My son, Frank, is almost six years old – and he’s been somewhat involved in my business since he was 18 months old.
He used to help carry packages into the post office with us (when we still did that part of this job). He helped stuff packages as well – even tried to tape them from time to time.
And today, whenever I give a seminar in Tampa, provided he’s in the U.S. – he introduces me. Afterward, he goes around with the digital camera I bought for him, snapping photos of me while I speak. I should mention that NONE of this has been forced upon him. He simply wants to be involved.
Frank also has a father who knows beyond a shadow of a doubt, that you get ahead in life by putting more time in on a subject than anyone else. Want to excel in basketball. Spend more time on the court than anyone else. Same goes for baseball, football, wrestling, boxing as well as any other academic or career endeavor.
Frank’s father is also a pragmatic sort of guy; a person who has no patience for things that don’t contribute to life-long success. And truth be told, most of what people learn in school today, from pre-school through college, contributes almost nothing to being a successful human being.
Sad, but true. This is why it is NOT coincidental that many of the greatest successes never finished college. They were simply bored with the lack of practical life-long application of many of the subjects.
From Ben Franklin to Mark Twain to Thomas Edison to Albert Einstein, Walt Disney, Steve Jobs and Bill Gates – you’ll find that all of these people were life-long learners – just not life-long learners in a “school.” The whole world was their school – not the mentally handicapped classroom.
In a recent discussion with some friends, I told them about some of the ridiculous drivel that Frank’s kindergarten teacher has tried to dump his way. And during that discussion I mapped out a list of the truly important subjects that a person, of any age, should study if he wants to succeed in life. As you look at this list of subjects, take note of how many you do or do NOT know. Or better yet, think of the failures you know – and consider how little they know from this list.
Furey’s List of Required Subjects to Study for Life-long Success
Physical Exercise – don’t take care of your machine and it falls apart – not intelligent if you ask me
Wrestling or some other form of Martial Arts – not my advice; this comes from Plato, Aristotle, Socrates and so on.
Meditation/Deep Breathing – imagine that, learning to relax
Reading – how many people today who can read – ever DO read?
Writing – not being able to write a simple letter is pretty sad
Speaking in Public – should not be biggest fear of mankind – tis easy if you simply get up and do it.
Anatomy/Biology – you oughta know how your machine works
Basic Math – especially what I call “money math”
History – those who don’t know the past are doomed to repeat it
Computers – sort of a no-brainer these days
Goal Setting – not taught in schools – but mega important
Time Management – once again, not taught
Positive Attitude – most teachers need this one
Marketing/Selling – nothing happens in a business until something is sold
Relationship development – How to get along with others – not a bad idea, eh?
Bear in mind that these subjects are the basics. If you want to be a laywer, doctor, dentist or accountant, you’ll need more than the above – but to become a successful human being – these pretty much summarize the necessities.
You might be saying, what about music? And, what about art?
I’m all in favor of them. And they are part of what we have our son learning. Yet, I’m certain he will do just fine if he cannot draw much more than a stick figure or if he has trouble singing a single note. I should know. When it comes to art and music, although I listen to powerful music and surround myself with various types of art – I, myself, have never learned anything beyond what a two-year old knows on either subject. They are highly desireable things to learn – but not essential to your success. Tis always easier to simply sit back and enjoy the art and music of others – which I do a good job of.
In regard to the subject of math, my wife, Zhannie, was #1 in her class in China. Now – in case you’re not aware, this ain’t easy to do in the U.S. – much less China. When it comes to Algebra, Trigonometry, Calculus and so on – she is a true genius. Somehow knows the answer without even working out the equation. As for ME – I could care less about the subject, beyond what is required to run a good business.
Well, just yesterday Zhannie said, “Even though I love math – I have never used any of the complicated stuff a single time in my entire life. All I do is money math.”
Such is not be the case for chemists – that’s for sure. But last time I checked, my son doesn’t need to be a chemist to be a successful human being.
And speaking of success, mark my words, I will NEVER teach my son that the point of him going to school right now is so he can go to a major prestigious college and get a degree, then get a job working for some big corporation.
Sadly, that’s the sort of garbage being taught to kids today. A far better message, in my opinion, is telling your child you love him and that you want him to …
Kick ass and take names!