Dean Graziosi Weekly Wisdom #242 - Teaching by Example

Thanks for sharing another weekly wisdom post with us. I often think about how fast my kids are growing up and often we lose track of time. We often reflect and remember our child's first words, first steps, etc.

There are so many "firsts" and so many special things we want and need to be part of in our children's lives. If you miss them, later in life you realize you missed them forever. There are no second chances to be part of an event or milestone for our children if we miss them the first time around.

Most children remember the time we spend with them rather than the material things we provide to them. Often in life people get consumed by their job or consumed by their business and lose sight of the things that are truly important in life which include family and friends. As people get older, they do get wiser and often have regrets.

A quote that I came up with and often say is to "live your life for today, plan for tomorrow and have a life of no regrets". We wish you continued success in all you do. Believe and Achieve! - Joe and Stacey

First thank you Dean for all you do and being the person you are!

Just got my Abundance book on Friday and started to read it this weekend! I sure appreciate the time and energy you put into all of our mental/personal growth and positive mindset. Yes we all want to be successful in real estate but you make sure we understand it is what is in between our ears that can create our success with RE, so many thanks!

I have a 7 and 2 year old that are growing up so fast! As I sit here typing they are outside calling for me, so time to go jump on the trampoline with them because as Joe mentions above its the time you spend with them that they remember!

I'm grateful for being able to be part of such a great DG family, much love to everyone!

Thom

Thank you again for the book I received it Friday and started reading this weekend. Family is the most important in my life and I try to be apart of everything with them.

I have to say that your children and your wife are richly blessed to have you as their leader, father and husband. So so blessed. It is simple really. Just live a life that pleases God and love them. Don't worry. I commend you for thinking of making the list and knowing what you want for them and how you want them to be.

This weekly wisdom caused me to think back over my 65 years and when I was a child I came to the conclusion that parents should have to go to school and take classes on parenting before they ever get married. You see there was a lot of fighting and emotional abuse that went on in our house. The one thing that saved me was being saved and I got to go to church and Sunday School. Not every Sunday but enough that I had my own Bible given to me by my Sunday School teacher. I thank the Lord and I am so grateful for that because I would have turned out very different and may not have survived.

I believe also that little children are really big people in little bodies. They are smart and it is so important to converse with them. I did not have children of my own but I had the privelege of raising 4 step sons for a period of 8 years. I believe that was arranged and planned by God because HE knew those boys needed me. One rule I had in our house was that we always eat meals together and especially dinner and no one was to leave the table until everyone was finished eating. This was so that we could share with each other what ever was happening, to get caught up and have open discussions about anything and everything. It is crucial because it is a chance to see into their minds and for them to learn things about you.

I lost track of the boys for 28 years until a couple of years ago when two of them found their way back to me to tell me that they appreciated what I tried to do for them. I am so pleased and I could see that the seeds I planted took root and they are remarkable young men today in their 40's. God is so good.

for another insightful Weekly Wisdom.

“Example is not the main thing in influencing others. It is the only thing.”
Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965);
Philosopher, Physician, Nobel Peace Prize Winner

Valerie

Having raised two now grown children, and having also been an earl childhood education teacher, I agree tat the examples we set as parents and adult mentors or teachers are most important. Children are always watching and modeling what we do. It is also the best way to establish and maintain who we are as we deal with everyday life, including our investing. Who we re and the examples we set can build bridges locally and even globally. I love the post immediately above mine from Valerie quoting Dr. Schweitzer. That is an awesome and timely quote from another person in our fantastic DG family.

Hey Dean,
I'd like to share a post from my Google+ business page..."Nothing is impossible if you have the will to succeed- believe in yourself - you can do it! Show others that you are a winner, especially to those who think you can't!" What a great example if you live this way.

Hi Dean.

Another inspiring weekly wisdom.

Going to be interesting to make that list.

Thank You for all you do.....

Regards,
Sharon

"Does it sound like we’re patting ourselves on the back, insisting on our credentials, asserting our authority? Well, we’re not. Neither do we need letters of endorsement, either to you or from you. You yourselves are all the endorsement we need. Your very lives are a letter that anyone can read by just looking at you. Christ himself wrote it—not with ink, but with God’s living Spirit; not chiseled into stone, but carved into human lives—and we publish it."
Our lives are a living epistle - an open letter of what we believe and value. Our children, and the rest of the world, read it every day.
You hit the nail on the head (again).

