I hope you've had a great week and are moving in the directions of your dreams. This week we're going to jump right into the Charting Your Course to Success Weekly article titled, How to Put Your Kids (Or Grandkids) On the Fast Track to Success. Because it's a lengthy article, I've divided this article into two parts -- we'll cover Part 1 this week and Part 2 next week. I also have a special announcement for everyone, so be sure to check out #4!

Enjoy and keep pursuing your dreams and goals, for that which is worthy of pursuit is worthy of achieving!

You Are Made for Success!
Chris Widener


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Many Thanks!


In This Issue.....

1. Charting Your Course to Success Weekly Article
2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary
3. The Last Word...
4. A Special Download and One-on-One Coaching Invitation!
5. More Information

1. Charting Your Course to Success Weekly Article

How to Put Your Kids (Or Grandkids) On the Fast Track to Success (Part 1 of 2) by Chris Widener

Working with adults (as well as children and teens) for the past 12 years I have noticed that there are just a few primary struggles that most adults face. I also see how better training as a child and teen could have given them the skills and attitudes that would have prevented the problems that they now face.

The primary areas adults struggle with are
1. Money, primarily debt
2. Lack of disciple, or the inability to do what they want to do, be it weight, money, work etc.
3. Relationships

As I see it, much of the way we live our lives is groomed as we grow up. And while we can certainly change, it is harder to do the older we get. This can cut both ways: If we are taught correctly we have a high chance of succeeding as adults and if we are taught poorly, there is a high chance that we will continue those poor habits into adulthood and face many difficulties.

The good news? We can put our kids on the fast track to success by diligently applying some basic success skills. To get you started, I've brainstormed some ways you can head off your children's problems years before they face them. Here we go!

To Have Successful Relationships:

Show them unconditional love. No matter what, we are to welcome and love our children. This does not mean that we won't get mad at them from time to time or that we won't discipline them when they cross the line. It means that we will always accept them and treat them with the respect they deserve as human beings, no matter what they have done. It means we do not hold grudges against them. We can disagree or even verbally tangle, but then we bury the hatchet and accept one another.

Teach them manners. There are acceptable ways of behaving. Unfortunately, many people today do not know them! Teach your children how to behave so that others are treated well and do not have to put up with our misbehavior. Why? Because they won't put up with it anyway. Many people will simply write you off and never tell you why.

Help them learn to forgive. Most of the relationship problems I work with boil down to this: The people simply will not forgive one another and continue to hold past wrongs against the other person. Here is the fact, and you have to teach this to your kids: People will wrong you. It is what we do with that and how we react that will determine the health of the relationship in the future.

Help them to be able to focus on and serve others. Many parents make their kid feel like they are the center of the universe. One problem with this: They aren't! The world doesn't revolve around your kids and they can't get their way all of the time. What happens later on in life when little Johnny (who was the center of the universe growing up) marries little Suzie (The center of another universe growing up)? You got it, problems! Now they have to share a universe! Instead we should teach our children to help others. We should teach them to consider other people's interests as more important than our own.


To Have Successful Finances:

Make them EARN money. Sure you can give your kids money - we do. But we should also teach them to earn money. We should give them opportunity to earn money. I don't think a kid should get an allowance for doing chores. Chores are the responsibility of being part of the family. But you can give them extra jobs so they can understand fully the hard work they put in and appreciate the value of the money they receive. This will cause them to handle it better.

Have them give money away. Greed works its wonders on some of the nicest people. That is what I have found. And the best way to break greed is to give money away. Our children give away 10% of every dollar they get. This builds generosity into their hearts. We have been doing it so long that it is just a part of them. How can you be greedy about something you are giving away? And when you give it away you can see the good that it does to the people and organizations you help. (One side story: When my son was younger and got one dollar a week in allowance he would give a dime away. He suggested it would be a good thing if he started getting two dollars - because then he would be able to give two dimes away. I don't know if he was being generous or shrewd!)

Teach them about investing. Yesterday I sat in the car explaining the law of supply and demand with my ten year old. Now he knows what something is "worth." Now he knows why Beanie Babies are so expensive but a very efficient way of separating poor investors from their money. My kids hear about the old guns and butter theory (Guns represent items that appreciate and butter represents the things that melt away. Invest in appreciating assets and you can have all the butter you want later on. Invest in butter and you won't ever have the guns.) These are basic principles that will allow your kids to be financially secure and not strapped later on. They will be the lender and not the borrower.

