I Spoke with 70 Parents of Highly Successful Adults—Here Are Their Top 4 Secrets From When Their Kids Were Young

The summer is a good time to take stock of how your kids are faring. Are they doing something that excites them? Do they wake up every morning eager to get going? Are they happy ?

I didn’t inquire about their grades since if you responded “yes” to those queries, their GPA isn’t really significant. What genuinely counts is whether they are flourishing.

For my book " Raising an Entrepreneur "I spoke with 70 parents who raised highly successful adults Regarding how they assisted their children in realizing their aspirations. The gathering was quite varied, encompassing individuals from various racial origins, belief systems, financial statuses, familial setups, and academic histories.

Although numerous individuals struggled academically, each one thrived as they discovered passions and groups that ignited their enthusiasm.

These are the four actions taken by the parents of highly successful individuals during their children’s early years:

1. They backed their kids' interests.

Each person I talked to who has thrived as an adult mentioned having a childhood passion. Except for those few who were creative types and kept at it throughout their lives, most of these individuals ended up working in fields unrelated to what excited them when they were young.

Why was it crucial for the parents to support and encourage whichever passions their children exhibited?

As the activity was something they had chosen for themselves, they felt enthusiastic about putting in the effort. Through this, they acquired qualities like resilience and steadfastness. became quite skilled These experiences instilled in them the confidence to achieve success whenever they dedicated themselves fully to a task.

Even though numerous parents couldn't grasp their children's enthusiasm, they backed them up, recognizing the happiness it brought to their kids. The most accomplished grown-ups thrived under the knowledge that their parents were steadfast supporters through every endeavor.

2. They instructed their kids to welcome failures.

The entrepreneurs I featured most prominently in my book who achieved remarkable success are risk takers .

During my investigation, I discovered that individuals most inclined to embrace risk-taking are those who did not face punishment nor develop a fear of failing during their formative years. This philosophy echoes a statement by Billie Jean King that resonates with me: “What you refer to as failure, we see as valuable input.”

Their parents consistently instilled in them the idea that although it’s beneficial to engage in competition, strive for success, and aim to triumph, it’s equally important to accept defeat. Failures offer opportunities to learn, develop, and evolve. cultivate a spirit of resilience .

The parents I spoke with consistently encouraged their children's endeavors, instead of merely concentrating on their successes.

3. They promoted curiosity and independence

Kids who are encouraged to stay curious discover that by continuously investigating, they can find ways to enhance, broaden, or reimagine something they adore and have extensive knowledge of.

In my book, the aspiring business leaders learned from their parents to question, “Must things remain like this? What steps can I take to improve?” It’s these inquiries that frequently lead to the foundation of highly successful enterprises.

Numerous parents mentioned to me that they did not wish for their children to accept things simply because "that's how it is."

As their children became more competent, the parents also refrained from giving in to the urge to do or correct things for them. Instead, they provided their kids with the means to solve problems themselves.

4. They stressed the importance of empathy and compassion.

Many of the entrepreneurs featured in my book learned from an early age how to understand others' feelings, and as they grew up, they developed a strong desire to address the issues and challenges faced by those around them within their communities.

They grew up with a sincere wish to enhance people’s lives. Though making substantial profits frequently followed, their parents never instructed them that accumulating wealth should be the primary aim.

This feeling of empathy motivated them to produce that artwork, item, or service designed to offer others comfort and happiness. Consequently, this basis supported their efforts. build successful careers and lives.

Margot Machol Bisnow She is a writer, spouse, and parent hailing from Washington, D.C. With a tenure of two decades in governmental roles, such as serving as an FTC Commissioner and Chief of Staff for the President’s Council of Economic Advisers, she has also authored various works. Nurturing an Entrepreneur: Strategies to Assist Your Kids in Fulfilling Their Vision. Follow her on Instagram @margotbisnow .

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