I was having a father to daughter talk last night with my 13 year old daughter about how our attitude effects each day of our life. We all have a lot on our plate and I think young kids just becoming teenagers have a whole lot on their minds. There is a lot of social pressure and let’s face it things are happening fast, bodies and minds are changing rapidly.
The conversation from her side is: I don’t understand her and why do I keep on trying to push this positive mental attitude stuff on her. Why do I subject her to listening to Robert Kyosaki’s “The Cash Flow Quadrant” when we are driving in the car. Or even worse, OMG…listening to Jim Rohn, Todd Falcone, Jeffery Combs, Jerry Clark, and this crazy guy who even makes her laugh sometimes…that goes by the name of Cedrick Harris.
“Dad, can’t you let me and my friends just be miserable?!” I tell her I wish I had access to this stuff when I was growing up.
Anyway, the conversation on my end was getting very animated and I was trying to find an analogy that makes sense and paints the right picture. The analogy I used is this, weeds will grow in your garden and in your mind without water or nourishment, they just grow and grow…fast! So you have to cultivate your garden/mind or the weeds will take over. She seemed to agree with me, but I was not quite sure. She went to bed and I started reading a new book that I recently purchased called “Stepping Stones to Success” which features interviews with experts in their chosen field, I am happy to say that two of the experts interviewed are friends of mine, Cedrick Harris and Casey Eberhart. I met both of these men at seminars while I was striving to get the weeds out of my garden. But, the interview I read was with David Wright interviewing Dr. Denis Waitley. I was blown away by what I was about to read. Dennis Waitley’s grandmother said to a nine year old Dennis Waitley “weeds would come unannounced and uninvited-into life, they didn’t even need to be watered.”
The next morning I had to show this to my daughter and have her read it. She read it and said, “dad, you’re smarter than I thought you were…and, ah by the way you know that book you got for me…Who Moved My Cheese? for Teens, I read it last night and it is awesome!” Will wonders never cease!
If you are ready to kill the weeds in your network marketing business and have your free lead generation garden grow… You are definitely at the right place at the right time. See You at the Top!
Hi John,
A great article with fantastic observations for not just your kids imagination but for all of us. I agree that it is essential that our kids are exposed to the teachings of these great guys as early as possible. It may be many years before they will be able to understand why we did it or for us to be thanked for putting them through it, but be sure both will be a by product of our endevours.
The modern cyber social world is a scary place for our children but by them being armed with this kind of information will make sure that they chose wisely and make the correct decisions more often than the wrong ones and that is all we can ask…
Keep it up my good man!
best wishes for 2010
Adrian M King
Thank you Adrian. I think you are right on track. A lot of the good stuff will stick in their subconscious mind. Ours too. Never stop learning and growing.
John
John, I raised 3 daughters and I wish I had this information. Keep talking to her, she will love you for it.
Thank you very much Cathy!
Hey John,
Your are definitely tilling out the weeds and doing a great job. Constant learning with a positive attitude, excellent. With God’s Grace, our Faith may we all have a blessed day. Thanks John.
Steven Hippe
Personalized Attraction Marketing
Steve, Thank you so much for the kind comments.
John,
I have to agree with you 100%. From my point of view, as someone who has a checkered past and really did not become a professional or serious entrepreneur until my 30′s I have to say you are dead on.
I certainly wish I had that kind of positive input growing up. I was hard headed, but some constant exposure to these essential concepts would certainly have benefited me. I may have started making a great contribution to the world and my community much earlier in life.
It may be uncomfortable sometimes, and the kids may not realize the value until years later in some cases, but it is still worth it for you to make the effort. The analogies on what you plant and harvest will always have relevance.
Thanks for the post!
~ Scott Blasczyk
Success Mentor
Thank you so much Scott!
John,
Having a 16 year old son myself I truly understand and appreciate the need to make sure that your child is being exposed to the best mindset training available. Very much like yourself I constantly have self development on in the car while driving anywhere while at the same time I am always reading along the same lines.
The trick to this I have seen is to relate it to something that he wants out of his life and show him that through the vehicle of self development, self discipline, and continuous learning he can achieve anything.
So far it has been a very effective strategy since my son is not only an accomplished mixed martial artist (think UFC), but is also a leader within his church group and a very good pianist on top of being on his high school’s wrestling team. Just in case you were wondering… yes, I am a proud father.
Our children’ future is in our hands. It is up to us to mold them.
To Our Massive Success,
John
Thank you for the excellent comment and insight John.