In our last couple +1s, we mined some wisdom from my recent roadtrip with Emerson to the Texas State Chess Championships.
Today I want to talk about one of the things we talked about on the long, 5-hour drive home.
But…
First, I want to talk about one of my all-time favorite authors who wrote one of the main books that is guiding how I’m striving to support Emerson in his quest for chess mastery.
The book is called Parenting Champions.
It’s by Lanny Bassham, who wrote one of my all-time favorite (and one of the all-time greatest) books on peak performance and mental toughness called With Winning in Mind.
btw: As it turns out (which is especially relevant as I talk about the wisdom I’m trying to impart to my son), Lanny’s son, Troy, wrote ANOTHER great book I love called Attainment.
So…
In Parenting Champions, Lanny gives us some GREAT wisdom on everything from creating an empowered Self-Image to setting effective goals.
(Pro tip: Make sure you’re focused on the PROCESS targets).
But…
The thing that most struck me was this wisdom from the first chapter of the book—which is called: “The Question.”
Lanny asks us: “Concerning your kids, I have just one question for you. What is more important to you, what your children Accomplish or who they Become?”
Pause for a moment and ask yourself that question...
Which is more important for you?
Lanny tells us that he’s asked thousands of parents and they all give the same answer you did…
It is, of course, who they Become.
And THAT is why I’m so excited for this next phase of my relationship with Emerson.
We now have a wonderful context to use his current, intrinsic passion for chess as the PERFECT context to help him win the ultimate game of life by practicing his/our philosophy.
Now...
Let’s chat about that 5-hour drive.
I asked him WHO we need to THANK for helping him do so well in the tournament.
I asked what, specifically, each person did.
He said, “FunMasterMike is funny and made chess fun.”
And, he said his coach Nick saw his potential and helped him prepare. Mommy made him healthy food and meditations. And daddy paid for it and drove him there and coached him on mental toughness. (Hah.)
Then we talked about all the people who built the roads we drove on to get there, the people who worked at (and built) the hotel we stayed at and who built the car we drove and got the gas to the gas station and…
I let him know we could spend our entire drive trying to thank all the people who made our weekend possible and we’d still barely scratch the surface.
And…
That’s Today’s +1.
As we bring forth the best within ourselves and our kids in whatever “game” we’re playing these days, let’s remember the ultimate game AND let’s remember the people who help us accomplish our dreams and become who we’re destined to be.
Day 1. All in.
Let’s go, Hero!
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