How Instant Gratification is Harming Society and What to Do About It | John Davidson | TEDxCSUS

John Davidson carries a diverse professional background spanning from skateboarding, door to door sales, and now currently holds the position as the Head of Partnerships, E-Sports and Influencer Marketing for GameStop, the world’s largest specialty gaming retailer. Although he has made a successful career out of pursuing his interests, he has come to realize the unavoidable truth that success is directly tied to the ability to do things that you do not enjoy. At the expense of short-term gratification, Mr. Davidson has come to understand that there truly lies no success in short-term gratification. This is his hands-on guide on how to instead focus on long-term success and thus achieve your goals.
John Davidson is a CSUS alum with a diverse professional background spanning from skateboarding, door-to-door sales and now the Head of Partnerships, eSports and Influencer Marketing for GameStop, the world's largest specialty gaming retailer. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@theNickRYG]

"the ultimate source of regret is trading what you want most for what you want right now" - I forget

[@Torgo1969]

What about trading away what you want right now for the sake of a future that doesn't exist?

[@theNickRYG]

@@Torgo1969 Nobody can see the future. Of course there are some futures that just aren't possible. The point of the quote is that if you have any sort of goal, big or small, choosing instant-gratification over behaviors that move you closer to the goal leads to more regret.

[@Torgo1969]

@@theNickRYG Fair enough, but I've also heard of people on their deathbeds regretting not enjoying their lives enough while they could. But no one ever expressed a dying wish to have spent more time in the office. It's expressed so often that it is a cliche. I'm sure you've heard this.

[@theNickRYG]

@@Torgo1969 Oh I completely agree with that sentiment and it's part of the regret I want to avoid. Reading back I think what I said may have come off a little "hustle culture-y" and that's definitely not me. You're right, nobody thinks "man I should've done more business" in the end. But I also dont want to think "I wish I worked harder at the good things. Relationships. Art. Fun."

[@Torgo1969]

@@theNickRYG TBH, I'm speaking out of a lot of bitterness. The speaker here specifically discusses doing cardio as a long-term project for one's health. I've been a lifelong exerciser of one sort or another. At the age of 36 I was doing my usual cardio workout on a treadmill and genetic cardiomyopathy killed me with sudden cardiac arrest until I was resurrected by the EMTs. Athletes sometimes die suddenly from things like this, think Jiri Fischer, Reggie Lewis, and the recent case of Jay Bouwmeester. If I had died while eating bonbons on the sofa watching TV, I would have deserved it. But what happened to me was paradoxical and perverse, and completely unjust.

[@fireraptor6670]

I was blind to what I was doing for almost 7 years. I fell into this trap and couldn't get out. Today is the first day I realized how wrong my mindset is. Today is the day everything changes in my life.

[@markfennema8992]

How are you doing now?

[@fireraptor6670]

@@markfennema8992 still working on it. I just received a diagnosis of ADHD recently and that could be part of it. Thanks for checking.

[@ValiantHu05]

@@fireraptor6670 Your future self will look back with gratification, keep grinding king.

[@hxpelives]

Yo, curious on how you're holding up . You got this man.

[@fireraptor6670]

@@hxpelives I found out I have ADHD so that may be part of it. I'm getting treated and hopefully will feel better soon

[@TheDragon4775]

If you head straight to the comments and scroll down, that counts as instant gratification.

[@craigzilla100]

I'm very guilty of this.. and then Ignore the video that I was so excited to watch..

[@swbyzxz_isCHAD]

thanks buddy!!

[@alimrahardian109]

i like how even though he still fail at the boomerang, he still up to the stage, convey the message, and embracing the process and imperfections.

[@johndavidson5910]

Yes! That was the whole reason I wanted to throw it at the end (besides thinking it was funny). My goal with that throw was to convey that I have an opinion, I believe I know a great solution, but just like everyone else, I'm still working on myself too :)

[@emerystotosyoutubechannel31]

This is absolutely fantastic! Yes, it can do wonders in our personal lives, but think of the results in our daily work lives, too. Many patients and caregivers come in anxious, tired, and angry at the world and sometimes, we just can't move fast enough. Not only is there attitude, but with that an overwhelming feeling of failure from making someone wait. Life has rules, insurances have rules, WE have rules. -But from adults, we often encounter fits that we wouldn't accept from children- because they are not being INSTANTLY GRATIFIED and don't think that they should have to WORK or do anything to assist the process. -It doesn't matter which industry you might be in, this message applies to it all, and most definitely to our own selves. Well said, John Davidson! **I think my favorite part of this is the underlying message to slow it down and do it right.**

[@diniscosta6702]

That "creativity after boredom" joke was so well delivered! Certainly a moment of great gratification achived after hours of practice for this talk. Kudos for the effort.

[@leomichaels1677]

I'm suprised that this video only has like 3k view...it deserves a lot more

[@bronsonkatz8307]

Patience...

