What lesson are you giving your kids about work?

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When I wake up my kids for school I sometimes get a grumble about getting out of bed. I'm sure I'm not the only parent to know what this is like. Especially the teenagers!

Often it's the "Why do I have to go to school?" or "Schools so boring dad!".

So I use the often-used argument that I have to go to work so they have to go to school. But this argument was ruined for me when I took my sons to one too many of my presentations. Now the cheeky buggers use my words against me!

They say "But it's all right for you dad as you love your work".

What do you say to that hey? They know it's true because I tell them how important it is to love your work and have it be fulfilling as you spend so much of your life there. They can't control their time and activities at school so it's different from choosing your profession, and they know it. They don't have the opportunity to match their activities to there particular values, personality or passions.

But when you become an adult you get to choose. Then why do we choose work that is unfulfilling? It amazes me that people bitch and moan about their work but don't do anything to change it. They don't take control of their careers.

They tell their kids that they just have to work to earn money. To suck it up and just do it. Lifes a bitch but what do you do. What sort of lesson are we imparting on our children, that work is suffering so live for weekends and holidays? There has to be a better way.

You can't fake it either. It's not something you can tell your kids and not live yourself as they feel it, see it and experience it in your behaviour. If you come home exhausted and complain about your boss/co-workers/clients and have negative energy, they relate this to what work is.

Imagine you come home after having a fulfilling day helping people, even though there are challenges, it's a completely different energy. Your mood is more balanced and you don't have to drink a few beers or watch some TV to relax. Kids pick up on this energy and learn to relate it to where mum and dad go each day. Work becomes a thing they don't want to do, rather than something to look forward to.

When I was working at Hewlett Packard I never forget walking in one day and seeing this old guy sitting at his desk. He looked grey, spent and like a shell of a person. He looked like a dead person walking around like a regular person - I vowed right then that I would never be like that.

So I built my brand and career assets so I could have more choices in my work. I'm fascinated with what makes entrepreneurs tick and how they can find more joy in work, spark in their day and flow in their business. Consequently, I run a business helping these people. I'm always on as they say. Not because I have to be, but because it's my passion.

I even pulled my laptop out at a bar last Saturday night to help a past client and friend get their website back online! She called me a big dag, but I'm sure she is grateful that her website is sorted out now. (You are welcome Miss Filly haha)

Does this mean I go to work every day and there is never a problem, issue, tough day or I never feel sad? No. What it means is I find the work worthwhile so when I get a setback, feel down or need a lift, my work makes me feel BETTER. It reignites my inspiration and gets me back into flow. Work helps me get through these tough times.

A great way to lift your spirits is to help someone else.

I understand many people reading this would be thinking it's easier said than done. I get it, we all need to balance financial needs with a business built around your passions. Practical needs sometimes outweigh your own needs. But surely it's worthwhile working towards it. I urge you to think of the long term lessons you are imprinting on your kids.

The world has changed so much in the last few decades that you can make a living doing pretty much anything! We live in remarkable times where with a laptop, phone and an abundance of passion, you can earn as much as a corporate worker, but with control of your time and the fulfillment of being your own boss.

All I ask is you take the time to consider all your options for earning a living. There are more than you think. In future blogs, I will share some cool examples of people living life their way.

Don't be the dead person walking around pretending to be living. Be the inspired person you were meant to be, living life to the full and showing the next generation that working and being of service to people is fulfilling and rewarding.

Andrew

Andrew Ford

Marketing expert Andrew Ford, the founder of Social Star, has discovered the secret of ‘Powerful Branding’. With a fire for unleashing people’s inner brand and developing business models to generate profit from an individual’s passions, Andrew leverages ground-breaking digital and social media marketing techniques to create digital strategies for clients to attract maximum opportunities. Having established a strong name for himself in the field, Andrew blends traditional business techniques with now-necessary tools for entrepreneurs to achieve scale, quality, and influence in their niche. Andrew’s comprehensive business background and qualifications consist of a Bachelor of Business (Marketing) (RMIT 2003), a Graduate Certificate in Management (MBA Executive Program, University of Sydney 2005), and a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation (Swinburne University 2011). Continually on the cutting edge of his own education, Andrew has tested his marketing theories in forums such as the BCG Business Strategy Competition, which he won in 2005 against all Victorian MBA schools, and the Venture Cup Business Plan Competition (Swinburne University 2003), which he won in the Masters category. With experience working at Hewlett-Packard, Sensis (Telstra) and IBM, Andrew also has mentored dozens of junior staffs to help them achieve their professional goals. Meeting and influencing high-profile public figures helped Andrew to realise just how many professionals require more understanding and control of their public brands or appearance, and need help with the skills to use the many amazing free tools at their disposal to generate success. At Social Star, Andrew consults with clients to uncover their personal brand – both where it is today and where it can be tomorrow – and refine and define how that should be displayed in social media in order to attract their perfect target audience. Andrew mentors his clients to rapidly grow their business’ audiences, resulting in larger potential client bases and higher revenue. Applying formulas that integrate over twenty years of Andrew’s business experience and fifteen years of formal business education, Social Star specialises in building clarity and velocity for clients’ brands using the ‘Understand, Build and Leverage’ methodology. ‘Having a Personal Business enables people to have an authentic, congruent connection with their valued clients and partners, using their brand as the bridge,’ says Andrew. ‘I’m highly driven to work with the new breed of entrepreneurs and small business owners – people who have a passion for making the world a better place. Traditional business models are stepping aside as people follow their innermost dreams and my role is to see them operate within their values while creating wealth. Some people think you have to sacrifice what you love to be successful in your business, yet it is actually the opposite. Follow your passion and success will come.’ Lecturing at Swinburne University from 2009 to 2011 on brand dynamics and digital marketing, presenting at numerous conferences, and consulting to hundreds of clients, Andrew has seen his philosophy work that if you follow your unique path, based on your skills, experience, values and goals, you will automatically attract the opportunities you desire and achieve the success you deserve. Living his mantra, Andrew has created a successful business and attracts high-profile clients including musicians, athletes, authors, models, entrepreneurs, professionals and small business owners, helping them find their ‘why’ in their business and fulfilment in their lives. Business for Andrew is more than work, it’s personal. Running a personal business means that he is able to fulfil all of his values rather than separating his life from work. It supports his two boys while providing social opportunities, educational development, fitness opportunities, spiritual fulfilment and many valuable friendships. Social Star has now become the vehicle for Andrew to crystallise his mission in the world, to help people love what they do, supporting his ‘why’, that if more people loved what they did, the world would be a better place.

 
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