As you all know, I really enjoy quotes that help us make more sense of daily battles. This one has made me think a lot over the last few weeks: “Yesterday I was clever, so I wanted to change the world. Today I am wise, so I am changing myself” — Rumi.
There is no doubt that the most difficult person to lead is the one you look at in the mirror every single morning. The reason why there is fellowship, friendship, and community is because we can’t take on life on our own. We need people to help us, guide us, correct us, and compliment us where needed.
The Social Skill Gap in a Digital Era
With so many people getting degrees at university these days, I think our ability to interact with people on a social and business level is going to be a key skill in the years to come. Phones are erasing our ability to socially interact and hold proper conversations. We are losing our ability to address serious issues in a face-to-face environment, and we have lost our ability to resolve conflict without violence.
In our house, we make a point of never sweeping an issue under the carpet or saying, “No, let’s discuss this tomorrow.” If something needs to be discussed, it is addressed there and then. It often makes our kids uncomfortable as they don’t want to discuss things that make them uneasy—but when is a good time?
Building Resilience in our Youth
The faster we realise that life is tough and very often unfair, the faster we can move on. Success is not final and failure is not fatal; it is the courage to continue that counts. Often, kids are taught that if things get a little bit tough, they should just try something else. “If you don’t like this school, we will take you out and put you in another.” Every school has its own problems, and all you are doing is moving them to different ones.
What society needs now are kids and youth who can stand up for what’s right and not walk away from a situation just because it makes them uncomfortable. Conflict on Snapchat and WhatsApp is nothing compared to real-life conflict. Our conflict resolution skills and our EQ need to be developed to survive in this digital era. The only way you can develop those skills is through interaction with a variety of people on a daily basis.
Leading by Example
I think “clever” is what we learn on paper and in books. Wisdom is when you have experienced something and learned the hard way. We all want our kids to be successful one day, but for that to happen, we as parents need to set the example.
We have to be the best version of ourselves daily—walking the walk, not just talking the talk. It is easier said than done, but it is also okay to be wrong at times and show our kids that we all make mistakes. Be humble, be strong, and be courageous in your work, your health, and in your home.
GET IN TOUCH
If you would like to get in touch with me about my key note presentation, Debunking Motivation, please send an email to corne@cornekrige.com. Visit my website to review my speaker sheet for more info. I also share my story on my social media pages on Facebook and LinkedIn.