I find these weekly messages r reminders, many times are insparational reminding me of things I should be doing.
Thank u.

Dean,

The first thing I have to say is, what a blessing it is to see a man have such integrity and love. For you to share with us how you want (and do) to show your children thru your actions that they can accomplish anything their heart desires is such a powerful and meaningful lesson they will learn.
I, myself just recently got married in the beginning of of June. I'm 25 years old and on my way to becoming that kind of father for my children, although there isn't a bun in the oven yet:-) But surely one day there will be and I am thankful for men like you who inspire young men like me to become that Father, and husband. Your weekly wisdom videos are exactly what you call them, Weekly Wisdom!
Thank you again my friend for sharing the knowledge that you have received with the rest of us! So now that you're home resting, be blessed, stay blessed and always remember that you are a blessing!

Thanks Dean,
Monte

past weekend my Dad helped my little brother got a car and paid for it all including insurance. I was 18 when I eared my car paid for it all myself, and could not find balance why.....so Mr. Dean I understand world needs good examples, and you are mind role model. One day I will have kids like yours, happy and tread them the same and love ^_^. Thank you for keep doing weekly wisdom, I learned how to be better person. yay to the awesome future

Dean, I have been following you about three years now. The first time I saw you was on TV. You held you hands out on each side and said, "Over here you have someone who needs to sell their house, and over here (the other side) you have some someone who wants to buy a house. All you do is put them together", and you brought your hands together. You had a youth director from a church give his testimony about your books. I was so impressed, I ordered your books. I have followed you every week since then. I watched you rename your blog "Words of Wisdom". I have attended your local training seminars several times. I watched you set up area managers. I have read your materials and prayed almost daily about making this, but I have not been able to make it work for me.
I recently got "retired" from my church as Worship Pastor, because they cannot meet their budget. I am 71 years old, but I cannot afford to retire. I put out thousands of resumes, and only one would take me seriously about working at my age. AT&T hired me in their Ocala Customer Care Call Center. I leave home at noon and get home at 11 PM. They don't allow part-time work. I still have my church job on week-ends which is basically volunteer.
I have watched houses go up for sale in my neighborhood and sit empty for months, but I don't have the time to follow up on it. Someone nailed a bandit sign up on the telephone pole on the corner down from my house. The one-story house is vacant next door to me. I live in a two-story house, and my wife cannot get up and down the stairs. Do you have any suggestions that might help me. I don't have time to follow up on this.
I really admire you, and appreciate you for all the things you do to help people. I know you have surrounded yourself with good people. I know you are a family man, and your life is overwhelmingly filled with demands, and your time is not your own. I understand if you cannot respond to this request. God bless you for being who you are and for standing up for every thing that is good. There is still a bright future for everyone who is willing to do their best and honor God with their life.

Great video! We hope we are doing right by our kids. Our oldest(18) is going to college next year and fired up about starting a team and doing some real estate there. Its about 3 hours from us. Took both he and our younger son(16) to the REIA meeting this past Thursday, trying to really push them to follow us in this. One thing I can see is I am not showing them to fight through fear, I have this fear of failure demon going on. I explain to them how we lost this deal or that one due to not pulling the trigger and to not follow me there, regret is not fun. Again, thanks for the video.

Hello I would like to take advantage of purchasing the book Abundance for $6.95. Can anyone tell me if being Canadian is International which then the book will cost $24?? On some sites US and Canadian is the same, but would like to know for sure. I am a Canadian student of the Dean Graziosi Education. THanks

Hi Dean, How have you been?

Today weekly wisdom is so true! (Just as every other weekly wisdom ) Im the proud parent of twins and yes we need to live by example. We just can't tell them what to do if we are selves don't do it at all, not only with kids but with adults as well. I want my twins to go to college but I also want them to be entrepreneurs. That's why is so important to lead by example cause your kids are a spitting image of there parents as well as what they see going around in the house. Great weekly video! Thank you

Yes, I am already reading it! I know that nanotechnology is a field that is showing lots of potential as my husband is a scientist in this field. They are working on ways to rejenerate bone tissue and cure cancer. I have had the pleasure to hear and sit in on some on the work that the scientist are working on as they collaborate with the medical community and NASA. Just that field alone brings hope for our future. This is a great book to finally hear some positives instead of so much negativity that surrounds us in our everyday lives!

