Guiding Creative Talent: How to Give Your Kids a Head-start in Life!

All good parents want to pass something on to their offspring. Many leave no stone unturned when it comes to providing quality education. Others write wills so that things don’t fall into the wrong hands when they’re gone. But some parents forget one crucial aspect - ‘guiding creative talent’ in their children. And as you’ll learn from this article, the fundamentals are not as difficult as one might think.

1. Putting others first- Many of us have been taught since we were kids that the surest way to succeed in life is by studying hard and getting a good job or holding down several average jobs. Some parents say ‘never mind, do whatever makes you happy’ but are silently disappointed when their children don’t measure up. Parents can help guide creative talent and promote a ‘success mindset’ by encouraging their children to use skills and talents in the service of others e.g. organising art exhibitions for charitable causes. Children who are taught to use their creativity in positive ways will get the head-start they deserve.

2. Spending time- Research by telecoms giant, Vodafone, shows that 25% of business ventures launched in the UK begin when people start families of their own. Although running a business isn’t child’s play, guiding creative talent is so much easier when parents can spend quality time with their kids. For instance, since Jamie and Jennifer discovered musical talent in their daughter, Sarah, they’ve jointly attended school orchestras and once accompanied their preteen on a tour of Europe. “It’s so rewarding watching Sarah perform.” Jennifer said. “But we would never have had the time and energy if we couldn’t dictate our own hours.”

3. Taking care of business- Guiding creative talent also involves teaching children basic work ethics. If you do a regular 9-5 job, consider inviting the kids over to the office occasionally, so they can see how the crust is earned. Several big companies allow this practice, but if the firm you work for hasn’t quite grasped what this can do for staff morale and company PR, propose the idea at the next board meeting or stuff the suggestion box.

Parents, who are either building or managing their own businesses, should encourage their children to get involved. When Amaka (25) was setting up her hair salon, her children (aged 9 and 15) would help mop floors and tweak the business plan. “They learnt that shops don’t grow out of the sidewalk,” Amaka said. Many young people (and some adults even) forget that big companies were once founded by ordinary people. With hard work and dedication, the most ordinary talent can become a legacy.

4. Aiming high- A few years ago, I met an old lady who rang her mortgage company everyday because she was eager to cash in on her endowment policies. She didn’t want the money for herself, but she’d promised her children a lump of cash and they gave her no peace ever since! Children should be encouraged to reach for the stars instead.

Property mogul, Donald Trump, was brought up to assist his billionaire father, Fred Trump, with various ventures. After learning the ropes and earning a degree, Donald resolved to deal on real estate on an even larger scale than his father had. Some may say that Trump Junior would have succeeded in life no matter what, but do we not know children of millionaires who are a public nuisance or who are merely famous for being famous? Had his creative talents not been guided successfully, Donald would have been content to wait around for an inheritance.

Will these four tips give any child a head-start in life? Well, they’re a good start! Life will always have its ups and downs but more often than not, it is the people who use their creative talents in the service of humanity that constantly have the winning edge.

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Ogo Ogbata is a writer, speaker and founder of the alternative career website www.creativityandsense.com She helps people create purposeful work that allows time and money for the things that matter most. You’ll receive a free MP3 download when you subscribe to the site’s newsletter packed with motivational articles, success stories, and career change tips.

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