Podcasts Kids & Family The Dad Edge Podcast How to Teach Work Ethic

How to Teach Work Ethic

Published: May 19, 2016, midnight

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Work Ethic: \\xa0The Ultimate Lesson

We had an awesome guest this past week on the Good Dad Project Podcast featuring Joe De Sena, founder of the Spartan Races and New York Times Bestselling author of \\u201cSpartan Up!\\u201d

Shawn and I have been trying to find the perfect guest to come on the show and talk about work ethic.\\xa0 Joe not only talked about work ethic but also how to teach work ethic to our kids.

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Work Ethic and Purposeful Suffering

Joe shared several ways he teaches work ethic to his own kids.\\xa0 Some parents listening to this week\\u2019s show might cringe at some of the things he said as it relates to \\u201cpurposeful suffering.\\u201d\\xa0 However, I think his theme on this point was solid!\\xa0 Parents today can be so incredibly over protective that we shelter our kids from any type of growing pains.\\xa0 No parent likes to see their kids experience failure, loss, or even really hard work.\\xa0 However, what we don\\u2019t realize is that we are robbing them of critical life lessons that teach work ethic and grit.\\xa0 If we don\\u2019t allow our kids to go through any type of pain and suffering and we throw them a life line at every twist and turn, what are we teaching them?\\xa0 I think it\\u2019s safe to say when we shield them too much from a lesson of grit and failure, we are doing them a disservice.

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Teaching Work Ethic Through Example

It\\u2019s been said time and time again that kids learn the best lessons from the example we teach.\\xa0 If we want to help our kids understand the value of hard work, we have to show it to them and teach them how to work hard.\\xa0 Desire and work ethic is one of the most difficult lessons we can instill.\\xa0 However, we have several opportunities to teach it.

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For example, the next time our kid wants something (a new bike, a new video game, an expensive toy, a car, etc.) we have the opportunity to show them how to work for it vs. give it to them.

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For example, my eight-year old loves football cards, baseball cards, and gum.\\xa0 Instead of just buying him whatever he wants, he has learned to work for things so he can buy them himself.\\xa0 He will sell candy, rice krispy treats, wash cars, or even help with yard work to make a few bucks so he can buy what he wants.\\xa0 It may sound tough to make him do certain things for simple things like games, baseball cards, and gum, but it\\u2019s an excellent way to teach him these lessons now.\\xa0 Plus, I have noticed that when he buys something with his own money, he takes much better care of it.

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Talking Work Ethic on the MFCEO Project Podcast

I was recently on the MFCEO Project Podcast with Andy Frisella and Vaughn Kohler (aka \\u201cThe Pastor of Disaster).\\xa0 On that episode Andy and I talked about ways we can leverage our kids failures to teach work ethic and grit.\\xa0 For example, I can\\u2019t stand that kids today get trophies and medals for participation.\\xa0 Awards are meant to be earned and not given.\\xa0 Don\\u2019t get me wrong, we should always point out the effort our kids put out through communication and encouraging words.\\xa0 However, we should never give out trophies for just showing up.

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Awards, trophies, and medals keep kids hungry to keep striving and keep pushing themselves.\\xa0 If awards like this are just given for showing up, what\\u2019s the point in trying your best?

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Asking Empowering Questions Teach Work Ethic and Grit

When our kids fail, we have a great opportunity to ASK QUESTIONS and not lecture.\\xa0 For example, if your kid participates in a karate tournament and finishes last, it\\u2019s a perfect opportunity to ask them questions to get them thinking about solutions to be better.\\xa0\\xa0 You can ask your kid:

  1. What did you think of the tournament?
  2. If you had it to do over again, what would do different?
  3. If you could be better at something specifically with karate, what would be? Your kicks?\\xa0 Punches?\\xa0 Speed?
  4. What place would you like to finish in the next tournament?
  5. What do you think we should do to prepare for the next one so you feel confident?

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Questions like this get a kid (and adults) thinking about solutions.\\xa0 It also helps identify what needs work and what is needed to get better.\\xa0 Work Ethic and Grit come from knowing what we need to improve and putting in the time and effort to be better.

Resources:

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Links

Connect with Joe De Sena

Joe De Sena Book Spartan Up!

Joe De Sena Podcast

Joe De Sena Website Spartan Races

Thanks for checking out this week\'s podcast on How to Teach Work Ethic.

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