Advice from Ben Carson, M. D.

THINK BIG – his recipe for success:

• Talent.
• Honesty – if you leave a clean and honest life, you don’t  have to worry about any skeletons in the closet.
• Insight – comes in part from listening to those people who have already been where you are trying to go.
• Nice – be nice to people. They’ll be nice to you. And you can get so much more done when people are being nice to you. You don’t have to compromise your standards or be politically correct.
  1. Take yourself [your ego] out of the equation.
  2. Try to look at the other person’s point of view.
  3. Just listen
  4. Put personal preference aside.
  5. Learn to love people.
  6. Do unto others…
• Knowledge – because with knowledge, wisdom, and understanding you can get all the gold, silver, rubies you want.
• Books.
• In-depth learning – learning for the sake of knowledge, and understanding as opposed to superficial learning.
• God

All of his points are great. My favorite is the Books point. Because I like to read.

PEERS- People Encouraging Errors, Rudeness, and Stupidity.

Ten Strategies for Improved Parenting:

1. Remember your own childhood. Remembering helps us emphasize. It can help us be more patient.
2. Let kids make the rules. He has found that when we let children have a voice in establishing expectations, we have a lot less trouble getting them to meet those expectations. He is not suggesting that children be in charge of the home.
3. Make certain your children experience consequences. Don’t always bail them out when they get themselves in trouble.
4. Parenting can be a group effort. He is not saying it takes a village to raise a kid, but a village can be of help.
5. Know your child.
6. Set high standards.
7. Make time together.
8. Talk is cheap…and invaluable. Let your kids express their feelings and thoughts openly. Listen to your kids.
9. Marry the right person.
10. Make parenting a true priority.

Just so you know, the doctor is married and has five children. Point 9 might be the hardest of his list to do.

Parents Lay the Foundation for Education for Your Kids:

1. Start rewarding and encouraging learning early in life—and don’t stop.
2. Do whatever you must to encourage reading.
3. Get involved in your children’s formal education—at home and at school.
4. Point your children to successful individuals who have been empowered by education.
5. Be an example yourself.

Good advice for parents. I concur completely. I want to add to his advice that grandparents, uncles and aunts can encourage reading too.

Source: The Big Picture. Getting Perspective on What’s Really Important in Life (1999) by Ben Carson, M. D. with Gregg Lewis.