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Jonathan says, without getting too deep in the weeds about my background, I've always had what I would consider a menial job on a help desk, and I don't see that changing in the future.

My concern is about the example I'm setting up for my five-year-old son. What can I do to ensure he succeeds

at his chosen career when the time comes and how do I encourage him so that he actually does

something meaningful with his professional life? I will keep his mind open to trade school

possibilities and won't dismiss anything. He simply has to do better than I have. Wow.

Man, I wish I could give you a hug, Jonathan. I would say to those who

feel like Jonathan feels, you can change your future. You can change your future professionally.

But to the specific question, this is kind of a parenting question on how do we set our kids up

so that they

can do something meaningful in their professional life. And I think it's a very simple formula that I

teach. And it's in a simple sentence. If they use what they do best to do something they

enjoy, to produce a result that they care about, they're going to be very, very fulfilled. That is the

recipe to meaningful work. That's on the book, Paycheck to Purpose. That is, that's right.

The Paycheck to Purpose, we unveil seven stages that will get you there, a clear path to get

you there. But that's the formula. So how do we do this with our kids? So early on, mom and dad,

pay attention. Pay attention to the things that have come easy to them. I mean from the time they were toddlers all the way up through high school. What are the things that just have naturally come easy for them? Maybe their siblings struggle, but it comes easy for them. Help them see that. Help them pay attention to the compliments they get.

Where are they getting compliments in their life? Okay, this is just basic awareness that you as

parents instinctively are going to be able to see, but you help your kids see this. And what this does

early on, before we ever start thinking about college and a major and a professional life,

we start to pay attention

to what they're good at. There's a high correlation, Dave, between the things that we're good at

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