Become good at life!

Life; an experience of love, growth and productivity conditioned to a limited time here on Earth. Some have a better starting position for success and still fail, while others overcome obstacles and succeed against all odds. Some earn prestigious academic degrees and end up as captives of a 9 to 5 system, while others take an alternative route, escape the system and tap into freedom, influence and abundance. Eventually, it doesn’t matter which route you choose; all that matters is how good you get at life!

"All that matters is how good you get at life!"

This is a phrase I continuously repeat during my lectures about Innovation and Entrepreneurship. The point I want to make is this; a degree is a nice addition to your accomplishments, but getting good at life is what will determine how far you will make it.

Life is like a competitive game in which we all get the same 24 hours a day to do whatever we can to stand out in originality and uniqueness. But there is only one strategy to get good at the game of life; try, fail, learn and don’t quit until you win! Yes, there is only one way to improve your skills in this game and that is by competing with yourself. So my advice is to invest a significant share if these 24 hours in playing this game!

"There is only one strategy to get good at the game of life; try, fail, learn and don’t quit until you win!"

There is little science to the introduction of this article, yet most people will agree with my brief discourse. We all know stories of people who succeeded at school but failed at life and people who failed at school but succeeded at life. So, is life conditioned to chance and probability? Is it a game in which luck or coincidence determine our fate? If it was, life would be unfair and there would be little hope for humanity. So, the question here is; can everyone get good at life? Well, I believe it is possible.

Life is designed in such a way that it automatically leads us towards becoming good at it. That is of course if the growth process goes according to the Master's predefined plan. Life is designed to teach us the most important lessons from the moment we take our first breath. And it should start with the experience of love and security. Why do love and security come first? Because they ensure that growth happens in a safe and secure environment where emotions are nurtured, curiosity is appreciated, imagination is cultivated and creativity is triggered. And when this plan goes undisturbed, we find identity, self-worth, self-awareness and self-esteem. The foundation for becoming good at life is laid at the beginning. Nevertheless, this process of growth will adapt to any type of environment it is exposed to, being either safe or hostile. And the consequences? I’ll address this later on.

My 3-year-old son Isaiah is quite different from my other children. He is a post-covid preschooler who, thanks to the lockdown, spent significantly more time in a safe and secure growth environment. And of course he also benefitted from more mature and experienced parents. When I compare him to Nyah and Elijah at his age, he is definitely further in the process of becoming good at life. The following dialogue is a typical conversation between me and him.

Isaiah; “Daddy, can I have a piece of chocolate?”

Me; “It’s too early for chocolate Isaiah, maybe later”

Isaiah; “But Daddy, I only want a little piece”

Me; “No Isaiah, it’s too early for chocolate”

Isaiah; “But Daddy, I asked nicely”

Nyah at his age would accept no as a final answer while Elijah would get emotional and perhaps even argue. But not Isaiah. He gets a no and immediately engages in a negotiation. He somehow knows that he has no leverage but still he goes after what he wants. He doesn’t consider “no” to be final. When he gets a no, he taps into his fundamental right to negotiate. And every counter offer made is accompanied with the appropriate tone of voice and body language. For the sake of my reputation, I won’t disclose how many times he wins!

Nyah and Elijah also benefited from a safe and secure environment for growth but the difference between now and then is innovation. No, I’m not referring to technology, I’m referring to me as a father questioning fatherhood, thinking of ways to improve myself and putting it into practice. It is the result of me effectively applying the most important strategy in the game of life; question, think and act. Science would label it; Innovation and Entrepreneurship!

During my class Innovation and Entrepreneurship at the University of Cura?ao I can easily pinpoint the students who probably benefitted from a growth environment in which identity, self-worth, self-awareness and self-esteem were nurtured and cultivated. How? Not because of their intellectual capacity, but because they have the courage to think! Yes, surely thinking benefits from intellectual capacity, but without the foundation for getting good at life, most thoughts remain silent because of insecurity.

"Without the foundation for getting good at life, most thoughts remain silent because of insecurity"

To speak your thoughts and knowing that they matter requires courage. Especially when you know you could be wrong! Thinking requires boldness and boldness is the result of knowing who you are.

There is enough scientific evidence about the importance of innovation and its contribution towards economic growth. Innovation is acting on creative ideas and turning them into value. Innovation begins with the capacity to think and the capacity to think is influenced by the growth environment.

"Innovation is acting on creative ideas and turning them into value"

If this environment goes according to plan, we reap creative thinkers who contribute with fruitful ideas that lead to economic growth. If it doesn’t go according to plan, we reap the opposite. And what is the opposite? People who use creativity to identify obstacles instead of solutions, who criticize without thinking and fear to act. And the consequence? No innovation, no entrepreneurship and no economic growth!

For years Cura?ao is struggling with economic growth. Perhaps it is interesting to see if there is a correlation between the innovation cycle, which becomes shorter by the day, and the economy. But whatever the outcome; if we don’t create a safe and secure growth environment where identity, self-worth, self-awareness and self-esteem are nurtured and cultivated we won’t benefit from people with the courage to question, think and act.

"If we don’t create a safe and secure growth environment where identity, self-worth, self-awareness and self-esteem are nurtured and cultivated we won’t benefit from people with the courage to question, think and act"

Innovation and entrepreneurship have always been the pillars for economic growth. Individuals who question the status quo, think and act upon their ideas are the driving force behind economic growth. These individuals are the entrepreneurs who play the game of life, compete with themselves, improve, create new markets and win. While I’m committed to restore my students' courage to question, think and act we all should be committed to creating a safe and secure environment for our future entrepreneurs! This is the Master’s plan for economic growth and prosperity.