[@PenaltyKillah]

It's not something most people search for on KZbin, which is a source of instant gratification by design :/

[@tyap7022]

Only those who want to find this video will find it

[@sayeislam]

57k

[@stoicstone521]

I had to search for it , So I think it isn't recommended and people have to search for it

[@kamerondonaldson5976]

deferring what you want most until it becomes so convenient as to be instantly obtainable in such a way that it doesnt break your comfort zone is how i prefer to look at things. what you want right now on the other hand is usually something that cannot wait, such as food, or sleep, or a bathroom break. delaying gratification for these things is tantamount to a siege economy and may prove fatal.

[@Kowalski301]

Video starts: 00:00

[@constipatedbowels3473]

Video ends: 8:18

[@k27ism]

Video is about instant gratification being wrong and delayed gratifaction being better for the long term.

[@kaiyuanhe9248]

Profound and humorous talk, thanks so much!

[@InformInspire]

Loved this. Great talk, John!

[@TheErikapal20]

He’s brilliant.

[@notagain3732]

Learning something new every day thanks for this video

[@malixhunter3050]

Very insightful information John, interestingly enough i have applied that practice of turning off notifcations to one of my work chat apps. Solely for the reason that it was a distraction for me on the sales floor.

[@robhunt3054]

At this moment in time this subject needs to be in check immediately

[@kawaii_princess_castle]

At my school they did the mashmallow experiment when I was 9 and I could resist without problems, I remember the other two girls where very nervious to resist. But now that I am a grown up sometimes I don't delete gratification specially when I am very stressed. At school I wasn't stressed at all!!

[@armandhammer2235]

Try to learn a musical instrument if you have no talent but really want to play.

[@paul329869]

Instant gratification isn’t always good!!

[@ManticorePinion]

Instant Gratification is one of the best DGD albums, don't @ me

[@zahragholizadeh8863]

Okay

[@harviraymondkv7403]

This is indeed underrated

[@spacecowboy9479]

Thank you very much.

[@srikrsnahimself.7470]

This 'monkey brain' stuff is also appeared in Ramayana especially the Hanuman part, Hanuman is half human half monkey beings, he's so strong and undefeatable just like Sun Wukong, Hanuman also trying to eat the Sun🤯, He's so playful, i think the 'Monkey Brain' stuff is related to instant gratification because yes you're strong and radical, but you can't control your desire of instant gratification, thats why there's a recent photo of Hanuman meditating in the mountain (just like states in your story of Wukong), maybe he's trying to control his money brain of desiring instant gratification. Long Live Hanuman.

[@Dirtyzen]

Ram Ram

[@emergencyDuck]

Who else is here because of the berrics?

[@matthewmcclain1316]

Me

[@LooopQ]

Meeeee

[@bobrockOneism]

same here

[@u_mrmcmisdemeanor]

yas

[@emergencyDuck]

@@rodya7773 it's a skateboarding youtube channel, they made a video on this guy

[@ntandokazibaxana7367]

amazing!

[@anthonynapier2887]

I want to watch this but I have to perform this daily role for this wealthier human being. Sorry. It looked like a good video. I won't think of it again.

[@albertsiltal2600]

Thanks

[@matthewrooke819]

The way his hands went down to his pants when he said "stimulated" 😂

[@immersivebeats]

♥

[@manroyad]

looked at the view count and was impressed in a negative way.. I was sure this has far above 300k clicks. sad!

[@sayeislam]

57k

[@vitkomusic6624]

The real. Problem people don't bother to talk to each other...

[@popokap]

The message wasn't clear and I felt distance. I saw the title...I liked it, but it wasn't there in the first min...two...four..it just didnt have purpose. I didn't like it to be truthful.

[@starrieyedGirl]

So I use Facebook Twitter KZbin and Facebook. I don't understand what instant gratification not I'm supposed to get from it. Actually don't enjoy social media that much.

[@rachelcutler285]

I just want to go on vacation all the time, I chose to delete 200 people of fmy facebook alot who I am not close to that seem to always be traveling, my desire to spend money poorly has decreased.

[@nooraffendymohamedali7308]

Go Hornets!

[@The_diary_of_a_melophile]

Turn off social media emails and carry a notepad Check each time u check ur phone Limit ur self by 5 next day

[@mememandan427]

I thought this was gonna be about dance Gavin dance

[@jeebsxo1232]

BOOMERING

[@Lolo_Coco3370]

Go to gym its better

[@IWillHarvestYourToes]

Instant gratification takes too long.

[@rudigerderudder5430]

Amén

[@andymath89]

such a great topic deserves a lot more views. I guess people don't want to hear the truth and prefer those instant gratifications instead, haha

[@Ty-on9mz]

There’s a ted talk with like 17 million on procrastination and instant gratification

[@austinbobstin4796]

I just have to say you don't see many people showing pictures of themselves just pressing the bar big respect bro for keeping it real

[@meneither3834]

Dude I use my social medias for work.

[@tmpEngine]

excuses

[@rfayz733]

The muslims once a year fast for 30 days (ramadan) and additionally the prophet Mohammed (saw) fasted 2 days a week. Fasting is all round delayed gratification training and regulation for your mind body and soul. If your not muslim you should try fasting atleast once or twice a week to have better control over all aspect of yourself. A person who can control his hunger is a person in control of all his affairs.

