What we really should be teaching our kids!

Restored from the Empower Network archive (2011–2017), lightly edited to meet our current advertising standards. Views are the original author’s.

Growing up in school, I don’t ever recall anyone talking about Business or Entrepreneurship or even dreaming big for that matter.

We were taught to go to school, get good grades, perhaps go on to University/ College, end up with a huge student Loan and work 15 years + to pay it off.

The truth is, most people think that getting a 9-5 job is the ONLY option! No wonder our kids go through the same motion and find themselves stuck in the same pattern.

We as parents must ensure our kids know all options available to them, which includes entrepreneurship.

We are all created and born to “create” and kids are natural builders and entrepreneurs.

In fact kids, already have entrepreneur qualities from a young age. They quickly learn and are masters at negotiating, sales, speaking, creative ideas, not afraid to take risk, no worry of money and lack of resources, they use what is around them etc.

What happens is over time we as parents don’t ignite or grow the “entrepreneurship” within our kids. What’s worse is we too settle in the rat race and our kids only do what they see us do.

There are many examples of entrepreneurs that started as kids;

At 6yrs old Warren Buffett sold packs of gum to the neighbourhood

At 11yrs old Richard Branson bred parakeets and sold them as pets

At 12yrs old Mark Cuban learned business basics by selling rubbish bags door to door

and the list goes on….

Here is what you can do to help spark “entrepreneurship” within your kids:

1. Acknowledge their qualities such as leadership, hard work, creative ideas etc

2. Keep an eye out for your kids passions (something that comes naturally to them & their eyes light up!)

3. Steer and develop that passion.. for example our 12 yr old daughter loves to dance. She practices sometimes 20 hours+per week. Sometimes she comes home exhausted but she’ll be up early the next day doing it all again

4. Continue to grow their gift and passion > tutoring, mentors, workshops etc

5. Don’t limit your child’s creativity by making comments such as “that idea will cost too much money?”, “how will we pay for that?” etc

6. Reward them for their efforts

7. Remind them that a JOB is not their only option! If they want to be a doctor or lawyer, how about starting their own firm or medical centre?

8. Cut out the TV! again I will say this.. it will only try to add negative thoughts.

9. Create a Vision Board for them that displays the things they want to achieve and do

10. Be there for them and remind them to never ever give up!