Life Lessons from My 14-Year-Old Son ???? #2
Joe Travaglione
?? Cybersecurity Leader & Business Strategist | ?? Empowering Teams & Driving Innovation | ?? Passionate about Personal & Professional Growth
Eighth grade has been a rollercoaster year for my son, full of growth and learning moments. Recently, after a school mixer, he encountered a situation that brought home an important life lesson.
At the mixer, a group of kids started fooling around with one of his classmates. What began as playful teasing slowly turned into bullying, and the situation escalated to the point where the parents of the bullied child sent out an email expressing concerns, even mentioning damage to the child’s phone.
When we received the email, my wife and I sat down with our son to talk through the situation. He insisted that while he didn’t participate in the bullying, he stood by and watched. This led us to discuss an essential truth: You are the sum of the people you surround yourself with. ?? The actions of the people you associate with directly influence how you are perceived. If you surround yourself with positive people, positive outcomes are more likely. However, if you're around negative influences, the consequences can be harmful.
It was a powerful conversation about how the people in your "mastermind" group, or circle of friends, impact your life. Even if you don’t actively engage in negative behavior, perception is reality. If others perceive you as part of the problem, that’s the reputation you carry. And we all know, it’s far harder to change that narrative once it’s set.
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Another valuable lesson came when we discussed perspectives. There’s always three sides to any story: your side, their side, and the truth. By encouraging our son to see things from all angles, we helped him understand that resolving conflict often lies in understanding the middle ground between perspectives. ??????
It’s fascinating how these lessons extend beyond family life into the workplace. Has anyone else had to talk to their employees about the power of associations and mindset? How do you approach conversations about surrounding yourself with the right influences and maintaining a positive mindset?
#Leadership #ParentingLessons #PerceptionMatters #Mindset #Growth #Positivity
Possibility Thinker | Strategic Partner | Business Coach | Executive Coach | Talent and Opportunity Connector | Podcaster
4 个月Love this insight! We’ve been focused on this with our family too. My daughter said that her friends are a representation of her and she’s very careful who she shares information and spends time with. That’s also something I’ve been paying attention to and been intentional with as I grow my business. I’ve been paying attention to what people say and their actions, especially when they speak to or about people in their world (personally and professionally). This is also extending to the rooms I choose to be in and those I choose to create. I understand no one is perfect and we’re all human. Cool thing is that these groups, can help support you to continue creating good habits and making good choices. This is a powerful lesson to learn and the earlier the better!