A few months ago, I ordered a copy of “One Thousand Ways To Make $1000” after discovering that Warren Buffet read it when he was 10 and presumably learned some fundamental investment lessons. I figured if Buffet read it at 10, then it should be a great book to teach my 10-year-old child some traditional essential workplace values and financial habits.
At first, I left the book sitting on the kitchen counter for a week to see if my child would take the initiative to start reading it. He didn’t, and I don’t blame him. The book lacks the bells and whistles of a children’s book and even looks incredibly boring for an adult. I still don’t know how the 10-year old Buffet enjoyed reading this book.
Old-school advice
Last week, I told my child that we were going to read the book together since this isn’t a book written in “child language.” As I started to read the first chapter out loud, I had an oops moment. The author speaks directly to a male audience, which kind of made me feel a bit inferior even though the book author is a woman. Besides, what modern mom wants to read a book that speaks with a specific gender only? What struck me most about the first chapter is that career advice seems old-school, and the format is traditional. Regardless, the book contains fundamental workplace values kids should learn for the sake of future career growth.
Let’s breakdown these values and how they can relate to today’s corporate workforce values:
The secret of work
The author wrote: “When you find men working, work with them…. Every employer would rather employ a busy man than an idle man.”
The message here resonates well with today’s workforce values of cooperation and commitment. Kids learn these cultures by participating in play and academic environments. As parents, our role is to reinforce the value of collaboration and commitment and teach them that such matters will serve them well in life and career pursuit. We should continue to promote that responsibility and dedication lead to success and growth in every aspect of life, whether in business or personal life. However, kids should also learn the importance of family and personal time. Life isn’t just about working to prove your value to someone else.
Nature’s Furrow
The author addressed: “A man is fitted for the thing he likes. Do that which you can do best… Your liking for an occupation is the advantage you have over those who do not like it.”
This is a piece of great advice, one that bolsters the notion of loving what you do and doing what you love. When we love a job, we enjoy immersing ourselves in “mastering the trade.” As much as I hope to see my child become a banker, it’s more important to understand and appreciate his pursuit and passions. So I am constantly trying to figure out his passions and natural skills but even this can be not easy to establish with a 10-year old kid.
General details
The author declared: “In business life, no matter is small enough to be despised….. To master an infinite number of small things is to prepare yourself to master great things.”
And isn’t the devil in the details? It is impossible in this day and age to know everything about a business or a job. We live in a fast-moving society, work in goliath organizations, and cannot possibly keep up with new details. Such traditional workplace values were relevant during the industrial era, but not so much in the current technological age dubbed as agile and specialist-based. Instead, kids should learn the importance of shared knowledge and trustworthiness in business. The workplace is increasingly becoming expert-based systems that function on collaborative efforts. Therefore, the idea of know it all is out of reach for modern workplace values.
The prismatic brain
The author wrote: “Be many-sided, but transparent. Tell your employer where you have failed. Do not cover up a fault.”
Mistakes happen. We often burden ourselves with the fear of making them and try to resolve them independently. Sometimes fixing errors is simple and an employer doesn’t need to know the details. However, when a mistake is much bigger to resolve, it becomes a threat and a dignified person has the obligation to bring it up to her superiors. It is OK to admit an error and seek support or help. Even better, showing a commitment to solving it by generating new ideas wins the trust of any employer or client. Teaching kids not to fear making mistakes is great, but honestly is one of the fundamental workplace values they must embrace in their lives and careers.
The bridled tongue
The author inscribed: “Do not cross your employer in any way. Never dispute with him. … avoid discussing with him questions of politics or religions.”
There are 2 different thoughts in that paragraph: the first is a reference to respecting an employer, and the other is discussing politics and religion. I’m not so sure why the author placed them in one paragraph because they are 2 different discussion points. In terms of politics and religion, this is already established in today’s society and corporate policies so I won’t bother elaborating here.
However, there’s a lot to be said when it comes to respectfulness at work. It goes both ways. The author’s recommendation is clearly outdated and one-sided. Who hasn’t worked with an abusive boss that deserved a “bridled tongue”? There are more useful tools and skills to arm the kids besides resorting to submission. Such tools include the art of negotiating, listening, and presenting are not only beneficial for their success, but they also improve self-esteem and confidence – two of the strongest entrepreneurial and business skills.
Studying the stair above
The author revealed: “Study, no stars, but stairs. Learn all about the position next above you. When you can point out new methods to your employer, advance new ideas, you are surely on the way to promotion.”
Well, one of the popular corporate topics which are embedded in modern workplace values is career advancements. And this subject is worth discussing with kids and young adults as it helps them form career goals and work expectations. It’s never enough telling them that they should “study” the position above them. They ought to grasp that in order to advance in their careers they have to contribute towards the overall business by means of innovation and idea generation. It’s a tough climb to the top and those who can make a change in their jobs through improvement and creativity gain the upper hand in climbing these stairs.
The magnifying glass
The author declared: “Make the most of your present position…. Let not the smallest thing be done in a slipshod way.”
Attention to detail is a value that has become questionable in recent times. Some people promote agility over wearing a magnifying glass and check details. We live in an era where velocity and readiness have become significantly more valuable than being “stuck in details”. Although I agree that little and insignificant details won’t compromise the ability to lead and execute projects, the lack of attention may influence a person’s credibility and professional exhibition. They say the “devil is in the details” and that is true when it comes to mastering business and service and differentiating oneself. Don’t we all love the extra effort or details made in a product, or in our service? The smallest yet exquisite details stand out and differentiate one from the rest of the crowd.
The microscopic eye
The author inscribed: “Endeavor to see what others fail to see – new possibilities, means and methods of doing things”.
Some people find success by exploring new opportunities or finding new ways to increase efficiencies and improve conditions. This is one of the highest skillsets of a prosperous career or business-minded individuals. The ability to seek new possibilities leads to innovation. And innovation comes in many forms like finding new ways of making a sale, reducing costs, or developing new products. Therefore, parents and educators should encourage kids to explore and come up with new ways of doing things.
The study of men
Finally and most importantly Francis declared: “This is the very key to success. the man who can sell the most goods is the one who knows the weakness of human nature and how to avail himself of them.”
Do we know what it takes to be a great salesperson? It is a unique ability that is becoming more scarce in this day and age. Just ask any executive. Now although technology and data science has advanced business abilities to find buyers and clients, we still need a human touch to close a deal and secure sales. Companies are in constant need of talented individuals who are able to use the information and turn it into profit. Such talents include the ability to connect with people, understand them, and sell. So yes, kids should learn the art of selling.
Summary
The world of business is changing and new values are emerging. Some are fundamentally important to embrace. Values such as gender equality and ethnic diversity are relevant and welcome. But there is some great traditional workplace value worth teaching our children and future generations. Such values like integrity, honesty, respect, innovation, negotiation, motivation, and problem-solving are natural traits that are key to human progress and technological evolution. In my opinion, we should teach children of modern society old traditional values, especially since they stood the test of time.