Thank you Dean,
Just got my book & Excited to start reading it, going to have my wife read it as well.
We do have to live by example especially for our children, our children are like Big sponges absorbing almost everything they see and hear, So we must live by example because before we know it they grow up right before our eyes, We must Plant the seeds and watch them Grow in to something Wonderful
Thank You Again Dean & The DG Family for all that you Do for us and sharing with us, always love to start my week with your weekly wisdom,
Lets All Have A Great Week,
Darren ( From Calif )
BLUE SKY INVESTMENT PROPERTIES

Great message Dean. Our kids are grown, and it is so cool to see ourselves in their actions when they're grown. (not always, but most of the time)

They're work ethic. Taking care to eat right and exercise. Giving back.
I am glad to say, they turned out better than us. Really.

At first you are the hero who knows everything. Then you are the "middle aged" person who just doesn't get it.

Then they turn that next corner, where you see they have gotten the strongest qualities from you both. (Again, I'll settle for most of the time)

I know I made tons of mistakes because I was young and there is no "owners manual," but I always tried to pay attention to what they were teaching me.

We tried to lead by example, give them our time, and just love the crap out of them.

Have a super great week!

Julie

Good wisdom as always! We have all heard practice what you preach, but I believe we should preach what we practice. So if there are certain behaviors that you do, how do you have the nerve to sit up and tell someone else not to do it? Its true that people, whether kids or whoever are going to follow what they SEE, NOT what you tell them. I remember having a uncle who told me not to smoke all while blowing smoke right in my face from his cigarette. Even at that young age I was like dude, really?? Even in business, you can tell people what to do, but if you don't do it yourself or haven't done it before, people are not going to be quick to do it. As a quote says that I read one time, you don't attract what you want, you attract who you are. So don't go telling people, and again, whether children or people period, to do something that you are not doing yourself. It will fall on deaf ears!

Great message. I have 4 children, The youngest is almost 19 and starts college the 19th of August. We did the best we could, They all turned out great. I know I made many mistakes in the past but it is NEVER to late to start leading by example!!
I am working on getting all four involved in our REI business. My two girls are working on all the social media sites and establishing a strong Google presence. Our virtual bandit signs. I will split every deal with them that they provide. I tell my youngest she may not want to finish college after she does a few RE deals!

Thanks as always,
Michael

You always come up with some great blogs!

Our children are definitely our greatest treasures and the most valuable things ever entrusted to us. I have three daughters who have turned into wonderful, responsible young women. My youngest just graduated from UCLA summa cum laude (Mom-me-had to look it up) after attending there on a full ride. She is starting grad school in August and it will also be covered in full.

I have practiced the Law of Attraction (positive thinking) for many years. It wasn't something that just comes naturally to most of us. It is a 'learned' thing. It wasn't always easy and is something you always have to be conscious of but I have instilled it in my kids from a young age.

When they were younger and would come home complaining about teachers, I would say things like, "I know she is tough but when you get to college you will excel over other kids because she has forced you to learn to do this." (Eye roll was received here) Always trying to instill positive.

Once when the youngest was 17, she had a new boyfriend who admiringly said to her, "You are the most upbeat and positive person I have ever met."

She rolled her eyes, as usual, and in a disgusted voice said, "Yeah, thanks to my mother!" She did not realize then that that was the most precious gift I would ever be able to give her.

Keep being the amazing man you are.

Karen

Dean –
Thanks for the great post. In fact I felt the urge to register just so I could post this response. I’m not so much a procrastinator but one of the fearful ones you often refer to … in fact I at times feel you are speaking directly to me. That being said, you still have not talked me into taking the next step, not that you have not tried with your persuasion. I attended one of your seminars in Southern California and despite being extremely eager and wanting to soak up everything you talk about and stand for I for some reason feel stuck in cement shoes unwilling to take the plunge. For whatever the reason I wanted to thank you for taking the time to constantly remind me. Tomorrow is guaranteed to no one and we need to live for today.
Thanks again for the reminder Dean.

Thanks Dean for another very good message. Yep, I have come to realize this same theme as I've grown older, it can boil down to "it all starts with me."

