You’re driven, but what about your kid?

As a driven executive, you’re ambitious now and likely were as a kid. But how do you pass on these values to your kids without pressure?

In today’s issue, we’re going to cover:

• What contributes to ambition

• How to encourage ambition effectively

• Books about ambition that you can read with your child

Story time

Recently, my daughter had the opportunity to run for student council. She hesitated for a variety of reasons and ultimately didn’t run. My reaction: Shock.

As a kid, I pursued every leadership opportunity that came my way. I couldn’t understand why she didn’t want to seize this chance. My mind quickly spiraled: "If she doesn’t run now, will she avoid opportunities in middle school, high school, and even college?"

I had to stop my thoughts from snowballing. I realized that while she didn’t want to run for this position today, I still wanted to nurture her ambition in whatever way she chose to express it.

Encouraging ambition without pushing

Research shows that ambition is a key driver for long-term success and personal fulfillment. It fosters a growth mindset, which is crucial for resilience and adaptability.

While you can’t force your kid to be president, there are ways to unlock the building blocks of ambition:

1. Inspiration

2. Goal Setting

3. Persistence

Here are some practical ways to surface these three with your kids:

💡Inspiration:

• Learn about impactful people in your community and the world through documentaries and books like the "Who Was" series.

• Ensure your kids have opportunities to meet inspirational people. Stephen Covey used to invite a different people from his community for family dinner so his kids could hear their stories.

🎯Goal Setting:

• Teach your kids to set achievable goals and create plans to reach them. This helps them understand the importance of planning and perseverance. Key word: achievable!

• Celebrate your kiddo’s effort, regardless of the outcome. This reinforces the idea that effort is just as important as success.

💪Persistence:

• Model how to handle setbacks with grace and resilience. Discuss a recent challenge at work and how you navigated it.

• Talk to your kids about your own experiences with trying, failing, and succeeding. Make sure they understand that failure is a part of growth.

Don’t forget to celebrate the wins. Whether or not you agree with reward systems, recognize when your child tried something new, worked hard towards a goal, or accomplished what they didn’t think possible.

Reflect: Your child’s ambition might not show up in an academic way. Think of the last time your kiddo worked hard to achieve something (sports, artistic endeavor, building something, etc.).

Weekly connection moment

Expose your kids to ambition with these great books. Click to buy on Amazon:

Ages 3-5 — “A is for Ambitious” by Meena Harris: This picture book offers ambitious children everywhere inspiration as they pursue their goals and dreams.

Ages 5-8  — “Amazing Grace” by Mary Hoffman: This inspiring book tells the story of Grace, a young girl who dreams of playing Peter Pan in her school play. Grace’s determination and imagination help her overcome skepticism from her classmates.

Ages 9-12  — “Out of My Mind” by Sharon M. Draper: Melody Brooks is a brilliant girl with cerebral palsy who cannot speak or walk. Her ambition and determination help her find a way to share her thoughts with the world.

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