You’re actively and intentionally putting points on their competitors scoreboards.
“Every time you bail your kid out of a commitment, remember this:
There is another kid out there COMPETING for the same things you want for your kid in life & his parents aren’t bailing him out.
One of them will win, one will lose, and it won’t be because of ‘luck’, either.”
-Ray Zingler on Twitter
Life = Competition.
You don’t have to like it, but it’s true.
You can actively play and try to win the game or you can subconsciously exist, go through the motions, and “blame the system” for not getting what you think you deserve.
The ladder is a far more popular choice, however the former is far more beneficial to yourself and society.
But now let’s talk about this in the context of kids.
Look at their sports.
Look at their academics.
Look at the marketplace.
Each and every one of those kids is COMPETING for a finite amount of opportunities that exist.
And as adults, parents, and mentors it is our DUTY to give them the best chance to win.
“Oh its okay honey, you don’t have to go.”
Do you realize what you’re doing to your kids when you say this?
You’re actively and intentionally taking points off of THEIR scoreboard and giving them to someone else.
You’re quite literally decreasing their chances of success and increasing their competitors.
While skipping a practice or obligation might seem micro, it’s the micro choices and actions that significantly impact the macro big picture.
Of course they want to play xbox instead of going to practice.
Of course they’d rather watch Netflix than go train.
All humans are hard wired to take the path of least resistance and if we as adults understand this far better than our kids, then what the hell are we doing feeding into their default setting?
If you guessed decreasing their chances of success, again, you’d be 100% correct.
The biggest gift you can give a child doesn’t come in a box.
It doesn’t have 4 wheels, a motor, and a transmission in it.
It’s not a lavish vacation, either.
It’s the gift of discipline.
Its first and foremost leading by example and then holding them (and yourself) accountable to doing things they/you may not feel like doing.
Discipline is the gift that keeps on giving. It grows and compounds just like your strategic investment accounts do.
You want to give your kid an edge this year (and every year)?
Don’t bail them out. See them through it.
ESPECIALLY when its hard or inconvenient.
Their lives literally depend on it.