You hear, "if you want it done..." or "who cares more about your (fill in the blank) than you...", etc. It's you! I know it boils down to what I want to share, accomplish, solve, save depends on what and how I chose to do it. Sure, I will need to partner and be a partner. I'll need to seek help and give help throughout life and these trials but bottom line, it is my choice and up to me to make it.

Great message and nugget for me to hear. Thanks

Thanks Dean as I always say you always hit the nail on the head keep swinging that hammer thanks again )

Dean, thanks for the message reminding us of our "why". My two sons and I have started down the path you've shown us. I was a single mom, I always second guessed myself because of the many assumptions out there that single parent families are disfunctional and only delinquents can come from that background. As time has gone on, I've been able to see that those assumptions just don't apply if you stay focused on raising good human beings and practicing what you preach.

I am the first to admit they are NOT perfect. They've made poor decisions from time to time, and I know I got lucky and had two good kids that were able to do well in school, learned about service to others, and were healthy. Thank you, Lord!

They are 32 and 35. The youngest went to college and is a computer programmer. The oldest, who has a 4-year old and one that will soon turn 1, is doing construction and was a real estate agent for 7 years. Ever since he went into real estate, he has told us that that is the only way to make money to fund our dreams. Unfortunately, a steady pay check and job security seemed the better option to us.

In November we saw the light! My regular job made me ill enough that I had to retire early - for a partial pension. My programmer son is already burned out by the long commutes, even longer workweeks and wants out of that rut. The oldest wants to be a stay home dad and quit swinging a hammer.

Today, we are walking together to a better tomorrow. It is sooooo cool to be living this experience and enterprise with them! Thanks to you and all the DG family for helping it happen.

It's always amazing to me how similar the people I really respect and admire sound when they talk about what life is really about.

I'm re-reading the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, and the principles of a well-lived life are exactly what Dean is describing. The most important and effective way to achieve success for ourselves and to lead others to be more than they imagined possible is by BEING the right person. It's not about what you do, because people can always discern motive. If our actions flow from a generous, abundant heart, others will know they are genuine, and will respond to them.

This blog is a great reminder to always evaluate ourselves and our motives to ensure they are aligned with right principles.

Thanks Dean!

Are you sure you are not my Father? lol My Dad always told us to lead by example. Sounds a lot like this week's message. You are right, how can we expect our children to do things differently then what we are doing especially if we are doing the wrong things?
Thankfully, my daughter is now grown and views her "stupid" Father with wiser eyes. I know that I have rubbed off on her in a good way. I see it in her ways. Sometimes we need to wait to see the fruits of our labors but the rewards can be immense.

Now on to a separate note, a couple years back ( I believe) I made a post to you about cherishing the times you can have with your little children because they grow up so fast. Just "a few days ago" I was dropping my daughter off for her first day of school, then "yesterday" I was dropping her off for her first day of College and now in early 2014, I will be walking her down a wedding isle. If you don't think time goes by so swiftly, this could be the only thing you would have been wrong about Cherish your time with your children

Your devoted DGer, Andy Sager
DG's AndyS
CFIC and IE member

Such powerful words of wisdom Dean. I am greatly encouraged. I have a 1 1/2yr old, and I am determined to instill certain values in him. As you said its what we do that they will emulate and exemplify.
I thank you for sparking the confidence in me to believe in myself. I saw your info-commercial in late February and attended a seminar in Late March In Brooklyn. Read cash in 30days in April & May. I joined your success academy June 10(2 days before my 3 year wedding anniversary) and now I have a great coach who is mentoring me daily to make my first deal. I presently have 18 buyers on my buyers list, 4 of which are from and auction I attended last week. I'm working on getting my agent now and some 'motivated sellers'.
Thanks for everything Dean, may god bless you and your family.I shall definitely post on the site when I make my first DEAL!!

Kevin Golding
Persistence & Discipline are the veins of Success

Dean first of all, your family is so blessed to have you as their father and husband. There are so many children out in the world with out the love that they so much deserve. You just reminded me of how much I do miss my own children as being children. They are all grown except for one. He is in high school now and will be a senior next semester. Just like a lighting bolt they are grown up right before my eyes. My girls all me all the time and wish I would move back home town to be close to them. I do go visit as much as I can. But at times I feel like I've seserted them. I'm so blessed to have you to cheer us all in keep ding what we do and go strong.