Things I learned from my Dad part 1
When I was in 5th grade my Dad came to me in the spring and said, “You’re going to camp.” Cool, I thought, I will love camp. Then my Dad said “You’re paying for half.” Not so cool, I thought. But my dad knew something I didn’t; success in life comes at a cost. See, my Dad understood that experiential learning was the best kind of learning for me. He didn’t want me to know something from a book, he wanted me to know something from success or failure. Camp was a great place to experience success and failure. He ultimately wanted me to have success, but he also wanted me to pay a price for it. This is how you teach a 12 year-old about values.
It funny thinking about this today, because most of the “20 somethings” I encounter want success but they are not willing to pay a price for it. Somewhere in the past 30 years we stopped asking kids to pay a price for success and we just started giving it away.
I’m thankful my dad didn’t just give it to me.
About the Author
Doug Franklin
Doug Franklin is the president of LeaderTreks, an innovative leadership development organization focusing on students and youth workers. Doug and his wife, Angie, live in West Chicago, Illinois. They don’t have any kids, but they have 2 dogs that think they are children. Diesel and Penelope are Weimaraners who never leave their side. Doug grew up in… Read More