I have teenage boys. I want to share some fundamental principles that can help them make smart choices of how to live their life.

The 8 P’s

In the last year I have had them memorize the 8 P’s – 8 basic values to help make smart choices in living.

Here they are:

Passion              Love whatever you do. If you love what you do, it will never feel like work.

Proficiency       Do the very best you are capable of doing and always make the effort to improve.

Profit                 Pick a career and an industry that makes money so you can earn a good income.

Persistence      Life is full of setbacks and disappointments. Continue to work through adversity.

Patience            Rarely does anything good happen fast. Be patient to achieve your goals.

Practice             You learn how to learn through repetition. You add knowledge with practice.

Partners            Connect and work with people you like, respect and share common values.

Purpose             Life with purpose offers great satisfaction and rewards.

At this point, I just want my boys to memorize these words in hopes that as they grow older they will understand how these values can help guide them to live productive and purposeful lives.

I have also shared the 8 P’s with other parents and friends. They really like the simplicity of the 8 P’s as touchstones to share with others.

Self-Discipline And Determination

I am currently reading Dr. Martin Seligman’s “Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-Being.”

I highly recommend this book. Very thought provoking with brilliant insights and new habits we can practice to make our lives better.

What is particularly noteworthy is a chapter about the research done by Angela Lee Duckworth.

She has found in researching “achievement = skill x effort” that:

·        Self-Discipline (self-control) and

·        Determination (GRIT)

…contribute more towards achievement than other factors.

This means if you have good IQ and high self-discipline/GRIT, most likely you will out-perform others with higher IQ’s.

Her research is thorough and in-depth across a range of fields.

What is the difference in music between Mozart and Beethoven and the others?

What is the difference between Shakespeare and other writers?

Why have Arnold Palmer won 61 PGA tournaments, Jack Nicklaus won 71 PGA tournaments, and Tiger Woods won 79 PGA tournaments?

You guessed it. Self-discipline and determination.

I really encourage you to read the book and Dr. Duckworth’s findings.

So, What Does This Mean For My Boys And 8 P’s?

Clearly, I need to stress the significance of self-discipline and determination.

They are within the 8 P’s:

Self-discipline =              Proficiency and Practice

Determination =             Persistence

I have great optimism in sharing this insight, particularly for children that do not have great grades and can struggle with homework.

Rather than be despondent about poor grades, discover your passion and gifts.

Then apply self-discipline and determination in slow, methodic steps.

My hope is that they will do this and be encouraged and amazed at their results.