Early on, it’s really all up to you to condition your children to be a successful entrepreneur.
Most of us know the basics, like teaching them to get up early every day “the early bird gets the worm” kinda thing. We teach them to keep their word when they make a promise. To finish the things they start….
However, there are some traits that are harder than others to help your child develop into a hard-nosed and successful business person. Someone who never backs down and doesn’t let fear get in the way of a good opportunity.
Often, it’s our desire to protect them and prepare them for the harsh realities that lie ahead which so often sets them up for failure.
Here are my top 3 picks for traits that parents need to focus on from early on for maximum success as an entrepreneur:
1. Teach them to solve their own problems early on
So many parents make the mistake of solving all our children’s problems, usually from the day they’re born until sometime into early puberty, when we’re not able to spend nearly every waking hour with them any more. In order to be a successful entrepreneur when they’re older, our kids need to develop brainstorming skills and the ability to weigh the pros and cons of various life and business-making decisions on their own. As a parent, you’re still going to be integral to helping your kids come to their own conclusions. Teach them to carefully identify each problem that comes up in their life while weighing the possible solutions, along with the pros and cons, and then focus on coming to a conclusion for the best option. Also present them with fictitious scenarios whenever possible while also mixing in math, spelling and grammar questions to help their left and right brain work in tandem.
2. Focus on rebounding from failure from day one
Well, maybe not exactly from day one. After all, they can’t move very much and certainly can’t talk for the first several months! However, use praise in combination with constructive feedback when they get knocked down — one way or the other — to teach them that success will rarely come on their first try. From the day they start crawling, your child will begin overcoming adversity. As a unique approach to parenting, try to only show your future entrepreneur disappointment only when they give up. If they continue to persevere and listen to both yours and other adult’s insights, try to maintain a positive approach. Tell them when they’re on the right path or wrong, while instilling in them that success is within their reach.
3. Don’t teach them how to fear or they’ll suffer later on
Consider that your kids will be living under your roof for at least 17 years. Imagine a habit (like smoking, drinking, gambling, etc.) and how hard it is to quit such a bad habit after spending at least two decades under its thumb! The brain is developing at such a high rate of speed throughout these formative pre-adult years, and everything you say and do as a parent has the potential to become part of the behaviors and values your child will exhibit as an adult. Setting them up for entrepreneurial failure is as easy as teaching your kids to fear making mistakes or to encourage them to avoid diving into each and every unknown out there in the world. Let your kids test their own boundaries, unless it puts them in mortal danger! They’ll thank you later when they look toward each opportunity in front of them with a healthy sense of optimism and potential for success.
It’s all on your shoulders for the first bit…
Of course, there’s so much more we can all do to raise future entrepreneurs. I chose these 3 because problem solving, rebounding from failure, and the ability to press forward without fear are so easy to mess up as a parent. Not because we don’t want the best for them, but because we so often want to protect them from danger and pain. We give them the answers and insist they follow our lead to avoid unpleasant consequences; tell them why they failed at something and how they should move on and try something easier or safer; teach them that challenging the status-quo will always result in a negative, regardless their approach — etc.
As a parent, the examples you set and the behaviors and mindset you encourage early on will have long-term effects on who your child eventually becomes. It’s all on your shoulders to instill these 3 foundational traits early, to condition your child for a life of happiness and success!
Main image by Olga/ Олька
