How Critical Is Family Influence For Young People Pursuing Success?
As young people, since birth we have all been influenced by our parents, our brothers and sisters, and where and how we live. We learn by example and through observation. We are taught behavior by our parents.
When we are well-behaved, our parents praise us, but when we are poorly behaved, they tell us off. We often try to behave like our siblings, and sometimes we pose a challenge to them. Our neighborhood community, care as a child, where and how we are taught at school, and our friends, are all strong influences.
The form of education we receive whether this is primary, secondary, tertiary, also provides strong influence. Yet the bottom line, is that the main form of influence we receive, comes from our parents. When this influence is beneficial, it helps us work out what is important in our lives, and how we should act as human beings, whether at work or at play.
This lasts into our maturity. Where this type of beneficial influence from our family is forthcoming, I name the youngsters who are the beneficiaries, Protgs. Having studied 100 famous successful people in the world, I found 65% as young people, were Protgs.
Others when young, but not a large number, come from wealthy families. They often receive their main influence from others beyond the family, for example at elite schools. Silverspoons is the name I accord to such youngsters, and’% of them were thus, according to my research involving the study of 100 bios of world famous successful people.
Yet others, but a minority, have more of an independent streak, as demonstrated by how they live their lives and by how they behave as youngsters. Their family is less important to them. They prefer to do their own thing than follow the family. They often row with their parents, particularly when they don’t get their own way.
This seems to be the case, particularly when a young person is less loved, treated insensitively, or seen as an inconvenience. Or where they are chastised by negative role models. This behavior can also occur when young people are micro-managed by overly perfectionist parents.
And finally, young people can exhibit rebellious behavior when they perceive their parents to be distant, and more interested in their careers and work, rather than dedicating themselves to their children. Similarly, where two way communication is rare and is mainly one sided. The name I provide such young people is Rebels, and based on my research of world famous people achieving success in their lives, I discovered 17%, were Rebels, when young.
What are the risks with Silverspoons? And how do you work with young Rebels? This is to increase their chances of surviving, let alone succeeding, in today’s precarious youth employment market.
Whether you are giving, or on the receiving end of family influence, you must check out career advice. Researcher Peter Stephenson’s website is full of freebies, including some free audios on career advice by parents.