How We Are Ruining Kids With A Distorted Definition Of Success

Explore the societal pressures on children to excel, early specialization, and the race to define success. Join Dr. Tim Jordan as he shares insights on a healthier path, emphasizing early sampling, self-discovery, and the importance of diverse experiences. Through the Dot Theory and the wisdom from his recommended books, Dr. Jordan challenges conventional definitions of success, urging us to prioritize fulfillment, passion, and a sense of purpose. Join us in this journey of redefining success and empowering the younger generation.Show notes:Societal push to give kids a leg up, an edge, childhood is a race to be best/top, keeping up with the Jones’ kids, early specialization, pushed to decide what you should be before first figuring out who you are.A better path: Early sampling, diverse experience, breadth, interdisciplinary thinking, delayed concentration, ability to integrate broadly, go through sampling period best prepares kids.Learning things is less important than learning about yourself, growing self-knowledge, considering how much we grow and evolve, and discovering new things about ourselves; will have many jobs in the future not just because jobs and technology change but because YOU change!Do experiments: Focus on Here’s who I am now, here are my motivations, here’s what I’ve found I like to do, here’s what I’d like to learn, here are the opportunities, which of these is the best match right now? After a while, I may switch if I find something better or a better match, short term planning.My Dot Theory: do whatever seems like it would teach you something and allow you to be of service, diverse experiences accumulate, do what’s needed and drawn to at the time, the only plan is to do what is interesting or needed now.Unhealthy definition of success: attaining wealth and status by climbing the institutional ladder = know your destination, work hard, nose to the grindstone, stay the course, just do same things as others but better; happiness is reward for staying the course, retire and then have fun.Dark horses value fulfillment, passion, sense of purpose, deeply engaged in what they did; pursuit of fulfillment led them to success & was crucial for their success.Ask why they like activities, grades, score goals, draw.Dark horses were not fulfilled by being excellent at something but by being deeply engaged with their own thing.Importance of what we focus on and value:Books: Range by David Epstein; The Talent Code by Daniel Coyle, Dark Horse by Todd Rose, The Element by Ken RobinsonContact Dr. Jordan:If you or your young adult resonated with the ideas in this podcast, go to Dr. Tim’s website right now and get his book written for young adults, Letters From My Grandfather: Timeless Wisdom For a Life Worth Living The wisdom in this book will help your teens and young adults to find their purpose, stay on track to create the life they desire, and define success on their own terms.www.drtimjordan.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices