As the school year draws to an end, my husband and I were recently having a conversation about the “life skills” that our 6 year-old son has learned in kindergarten. The discussion mainly focused on how these very simple things that he has learned this year, can really be applied to everyday life and relationships for adults, both in business and personally. Obviously, the basic manners and respect that are learned are very important, as kindergarten is really the first step into life in terms of responsibilities and relationships. But, as my husband and I began to list other things that my son has learned, we began to realize just how many other basic, fundamental and important life lessons that are taught so very early on in our lives.
A friend of ours once said, “God gave you two ears and one mouth, so you should listen twice as much as you speak.” This is a valuable lesson that I know has been reinforced daily in his class. But, strangely enough, it’s also something that in business or personal relationships that also holds true. It’s human nature to think about what to say next, or interject with excitement while someone else is speaking. If we all abide by the “If my mouth is speaking, then your ears should be listening” theory as they do in the classroom, perhaps people wouldn’t interrupt quite as often, allowing the person speaking to finish their thought.
Another very important lesson learned this year by our son, was that “Two wrongs don’t make a right.” As adults, when things get tough and people disappoint us or hurt us, sometimes our instincts are to retaliate and hurt them in return with words or by our actions. There have been many times that I have seen our son not react, because he has been told over and over again that hurting someone that has hurt you, doesn’t make it right. This holds true in business and with any relationship, as I tell our son, sometimes you win simply by walking away.
Our son Carter is also very easily deterred when things get difficult. And another lesson he has learned has been that, “If first you don’t succeed, try again.” I have found myself telling not only him, but reminding myself on many occasions that everything worth having, is worth working for. I have seen the pride on his face when he finishes a challenging book, or a set of math problems. I have also seen this same look on my husband’s face when a problem in business has been resolved. The similarities and situations are amazingly different, yet basically the same.
The last lesson that he has learned this year is that, “When you are wrong, you say you are sorry.” In all of our lives there have been times when we have been wrong, at work, at home, or with friends. The important part is how we rectify these mistakes, and sometimes as adults, admitting that we were wrong, and apologizing is very difficult. Kindergartners are reminded constantly to say they are sorry, and admit fault. For adults, many times, this is completely passed over because our pride or ego get in the way.
The kindergartners are reminded of all these things constantly, and as adults, we sometimes need to be reminded of the very basic of rules when dealing with others. It seems so simple when thinking of these things in terms of the experiences and relationships of a 6 year old. But thinking about these basic lessons and applying them to our lives, as adults, just might just remind us that we don’t need to complicate things nearly as much.