In my last article, I discussed teaching your children what real success is all about—and it’s not easy. There are many ways and areas in which to achieve success. In this article, I’m quoting my book which names those five different areas of success and how I define them.
I got the idea about having different tools (areas) which can bring success because I’m a huge baseball fan. In baseball, a player who is described as being a ‘Five-Tool’ player is rare and very much sought after. For those that don’t know, I will explain what the five tools are for baseball success and for success in general. A famous player who had these five baseball tools was Willie Mays, and he is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you have the five tools of personal success, you may not end up in a hall of fame, but you will likely be very successful and much happier than most.
From Chapter 12 of The Power of Dadhood, “Money Versus Success”
I got the idea about having different tools (areas) which can bring success because I’m a huge baseball fan. In baseball, a player who is described as being a ‘Five-Tool’ player is rare and very much sought after. For those that don’t know, I will explain what the five tools are for baseball success and for success in general. A famous player who had these five baseball tools was Willie Mays, and he is now in the Baseball Hall of Fame. If you have the five tools of personal success, you may not end up in a hall of fame, but you will likely be very successful and much happier than most.
From Chapter 12 of The Power of Dadhood, “Money Versus Success”
Five-Tool Success
One’s financial standing can be a significant measure of success, but there are several other dimensions of success that measure a person’s true worth. Young adults and many parents tend to forget or fail to consider these other dimensions. Understanding that money and finances are just one aspect of success, you can help your children develop other viewpoints on what success really is.
In baseball, a “five-tool” player is one who can run, throw, field, hit for average, and hit with power. Few players fit the description of a five-tool player. When they do fulfill their potential in this way, they attain fame and fortune.
Highly successful people also have tools in five areas of success:
• Financial Success: Not necessarily having a lot of money, but knowing how to manage the money you do have.
• Relationship Success: Having loving friends and family members who can be counted on in good times and bad, just as they count on you.
• Intellectual Success: Maximizing your intellect by being open to others, their ideas, and their culture. Always being open to learning. Having confidence, patience, and empathy while understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and those of others.
• Physical Success: Giving your body and mind the exercise, nutrients, and rest they need.
• Spiritual Success: Being able to live outside the needs of your ego with love and understanding for people and all living things.
As fathers, giving our children these tools of success would be our own truest success. Look at each of your children. Which of these five tools does each of them need your help with? It will likely be different for each child. Spend time with each to teach, mentor, and encourage them as they make their way to success.
If you find one tool in which they all need help, it may be related to how they were raised. Hopefully you can recognize their shortcomings even if you have the same issues. To overcome these shortcomings, listen to the trusted advice of others, read voraciously, and practice what you learn. It will help if you can teach your children with the conviction of experience rather than just book learning.
One’s financial standing can be a significant measure of success, but there are several other dimensions of success that measure a person’s true worth. Young adults and many parents tend to forget or fail to consider these other dimensions. Understanding that money and finances are just one aspect of success, you can help your children develop other viewpoints on what success really is.
In baseball, a “five-tool” player is one who can run, throw, field, hit for average, and hit with power. Few players fit the description of a five-tool player. When they do fulfill their potential in this way, they attain fame and fortune.
Highly successful people also have tools in five areas of success:
• Financial Success: Not necessarily having a lot of money, but knowing how to manage the money you do have.
• Relationship Success: Having loving friends and family members who can be counted on in good times and bad, just as they count on you.
• Intellectual Success: Maximizing your intellect by being open to others, their ideas, and their culture. Always being open to learning. Having confidence, patience, and empathy while understanding your strengths and weaknesses, and those of others.
• Physical Success: Giving your body and mind the exercise, nutrients, and rest they need.
• Spiritual Success: Being able to live outside the needs of your ego with love and understanding for people and all living things.
As fathers, giving our children these tools of success would be our own truest success. Look at each of your children. Which of these five tools does each of them need your help with? It will likely be different for each child. Spend time with each to teach, mentor, and encourage them as they make their way to success.
If you find one tool in which they all need help, it may be related to how they were raised. Hopefully you can recognize their shortcomings even if you have the same issues. To overcome these shortcomings, listen to the trusted advice of others, read voraciously, and practice what you learn. It will help if you can teach your children with the conviction of experience rather than just book learning.
Summary
I discussed the notion of the 'Five Tools of Success' in the chapter on "Money and Success" to emphasize that money is one small factor of success. Sometimes it's not a factor at all. These lessons are learned by your children, not in one sitting or two, but by continuously applying good principles of parenting like those discussed in my book and others.
Note: I’ve had mild criticism regarding ‘Spiritual Success’. Obviously, I was very non-specific, and I did that on purpose. Some people have specific ideas on spiritual success and I respect that. My book doesn't take away from those feelings. When you read the book, you will see I was not brought up in a religious atmosphere, but I highly recommend that all children be brought up with values that are commonly taught through religion. I think it is unfortunate that our nation is becoming more secular, but all children should be brought up with the values in my book, whether you call those values Christian, common morality, tenets all should live by, principles of life, etc. I didn’t want to exclude or dissuade anyone from reading it based on prejudices of their particular religion. To that point, having a general look at spiritualism has allowed my book to also be published in China where Christianity and Judaism are not as common as the western world.
I discussed the notion of the 'Five Tools of Success' in the chapter on "Money and Success" to emphasize that money is one small factor of success. Sometimes it's not a factor at all. These lessons are learned by your children, not in one sitting or two, but by continuously applying good principles of parenting like those discussed in my book and others.
Note: I’ve had mild criticism regarding ‘Spiritual Success’. Obviously, I was very non-specific, and I did that on purpose. Some people have specific ideas on spiritual success and I respect that. My book doesn't take away from those feelings. When you read the book, you will see I was not brought up in a religious atmosphere, but I highly recommend that all children be brought up with values that are commonly taught through religion. I think it is unfortunate that our nation is becoming more secular, but all children should be brought up with the values in my book, whether you call those values Christian, common morality, tenets all should live by, principles of life, etc. I didn’t want to exclude or dissuade anyone from reading it based on prejudices of their particular religion. To that point, having a general look at spiritualism has allowed my book to also be published in China where Christianity and Judaism are not as common as the western world.