Teach them to delay self-gratification. I touched on this in the last point. If we teach our kids to delay gratification, they can put themselves into a financial position wherein they can actually afford the item they want rather than put themselves into debt or a precarious position to get it. Besides, half the time when they wait, they don't want it in three weeks!

Teach them to never have any debt! No debt. Never. Period. Nada. Never, ever, ever. Pay cash or wait. Okay, did I get that through? Now let me be a little more temperate. Debt has created more problems I have dealt with than just about any other issue. Marriage problems, emotional problems, work problems, spiritual problems, and physical problems. We should engrain it into our kid's heads that the only acceptable debt is a home mortgage and they should be conservative with that and even pay cash if they can! I hear you, "But I can't get the car I want!" Too bad! See the guns and butter theory above! Your kids will visit your grave every week with flowers after you are gone if you love them and teach them to avoid debt.


Next week we'll cover the second part of this article. This week read, ponder and then begin or keep applying the principles I've shared with you above; and guide your kids or grandkids on the road to success and living a life filled with joy and satisfaction!

Chris Widener


Chris Widener is an internationally recognized speaker, author and radio host. If you are interested in booking him to speak at your next event, go to http://www.chriswidener.com or send an email to speaker@chriswidener.com or call 877-929-0439 and ask for Hilary.



2. Made for Success Quote and Commentary

"Opportunity dances with those who are ready on the dance floor." -- H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Chris' Commentary:
While I believe that most opportunities are those that we make for ourselves, I also know that many opportunities simply "arrive" in front of us, asking, "Would you care to dance?" The question is whether or not we are ready to dance with Opportunity. Or must we say, "I don't know how to dance. I haven't prepared." Or, "First let me prepare myself." Either way, Opportunity says, "That's okay. I will find someone else. I may be back again, and perhaps you will be ready then." What would you say today if Opportunity arrived and asked you to dance?

Action Point: Get your dance shoes. Take your dance lessons. Get a new suit or dress. All of these are analogies for doing today what you can to be prepared for when Opportunity offers you its hand to dance. Be ready!


Chris is the author of five books including his Newest Release, The Angel Inside - Michelangelo, Il Gigante, and Creating a Life of Power and Beauty. To order The Angel Inside go to http://www.jimrohn.com/shopping/shopexd.asp?id=440 or call 800-929-0434.



3. The Last Word...

We've all have heard the old saying that the rich get richer and the poor get poorer, but have you ever stopped to ask yourself whether or not this is really accurate?

Now, before you get a bee in your bonnet, let’s step back and take a look at this.

Have the rich gotten richer? Of course, there are hundreds of Billionaires in the world whereas 50-100 years ago, there were very few. The trappings of wealth now go beyond the wildest imaginations of even those with the wildest imaginations.

But what about the poor? They too, have gotten richer. 50-100 years ago the poor were truly poor. No running water, no electricity, and no indoor plumbing were standard for the poor. Yet today, because of ingenuity and those who drive the engine of industry and commerce, the vast majority have a telephone, a television, warm housing, a cell phone, a car (or access to affordable public transportation), and food in their pantry. And that isn't even mentioning that the average life span for all people has increased to nearly 80 years of age!

The fact is that we should not begrudge the rich – in many cases they are the ones who make things happen. And when it happens for them it happens for all. "A rising tide lifts all boats," as they say. Now that's not to say that all who are rich have achieved it ethically, although I believe most who have gained lasting wealth have. But again, there are always good and bad/negative and positive stories on both sides of the wealth divide.

So, what about you? Some questions for this week: Are you one who looks at the wealthy with a lack of trust? If so, reconsider your attitude. It may serve you well to shift your paradigm. Or are you one who desires to be wealthy? That's great because in order to do so, you will have to help others. And if you consider your current position to be "poor", take heart. In this day and age, you do not have to remain so. Your future is bright if you choose for it to be!

The rich get richer, and so do the poor. Let's all work to be our best and improve our lives and the lives of those around us!

-- CW

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