[@paul329869]

I am ashamed for letting my instant gratification get out of control!

[@jakers918]

Video took too long to get to the meat of the topic.

[@Delusian]

How to deal with instant gratification 7:03 - 7:38 rest is just selling the idea. summed up: Set long term goal, and intermediate milestones-goals, have a buddy check you up on your goals.

[@Delusian]

@Aiden Meredith nope, it actually sums up the whole thing, and it's 7% of the whole speech. I hate wasting my time. It's a difference between working smart, and instant gratification.

[@Edzhjus]

2:37 Correct. People need relearn patience. 🙇

[@keyqui05]

I also watched Tim Urbans version, although it explain well what is Instant Gratification, this talk has a better solution to how to solve it

[@minotpi2651]

instructions unclear, learned to use my phone as a boomerang.

[@syedumarfarooq373]

He should learn from sokka how to use a boomerang

[@oasisboi]

one long way of saying. get off your phone lol

[@mathivanan670]

Underestimated personal attribute...Thank you

[@madd2340]

Harry Kane?

[@liamwilson12345]

Truth breh

[@letslearnstocks419]

Wow . you explained things so simply.

[@AgnieszkaPaulina]

Excellent video! Last week, I switched off all my app notifications and started limiting my use of social media. I feel so much better

[@palakmehta365]

getting caught up between "YOLO" and "Live responsibly"

[@c.s.hayden3022]

It’s making us all weaker and stupider.

[@배추멘]

an obviously toxic and self-sabotage behaviour that most people are yet to overcome

[@GL1TCH_88]

Deep message and great humour too.

[@vasutiwari4187]

delayed gratification hmmm

[@lostpencil2147]

D1: 4

[@LP-fr7gj]

Who else wished to be part of this game called mashmellow test

[@smug8567]

The fact is, more people are living better right here than anyone else ever before in history. So don’t expect us to roll over and play dead when you say you’re dissatisfied. It’s not perfect, but it’s a great deal better than when we grew up: a hundred men standing in the street hoping for one job; selling apples on the street corner- that’s one of the things we were dissatisfied about; and you don’t see that much anymore.You’re taller, stronger, healthier, and you live longer than the last generation; and we don’t think that’s altogether bad. You’ve probably never seen a ‘Quarantine’ sign on a neighbor’s door. Diphtheria, scarlet fever, whooping cough-probably none of your classmates are crippled with polio. You don’t see many mastoid scars anymore. We’ve done quite a bit of fighting all around the world. Whether you think it was moral or not a lot of people are free to make their own mistakes today because of it. And that may just include you.I don’t know; maybe part of it’s the fact that you’re in a hurry. You’ve grown up on instant orange juice. Flip a dial-instant entertainment. Dial seven digits-instant communication. Turn a key-push a pedal-instant transportation. Flash a card-instant money. Shove in a problem-push a few buttons-instant answers.But some problems you can’t get quick answers for, no matter how much you want them.We took a little boy into Central Receiving Hospital yesterday; he’s four years old. He weighs eight-and-a-half pounds. His parents just hadn’t bothered to feed him. Now give me a fast answer to that one-one that’ll stop that from ever happening again. And if you can’t settle that one, how about the 55,000 Americans who’ll die on the highway this year? That’s nearly six or seven times the number that’ll get killed in Iraq. Why aren’t you up in arms about that? Or is dying in a car somehow moral?

[@johndavidson5910]

Thank you for the comment! To help give some context, this talk was developed to fit within a very specific theme on a specific topic, so not meant to solve or comment on all of societies issues, just this specific one, which I believe is one of many important problems :) I believe there are some great talk on the other valid issues that you brought up. You make a great point about our society living better than any other time in human history. I completely agree. Technology can be such a blessing and has benefited our society in so many ways! It can also have some significant consequences. My goal here is to bring awareness to the significant issue of immediate gratification and decreased attention spans, which technology, specifically smart phones and social media, have quickly accelerated. I see the effects in my life and others. What a sad story about that child! You're right, many issues don't have quick answers. I don't know enough about that situation to comment on it. I pray that no children have to deal with those neglectful circumstances. Sadly, many do. You'll notice my comment on texting and driving deaths, 11 teenage deaths every single day! How sad that the inability to wait on a call or text is literally killing our children! Those kids dying in cars on the highway are exactly some of the consequences that I'm talking about. Long story short, immediate gratification brings along a whole host of issues. Smart phones and social media have accelerated many of these. There are benefits and drawbacks to the technology of our day. I believe we'd be better off if we could put our phones down a little more. Like I said, I'm still working on it myself :) Thank you again for taking the time to write your thoughtful comment.

[@Torgo1969]

You’ve probably never seen a ‘Quarantine’ sign on a neighbor’s door. OOPS! Spoke too soon!

[@odalismikaelle]

this was on point keep trying with the boomerang 😂 we're all learning something, practice improves 🌟🤍✨