTANT idea that we want to get really good at using our finite willpower wisely to install habits that run on autopilot.

Today’s +1.

What’s one little thing you KNOW you can do to use your willpower wisely to install habits that run on autopilot?

Today a good day to make that happen? 🤓