This morning I was jogging away in my typical overfilled and underlit garage on the treadmill listening to the author of the book Atomic Habits. If you follow anything in the self-achievement "space" you likely know your habits determine your outcomes. Stacking small, incremental good choices will eventually lead to surprisingly awesome results. Extraordinary success isn't an overnight thing, its and everyday thing.
In our increasingly outcome-focused world, where all we see on social media are the outcomes, the process is lost in translation. As with most of the really important things in life, we can turn our attention to helping the tiny humans in our life attain the habit of making good choices.
In looking back on my childhood, its not a wonder that I get up and work out every day. My amazing mother, Connie, was consistent in many things, especially her workouts. Long before fitness was in vogue Connie was up early hammering out pilates-like workouts in Jane Fonda-esque leotards. Funny that my friends recognized how lovely she was in these pre-yoga pants era workout duds.
So, what are the habits you suppose your kids are gonna take from you. Hopefully, its not gonna be your extreme tv-remote workout flipping channels. Be careful what your kids see, right?! Apple. Tree. You get it.
In my case I have decided that the most affordable and highest impact I can have in the coaching space is to use my 5 and 7 year old kiddos as accountability partners. I encourage the kids to ask dad, "did you help any families buy a house today?" or "who's did you help today Dad"? You see, I can visualize my kids hoisting the Championship Trophy and saying "you know my dad always told us..."if you work hard enough, practice long enough and want it bad enough, you can do anything you want in this world". Its one of our mantra's (aka 'habits) along with "Hartley's never give up" and a personal fav....'Hartley's are hand-washers".
Finally, I have a powerful habit of using my kids as a litmus test for asking myself, 'Would you teach that to Gage?' Would you want Alida to have that habit? You see, my gorgeous wife and I will be held accountable for the actions of our kids. Its one thing to watch your kid do something unkind or to hurt someone. It might be worse when you see it and its a reflection of how you act. How you treat people. How you make someone else feel. When I apply this litmus test to my own actions, usually the answer is...nope, I wouldn't want Gage or Alida to act that way.
Take a gander in the mirror. Are you teaching them to thank the man above for all they have? Are you helping them see they get to own their results. That they need to choose friends wisely. Love deeply. Respect women. Eat healthy and work out. Do everything they choose to do as well as it can be done. Honor what they said they'd do. Tell the truth. Own it. Be kind. Smile often. Create joy?
The atomic habits of strong parentaling will come back in spades. You and I, as parents, have the power and responsibility to raise the next generation of kids to be strong, collaborative leaders, leading by example and make many small, incremental choices leading to extraordinary personal achievement.
You see....extraordinary success is the compounding interest of great habits.
