Episode Details

As adults we often forget that at one point in our life we saw the world and the people around us in a much different light— we saw the world through a child's eyes.

As we grow up and mature, we allow life and rules to restrict some of the greatest instincts we had as children.

Instead of never taking no for an answer, waiting for permission, or even embracing our wildest dreams, we fall into a strict regimen we believe will keep us safe and drive us to success.

However sometimes it's important to remember that to truly be effective and productive leaders, our old "childish antics" can actually do us some good.

In fact, it turns out the children can teach us a lot about being successful in business and in life.

In today's episode, Mark Creedon and I discuss ten things we each learned from our grandchildren that can help us in business.

Here are ten things Mark learned from a chat with one of his grandchildren, which I think can help us all in business, success and life in general:

1. The importance of budgeting

Iziah told me if he had $100 he would save half and spend half. He wanted to save half for the future and to have some money put away but he also wanted to enjoy his newfound 'wealth' a little.

2. Follow your passion

I asked him what he wanted to do when he grew up. "Be a vet" he replied. Because he wanted to help animals, he loves animals and he knows that what vets do. Understanding why you do what you do is a fundamental concept we all should get our head around.

3. It is important to play

I asked him what grown-ups should do other than work. "Play" was his response. Recent research from Psychiatrists from John Hopkins University have compared play to oxygen. Taking time to play feeds dopamine into a whole bunch of areas of the brain.

4. Ask "Why" a lot

Sometimes as adults we stop asking questions. Once we stop asking questions, stop enquiring we can fall into resignation. The end result of that is that we can miss opportunities because we didn't scratch the surface and look at why something is happening or why it might.

Of course, the other issue about us stopping asking questions is we may also miss the opportunity to, learn from mistakes and so we may very well keep making them.

5. Family is more important than money

The point is that there has to be a bigger goal than just money. Money is a great tool and life can be pretty tough without it, but we have to know why we want that money.

6. Family is more than just your household

When I asked Iziah who his family was it was much more than just his Mum, Dad, and brother. he cited his aunts and uncles, grandparents, cousins. The point is to consider who your family is, keep it as wide as possible and make sure you are looking after and keeping connected with all of your 'family'.

7. Don't keep secrets

Families don't keep secrets from each other, Iziah told me. There is a great lesson here. By being brutally honest with our business family, we are more likely to have them join us wholeheartedly on the journey.

8. Schedule time for fun

We mentioned before about the importance of play but life can get in the way. Iziah has an arrangement with his Mum and dad that schedules time in the day for uninterrupted play. That way he knows it will happen and Mum and Dad know nothing will get in the way.

It is like anything in life, business. If all we do is put it on a 'to do' list there is a good chance it will get missed or overtaken by other priorities. Schedule it in your calendar and treat it the same as any important appointment.

9. Always Learn

My grandson goes to school, he reads, he loves learning. That