Surge Summary: Government policy cannot make up for the failure of a family to encourage its children to using their formative early years productively. It’s never too late to start, but time, once lost, can’t be regained.
by William Pauwels
Watching young people today falling so uncritically for the delusions of socialism, leftism and coronoavirus group-think, we’re reminded the years between 10 and 25 are the most important years in determining the secular success of most individuals.
This is not to suggest that subsequent years are not important – they are. However, the foundation that one lays down during the 15 formative years will greatly influence one’s ability to achieve higher rungs on the ladder of success and happiness.
The kid who does not study, go to a top-notch high school, acquire an appropriate college education, take courses with high economic value, and learn psychological principles affecting secular human needs – for Growth, Achievement, Recognition, Responsibility, Participation, and Interesting Work – may always be an underachiever.
The youngster who spend his formative 15-years partying, trying to be popular, drinking, taking drugs, participating in illicit sex, over committing to sports and games, and living off of his parent’s wealth or the government dole will always underachieve relative to his/her early potential and his/her peers.
Many of these truths are not self-evident and should be introduced not only during a child’s formative years, but also during a child’s earliest years of comprehension. Praise their study. Praise their school work. Praise their good behavior. Praise their completion of chores.
It is, of course, never too late to get started. If an individual failed to use their formative years to best advantage, he/she can still take immediate action to correct that deficiency. But it won’t be as easy or as productive as getting an early start, when one’s mind is a sponge and open to ideas and influence. If you are late in the game, don’t give up; get started, today!
Historical experience indicates that no amount of government handouts can make up for the opportunities lost by early, poor choices, or no choices. In fact, most psychologists claim government handouts adversely affect an individual’s future possibilities.
Someone once said: At 20 years old we wonder what everybody thinks about us. And at 40 years old we don’t care what anybody thinks about us. Then, at 60, we realize nobody was thinking about us.
So make sure you get the message – and make sure your children and grandchildren get the message. Time is money. Time cannot be recovered. Squandering time, particularly during one’s formative years, is a tragedy for the individual, their family and their community. But then again, it’s never too late to get started.
One more thing: In this article I’ve written about secular success. It is, of course, always subservient to spiritual success, which is even more important in the fullness of eternity. However, one is not a substitute for the other. I believe, most can have both – that God wants each and every one of us to achieve our destiny, to achieve our full potential, to make maximum contributions to our family, friends, church, business, and community. Sometimes our spiritual leaders fail to emphasize God’s desire to help us achieve our destiny. That’s most unfortunate because we’re not always smart enough to remember all that we know, and it’s well to be reminded.
I pray that God will continue to bless and inspire all who are reading this column. Always remember: In God you must trust – but you must do your part to achieve success and happiness.
The views here are those of the author and not necessarily Daily Surge.
Image: Adapted by https://www.wallpaperflare.com/boy-looking-sideways-harbor-child-summer-travel-sea-vacation-wallpaper-zwebs
William A. Pauwels, Sr. was born in Jackson Michigan to a Belgian, immigrant, entrepreneurial family. Bill Pauwels is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and served in executive and/or leadership positions at Thomson Industries, Inc., Dow Corning, Loctite and Sherwin-Williams. He is currently CIO of Pauwels Private Investment Practice. He’s been commenting on matters political/economic/philosophical since 1980.
Surge Summary: Government policy cannot make up for the failure of a family to encourage its children to using their formative early years productively. It’s never too late to start, but time, once lost, can’t be regained.
by William PauwelsWatching young people today falling so uncritically for the delusions of socialism, leftism and coronoavirus group-think, we’re reminded the years between 10 and 25 are the most important years in determining the secular success of most individuals.
This is not to suggest that subsequent years are not important – they are. However, the foundation that one lays down during the 15 formative years will greatly influence one’s ability to achieve higher rungs on the ladder of success and happiness.
The kid who does not study, go to a top-notch high school, acquire an appropriate college education, take courses with high economic value, and learn psychological principles affecting secular human needs – for Growth, Achievement, Recognition, Responsibility, Participation, and Interesting Work – may always be an underachiever.
The youngster who spend his formative 15-years partying, trying to be popular, drinking, taking drugs, participating in illicit sex, over committing to sports and games, and living off of his parent’s wealth or the government dole will always underachieve relative to his/her early potential and his/her peers.
Many of these truths are not self-evident and should be introduced not only during a child’s formative years, but also during a child’s earliest years of comprehension. Praise their study. Praise their school work. Praise their good behavior. Praise their completion of chores.It is, of course, never too late to get started. If an individual failed to use their formative years to best advantage, he/she can still take immediate action to correct that deficiency. But it won’t be as easy or as productive as getting an early start, when one’s mind is a sponge and open to ideas and influence. If you are late in the game, don’t give up; get started, today!
Historical experience indicates that no amount of government handouts can make up for the opportunities lost by early, poor choices, or no choices. In fact, most psychologists claim government handouts adversely affect an individual’s future possibilities.
Someone once said: At 20 years old we wonder what everybody thinks about us. And at 40 years old we don’t care what anybody thinks about us. Then, at 60, we realize nobody was thinking about us.
So make sure you get the message – and make sure your children and grandchildren get the message. Time is money. Time cannot be recovered. Squandering time, particularly during one’s formative years, is a tragedy for the individual, their family and their community. But then again, it’s never too late to get started.
One more thing: In this article I’ve written about secular success. It is, of course, always subservient to spiritual success, which is even more important in the fullness of eternity. However, one is not a substitute for the other. I believe, most can have both – that God wants each and every one of us to achieve our destiny, to achieve our full potential, to make maximum contributions to our family, friends, church, business, and community. Sometimes our spiritual leaders fail to emphasize God’s desire to help us achieve our destiny. That’s most unfortunate because we’re not always smart enough to remember all that we know, and it’s well to be reminded.I pray that God will continue to bless and inspire all who are reading this column. Always remember: In God you must trust – but you must do your part to achieve success and happiness.
The views here are those of the author and not necessarily Daily Surge.
Image: Adapted by https://www.wallpaperflare.com/boy-looking-sideways-harbor-child-summer-travel-sea-vacation-wallpaper-zwebs
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