So … first I need to ask you a few questions:
- What do you truly, deeply desire?
- What is getting in the way of you getting it?
- What is the big hairy fear that you have?
- What will your life be like if you don’t get what you truly, deeply desire?
- How does it feel inside you to be constantly smashing up against you fears?
- And what message are you giving your children if you are not truly living your deep desire?
Take a few moments and really consider your answers to those questions.
You are an entrepreneur and the reality is that more kids these days will probably be entrepreneurs. Or at least, the way the world is moving, there is more possibility of our kids being entrepreneurs at some point in their lives.
Our entire world is shifting with the advent of communication being at our finger tips.
As parents, leaders and entrepreneurs we have the responsibility to do a few things.
One of the things we need to do is to take our kids’ education more seriously and take control of it.
We can’t expect the education system to teach our kids the way of the world…it’s an old school system and old world thinking (and I mean 1980’s old).
The education system is not in alignment with the way the world is right now – most everyone has a phone – and with that, most everyone has the world at their finger tips…and that is so powerful it’s ridiculous.
We need to nurture their talents. Whatever you are talented at can make you money. Google anything and you will see that someone is making a living doing it. Any idea is a great idea.
We need to teach them how to sell. They need to be taught how to ask for what they want (that’s selling!)
We need to introduce them to the personal development industry. It’s a multi billion dollar industry! And we need to have them start as young as possible.
We need to bring them to events, get them to read books, so they can learn through osmosis. They can’t help but absorb what they learn if they are engulfed in it. Look at ourselves – our kids don’t like to listen to much of what we say (their parents), but they do absorb what we say and do – whether any of us realize it or not!
We need to inspire them to create … to take ownership of their livelihood, to take ownership of their future. People that take ownership of their world change the world around them too.
We inspire our kids through our own lives which means we need to take ownership too.
WARNING: your kids absorb EVERYTHING.
They watch our every move and they hear our every word. Even the negative self talk you think you are keeping to yourself. Especially that!
So when you tell them that they can be and do anything they want, be sure that you are living proof.
If you are not in integrity with those words for yourself, it is a fail of epic proportion.
If you teach them to take the safe, practical route and never go after what they truly desire, it is a fail of epic proportion.
I do hope this strikes a nerve for you today, because it really did for me.
I have two teenage daughters – aged 16 and 18 – and it hasn’t always been easy.
From a young age, I taught them to be self-motivated and self-reliant. To take personal responsibility for their actions, and be accountable for their own future.
They in turn teach me to do the same.
Sometimes it’s can be a battle, but it’s that accountability that helps keep us all on track.
My friend and colleague Susanne Hemet is a great resource to learn about how to use your core strengths and values to become more successful. I interviewed Susanne for my Canadian Domination Telesummit and I’d love to share that recording with you. You can listen to it here.
Enjoy, and be sure to take lots of notes. It’s a really great call!