Before long, the nearly $400,000 this couple had earmarked to finish funding their financial vehicle had disappeared. The money was used up, evaporated before it could provide for the parents’ retirement, let alone go on to benefit the children in the long-term. This is where families often lose their generational momentum. They forfeit the cycle of KASH and cash going on to bless future generations. They dwindle in fewer resources and are forced to start the cycle of growth all over again, or worse, live in a scarcity mentality. ... CONTINUED FROM COVER
There is a better path. It’s explained in this illustration of what I call the Abundance Cycle. Notice that the journey is the same for both cycles through the first three stages:
Stage 4 of the Abundance Cycle is where things can go right, instead of wrong. When families take proactive measures to reinforce an abundance mentality and instill accountability and responsibility, they
1. The development of KASH 2. The increase of KASH and cash 3. The prosperity of wealth and abundance
are setting up the next generation for success in every aspect of life.
The next stage is where families establish a Legacy Bank, which is where you can
HELPING OUR KIDS FOCUS ON VALUES
STAYING INTERESTED VS. BEING INTERESTING
As any parent knows, instilling values in our children’s lives isn’t always easy. It takes a whole lot of consistency, and sometimes that can lead to challenging— but happily unforgettable — moments. My wife, Harmony, and I try to be the kind of parents who are sincerely interested in our kids vs. trying to be interesting or popular parents. The concept of being sincerely interested is something my dad shares in his book, “Entitlement Abolition.” In the book, he points out that the word “sincere” comes from ancient Italy, and it literally means “without wax.” At the time, potters would often repair cracks in clay pots with wax before selling them. The more valuable pots without cracks would be marked “sincere.” Just the same, when we are genuinely interested in others (without any cover-ups or hidden agendas), we bring more value to our relationships. Being sincerely interested in our kids means focusing on the values we want to reinforce. But sometimes that requires tenacity because with a teenager in our house we’re seeing that kids like to push back a little. Okay maybe more than just a little.
For example, my son often complains that I volunteer us to help out with our neighbors and church community, saying things like, “Dad, why do you always volunteer for everything? Why don’t you ever say no? It’s because we have a truck, huh? Maybe we should sell your truck so that people wouldn’t ask for help.”
It would be easier to give in to my son and say no to these opportunities to help. But Harmony and I want our kids to understand the value of service. And the best part is, even though he protests a bit, he always comes along, and afterward he says he’s glad he helped. As part of the 3 Dimensional Wealth principles, we also talk about creating a Values & Vision Statement. Harmony’s family established a values-based mission statement over 30 years ago that we’ve since incorporated with our own kids. We revisit the mission statement every year at our family reunion and all have it printed on a card that we keep with us. It focuses on remembering our relationships with God and our religious covenants with him as well as our relationships with our family and friends. However you pursue the goal of instilling values with your family, I wish you all the best as you remain interested in your children and grandchildren. Even if it’s not always easy, we can reassure ourselves … it’s worth it.
–Emron Andrew
2 3DimensionalWealth.com
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