Out of curiosity I started a poll on LinkedIn, the business networking platform.
What do you most want for your kids?
* Their financial success
* Their happiness
* That they contribute
* That they are kind
Click here to take the poll before you look below….
…
…
…
…
…
…
(that space was the “pause” while you went to take the poll… and if you did you saw more current results, but here you go)
Of course as a parent I want ALL of these and more – but in the poll you only get one! I offered 4 responses, two which are more “selfish” and two which are more “altruistic” — you can see the results.
Of course this is a SMALL and nonscientific poll, but what is the implication for our future?
Joshua Freedman
Part of the Six Seconds' founding team, Josh is one of the world leading experts on emotions, change, and performance. One of a handful of people with proven experience creating organizational performance through EQ, Freedman leads a world-wide network of EQ change agents. (sd)
You can’t pick only one of these… Happiness doesn’t really happen until one is also contributing, is kind and is striving for bettering one’s life while helping others too, unless the denial is strong enough.
Can one truly achieve happiness with out kindness, contribution and financial stability? Maybe the latter, but I think not the first two. In today’s self serving society denial prevails and far too many people have yet to learn that ‘giving’ IS ‘getting’.
Too bad too many have to suffer the hard way to figure this out. I offer kindness and contribute any chance I get, to set example for my kids and others around me. It doesn’t cost a thing. It doesn’t pay the bills either, but it makes a difference. Maybe some will take notice and do the same. Financial success doesn’t have to equate in opposition, if your head’s in the right place. One step at a time, it all adds up.