--- title: Psychology: This Is the Top Predictor of Success in Life description: Increase self-control canonical: https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/ author: Eric Barker article:opinion: true article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2015-07-24T04:01:17.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-08-04T07:49:30.641Z article:section: Ideas og:title: This Is the Top Predictor of Success in Life og:description: Increase self-control og:url: https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa2b715519be888a/69885c3dcd1bbaa9786fc693/man-standing-between-summits.jpg?branch=production&width=507&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 507 og:image:height: 285 og:image:alt: man-standing-between-summits og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: This Is the Top Predictor of Success in Life twitter:description: Increase self-control twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa2b715519be888a/69885c3dcd1bbaa9786fc693/man-standing-between-summits.jpg?branch=production&width=507&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # This Is the Top Predictor of Success in Life > Sponsored content. 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A paid TIME subscription is separate and available at time.com/subscribe-agent. ## Video: Abby Wambach on Making Her Last Chance Count [Watch (HLS stream): Abby Wambach on Making Her Last Chance Count](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/TKM8pUcB.m3u8) (4:32)  _Published 2015-04-16. “I want to leave the game better than I found it and push it forward,” says Wambach, a champion American soccer player._ by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jul 24, 2015 4:01 AM UTC  Man stands between boulders on summit, arms out Man stands between boulders on summit, arms out Getty Images by [Eric Barker](https://time.com/author/eric-barker/) ## Eric Barker Jul 24, 2015 4:01 AM UTC ## Increase self control to increase success [Self control](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/03/whats-better-than-iq-at-determining-who-will/) predicts success even better than IQ. From Charles Duhigg’s excellent book [The Power of Habit: Why We Do What We Do in Life and Business](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1400069289/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1400069289): --- > “” --- Conscientiousness is the fundmental personality trait most closely tied to self control and it tracks with nearly every type of success across your lifespan. It’s pretty crazy really: **Money and job satisfaction? –** **_Check_** **.** _“Measured concurrently, emotionally stable and conscientious participants_ [_reported higher incomes and job satisfaction._](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-personality-traits-predict-higher-income)_“_ **Finding a job? –** **_Check_** **.** _“…the personality traits Conscientiousness and Neuroticism have a_ [_strong impact on the instantaneous probability of finding a job, where the former has a positive effect_ ](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-personality-types-are-more-likely-to-sta)_and the latter has a negative effect.”_ **Long marriage? –** **_Check_** **.** _“…our findings suggest that conscientiousness_ [_is the trait most broadly associated with marital satisfaction_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/what-personality-trait-should-you-seek-in-a-s) _in this sample of long-wed couples.”_ **Healthier life? –** **_Check_** **.** _“Among adults over age 45 (n = 2,419), Neuroticism and low Agreeableness were associated with metabolic syndrome, whereas high Conscientiousness was protective._ [_Individuals who scored in the top 10% on Conscientiousness were approximately 40% less likely to have metabolic syndrome…_](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/is-there-a-common-feeling-that-might-lead-to)_“_ **Long life? –** **_Check_** **.** _“Conscientiousness, which was the best predictor of longevity when measured in childhood, also turned out to be_ [_the best personality predictor of long life when measured in adulthood._](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/whats-the-single-most-important-personality-t)_“_ And let’s not forget good grades and staying out of jail. Via [How Children Succeed: Grit, Curiosity, and the Hidden Power of Character](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0547564651/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=0547564651&linkCode=as2&tag=spacforrent-20): --- > “” --- So maybe you’re not the most conscientious person. Maybe you can be impulsive and often lack self-control. Me too. This does not mean either of us should be shopping for a cardboard box on skid row. Unlike IQ, self-control can easily be increased. Here’s how. ## How to increase self-control _“…the very true beginning of wisdom is the desire of discipline…”_ _— Wisdom of Solomon 6:17_ I [interviewed Roy Baumeister, the leading expert on self-control](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/increase-willpower/) and author of [Willpower: Resdiscovering the Greatest Human Strength](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594203075/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594203075) to learn about how it works. Willpower is like energy — using it burns it up, and you have to replenish it. Anything that involves self-control draws on that one willpower fuel source: so dieting takes energy away from your ability to hold your tongue in a conversation — and vice versa. (SNEAKY TIP: Want to persuade someone? Offer them something tempting they’ll say no to. [Resisting urges uses up willpower](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/10/is-offering-candy-to-dieters-a-great-way-to-s/), leaving less for them to fight persuasion with.) Like a muscle, exerting willpower makes your self-control ability stronger over time. I’ve posted many scientifically supported [willpower tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2012/05/15-research-based-secrets-to-bulletproof-will/) over the years but I’m just going to focus on my favorite ones here. **1) Use willpower to build willpower.