Though it is not always as it seems, they do not always see all the hard work, time spent working each day, and that means they have less time for themselves and their family.
Therefore, why would anyone want to encourage their children to follow along this path? There are a variety of positives as to why entrepreneurship is great for children.
For example, self-belief: this is such an important trait for them to learn from a young age. They begin to trust their own instincts and intuition, which leads them to be confident in making their own decisions and not being swayed by others who do not have their best interests at heart.
All throughout school lives children are prepared to pass examples, whether in primary, or secondary school or once they get to college or university, however, this does not provide them appropriately with the life skills they need to face obstacles when they leave the educational system. By opening their eyes to the possibility of taking a different route when traversing their school years, they are provided with the options to make an informed decision of which path they want their lives to take at this point.
There are a variety of ways you can start this process off, and one of them is to allow them to go to work with you, not only to observe moreover to help and begin to learn some skills which will be of benefit. This has a secondary gain in that you get to spend some quality time with them, which they may not get generally as you work so many hours.
Some of the skills they will learn are communication- how to deal with a variety of people they would not meet at home; this could be a form of networking, building ambition, and drive and finding what they are passionate about.
They will learn that not everything in life is handed to you on a plate, so they get a better understanding of what you do but also understand that you are not always able to spend time with them at home.
Practically here are some of the things you can teach them, which are skills to benefit them no matter their choice.
Problem-Solving:
We all know that in business as with many parts in life how we solve problems is a skill which would be such an advantage to learn at a young age. Being an entrepreneur can be such a lonely job and usually you are the only one who can solve the problems you face.
Resilience:
How they learn to overcome issues that don’t go to plan know matter how well they feel they have worked on their problems. There are not many times when you set out in business that you get everything right the first time and sometimes not even the second or third time so building resilience will help them to keep going until they resolve their issue.
Goal Setting:
This teaches them that not everything is available straight away, they need to work towards it which means they learn to look and plan. They become aware that it is better to break large outcomes into smaller manageable pieces, which feel like celebrations when they achieve each one as it gets them a step closure to their outcome.
Financial Awareness:
Kids are not usually taught the value of money early enough in life, most think that the bank of mum and dad is an endless pit. When they come to work with you, they learn how hard it is to make money and why you need to prioritise at times where you spend this money. No matter how much you earn it is always a great benefit to teach children the real value of money.
These are just a few of the many life skills that entrepreneurship can teach children, but it is also about equipping them with the right tools and resources that they can utilise as they grow themselves.
Please think of the skills that you wish someone had explained to you when you were younger; how much of an impact could they have had on your life? While you may not have been taught these skills you can ensure you teach your children these life skills which will enable them to face difficulties that you faced with more ease, confidence and the belief they will succeed.
Keep encouraging your children in all their endeavours and remember that maybe someday when they put all these learnings you have provided for them into practice, they maybe come more successful than you.
By teaching your children the skills to be an entrepreneur, they learn that life is not all about making money only; that is only a part of it. The real lesson is finding the balance to really enjoy the fruits of their labour by having time for themselves and their families and not sacrificing these special moments.
Tony Gordon
www.changingyourmindltd.com
tonygordon@changingyourmindltd.com
https://linktr.ee/acdg1
I am a certified wellbeing practitioner and coach, helping my clients achieve their personal and professional goals. The essence of my work is to facilitate self-growth by helping you identify the core challenges and obstacles in your life, so that you can overcome them with confidence. I specialise in creating personalised plans and providing tools to guide you forward to achieve your desired goals.
