There doesn't seem to be much difference between planning ahead and living for the present. Afterall, you wouldn't be sure of what you want in the future. For example, one might study hard in school for years to be a doctor, just to realise 1 year before graduation that by then he doesn't really want to be a doctor anymore (tough luck if he's not from a rich family. He'll have to push on or lay in some bomb debt.)

So what was the guy who studied hard in school doing all the while? He seemed to be doing just what he wanted to do. He wanted to be a doctor, and he worked towards it, thinking that he would eventually be fulfilled by doing so.

Now "delayed gratification" doesn't make much sense anymore.