** Just a little bit of practice every day can [increase self-control](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/07/how-to-easily-increase-your-willpower/) and improving self-control in one area of life tends to improve all areas of life. From [Willpower: Resdiscovering the Greatest Human Strength](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594203075/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594203075): --- > “” --- **2) Automate your behavior.** When something is a habit and you don’t have to make decisions or even think about it, it doesn’t use much willpower. [The more you can make something habitual, the less self-control you burn.](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/05/how-to-get-more-done/) And you can further improve your self-control by planning. Decide ahead of time how you will respond when willpower is taxed and you’ll be much more likely to default to that. Without a clear plan in your head you’re more likely to succumb. Via Christian Jarrett at [BPS Research Digest](http://bps-research-digest.blogspot.com/2011/02/seven-ways-to-be-good-6-form-if-then.html): --- > “” --- **3) Pre-commit to good behavior.** Daniel Akst, author of [We Have Met the Enemy: Self-Control in an Age of Excess](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0057D95AQ/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=217145&creative=399373&creativeASIN=B0057D95AQ), explains how we can use “[precommitment devices](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/11/whats-a-trick-we-can-use-to-make-sure-we-do-t/)” to rein in desire: --- > “” --- So give a friend $500 and tell them to keep it if you don’t follow through with your goals. **Need more willpower for the day?** Simply making decisions burns willpower so reducing the number and difficulty of decisions you make is an easy way to conserve it. That’s what [President Obama does](http://99u.com/articles/7223/how-barack-obama-gets-things-done). **Need to quickly replenish willpower?** [Eat something](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/06/increase-willpower/). Yes, it’s that simple. In fact, kids who skip breakfast misbehave more than kids who eat their Wheaties. Give them a snack and they’re little angels again. Via [Willpower: Resdiscovering the Greatest Human Strength](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594203075/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594203075): --- > “” --- ## A Final Note You’re not a machine. And the goal here isn’t to turn you into one. There is a powerful human element underlying self-control that should not be ignored. [Willpower improves relationships](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2011/04/does-self-control-increase-or-decrease-relati/): --- > “” --- And relationships improve willpower: Which recruits pass Hell Week and go on to become Navy SEALS? They’re not necessarily the ones with the biggest muscles but they’re often the ones with the biggest hearts. From [Willpower: Resdiscovering the Greatest Human Strength](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1594203075/ref=as%5Fli%5Fss%5Ftl?ie=UTF8&tag=spacforrent-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=1594203075): --- > “” --- **_This piece originally appeared on_** [**_Barking Up the Wrong Tree_**](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2013/07/increase-self-control/)**_._** **Join over 190,000 readers. Get a free weekly update via email** [**here**](http://eepurl.com/o6uAD)**.** Related posts: [How To Stop Being Lazy And Get More Done – 5 Expert Tips](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/08/how-to-stop-being-lazy/) [How To Get People To Like You: 7 Ways From An FBI Behavior Expert](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/10/how-to-get-people-to-like-you/) [New Harvard Research Reveals A Fun Way To Be More Successful](http://www.bakadesuyo.com/2014/09/be-more-successful/) _Read next:_ [_This Is Warren Buffett’s Best Investment Advice_](http://time.com/3968806/warren-buffett-investment-advice/?iid=time%5Freadnext) [_Listen to the most important stories of the day_](http://time.com/newsletter/the-brief/autoplay/?xid=spl-fullbrief-article) ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"OpinionNewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/"},"headline":"This Is the Top Predictor of Success in Life","datePublished":"2015-07-24T04:01:17.000Z","dateModified":"2026-08-04T07:49:30.641Z","description":"Increase self-control","url":"https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/","keywords":["Psychology","Success topic"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa2b715519be888a/69885c3dcd1bbaa9786fc693/man-standing-between-summits.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Eric Barker","jobTitle":null,"url":"https://time.com/author/eric-barker/"}],"articleSection":"Ideas","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltaa2b715519be888a/69885c3dcd1bbaa9786fc693/man-standing-between-summits.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"man-standing-between-summits","caption":"man-standing-between-summits","creditText":"Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/ideas/","name":"Ideas"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/psychology/","name":"Psychology"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/","name":"This Is the Top Predictor of Success in Life"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"Abby Wambach on Making Her Last Chance Count","description":"“I want to leave the game better than I found it and push it forward,” says Wambach, a champion American soccer player.","thumbnailUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/v2/media/TKM8pUcB/poster.jpg?width=720","uploadDate":"2015-04-16T01:03:59.000Z","contentUrl":"https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/TKM8pUcB.m3u8","embedUrl":"https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/","duration":"PT4M32S","potentialAction":{"@type":"SeekToAction","target":"https://time.com/3970212/top-predictor-life-success/?jw_start={seek_to_second_number}","startOffset-input":"required name=seek_to_second_number"}}] ```