Welcome back!
Guess what? I get to be a guest on The Kitchen Table Entrepreneur show on the VoiceAmerica.com Business network at 1 PM on February 26th. The tables will be turned as host Jackie Rogers gets to interview me. Jackie is the founder of TheKitchenTableEntrepreneur.com, and created the show out of Jackie’s belief that this is one of the best times ever to start a business. There are emerging markets right here and opportunities always exist, regardless of economic forecasts. Jackie believes in an ever changing business environment it is almost imperative that a secure financial plan include some form of entrepreneurship. Her goal for the show is to motivate and share relevant news, views and information with the audience to make the best decisions in starting and running their businesses.
I asked Jackie to write an article with some advice for new parents. Here is an excerpt from her article entitled “Change You Should Conceive In.” Interested? Read more at her WetPaint blog.
“Not much has changed in the way we view the connection between college and success. As soon as the pregnancy is confirmed, well meaning parents start in earnest devising a financial plan to send junior or juniorette to college. The great post secondary education industrial complex has done its marketing job extremely well. Not only does the belief system equate a college degree with a better life; but that one is practically entitled to it. And most of us know oh so different. But beliefs like habits are hard to let go of.
Let’s say you have a baby this year. In 17 to 18 years; let’s say the cost to go to a good college (we won’t even mention the Ivy Leagues) is half million dollars (yes, an exaggeration but probably not too far off) . Personal financial experts have been saying for years that it’s better to plan for retirement than for college. But in some quarters not planning for your child’s college education is tantamount to admitting child abuse. However by locking yourself and your child in that belief system, maybe the real abuse is denying your child the ability to choose and you the ability to buy groceries and medicine.
I believe each child comes into the world with a set of unique gifts, talents and skills. And I believe these attributes come into view quite early; for example; the child who likes to tear things up only to put them back together. These gifts don’t necessarily need a university’s stamp of approval. They need nurturing and discipline to be ready for the opportunities to use them.
The American Dream exists for those who wake up to the fact that it is what we and people all over the world say it is: the land of opportunity. And what is opportunity? Well, according to the dictionary, it is a favorable time, due to a conjuncture of circumstances that will produce a positive result. Youth yet unbounded by adult dictates and demands is a favorable time to discover who you are and what you’re passionate about doing. And then being just crazy enough to go do it.
I’m not anti college as much as pro opportunity. The best thing we can do is to educate our children that security comes from within. We should teach them the value of using their talents and gifts as a way of providing for themselves and benefiting others. Contrary to popular opinion, most children catch on to basic business concepts rather quickly; from the lemonade stand mogul to the dynamo girl scout cookie salesperson. It is a joy to see a child full of healthy pride; a spark of empowerment ignited by what the work of their hands have done.
Let’s raise our children to love learning which is a lifelong endeavor. And the best learning often comes from outside a classroom. Unfortunately many of our young people spend an inordinate amount of time watching…the internet, television. They are spectators to the success of others, while their own skills go unburnished from lack of use, from lack of confidence and daring.
Let’s raise our children to be daring with their talents. And let’s teach them that they don’t have to wait for ceremonies and certificates to validate their success. Their success will come from being true to their highest selves and having the confidence to take action with their talents and gifts. Richard Branson, Michael Dell, Bill Gates, Rachel Ray along with Mr. Jobs are just some of the entrepreneurs who had enough confidence in their vision take their show on the road, that at their respective times was less traveled but eventually made all the difference; not just for them but for so many others as well.”
So there you go, ideas to consider as we move forward with our youngsters, forging our way and making it up as we go along. Check out what Jackie Rogers has to offer at TheKitchenTableEntrepreneur.com and let me know what you think!
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