The following is something I wrote for my kids a few years ago - I think most of it still applies today...
Know and understand the world in which you live.
o The world today is much different that the world that people grew up in 30 to 40 years ago. Not better, not worse, just different.
o 40 years ago, this country was at war with Viet Nam. A brutal, directionless war that was fought 100% on foreign soil. If you were a young man living in this country, the war would affect you in some manner on the way to becoming a man.
o Today we are at war. Have no doubt, this country as well as most of the western world is at war. We are at war with an unseen enemy that does not claim a country nor wear a uniform. This enemy is in this country right now with the dual goals of destroying our economy and killing our people. They don’t want to change us, they want to kill us.
o Whether we like it or not, our economy is becoming segmented into haves and those that do not have. Training and education are the best tools that a person can have to ensure that they will not become a “have not”. This nation has made a decision in the 1990’s to greatly increase our immigrant population. Many of these people have no skills, no training, and no education. However, most are hungry and highly motivated. These are the people that you will be competing against in the job market if you decide not to have advanced education or training.
Health care/health insurance is your biggest expense.
o If you can work for an organization that offers benefits (health insurance), great. It is still very expensive as organizations tend to pay less and less of the cost every year.
o If you do not have benefits were you work, health insurance can be prohibitively expensive.
o This is critically important. As a young person, the best strategy to being covered by health insurance is to STAY IN SCHOOL. By staying in school, you will be able to be covered by health insurance until you are 25.
o If you get sick without having health insurance, you will be taken care of. This is a law in our state. However, the health provider will be coming after you for years for remuneration.
o If you get sick in a socialist country like Canada, be aware they have rationed health care. Elective treatment may have a waiting list of months. Many Canadians come across the boarder for treatment of illness as time to wait and quality of care is much better in this country.
o Many in this country think that the health care crisis will be over in 5 to 10 years in this country. The cost growth is simply not sustainable. You will have the opportunity to be part of the solution to fix it.
Not having plans and strategies are no longer options
o In the post modern world, having strategies for success are just has important as putting gas in your tank. Not have strategies and Plan “A”, Plan “B” and so on, will leave you defenseless against the onslaught of the ever changing world.
o One of the things that the former Soviet Union did well was to keep five year plans on everything. In other words, where to you want to be in five years and what are the steps in getting there. Everyone should do the same with their lives. Where am I now, and where to I want to be in five years. This could be physically, educationally, vocationally, financially and so on.
o “Plan the work and work the plan” is an old business adage which simple means once you have the plan, implement it.
o Write your plan and strategies down. Many of the aspects of your life plan are too complex to remember. Also, having it written down makes it easier to modify and validate as time goes on.
Make friends with God
o This is the most important one and yet it is in last place.
o As you go though life, you will have some close friends and you will have some friends that will greatly disappoint you. Many of your friends will come and go as time goes on. In this world, it is your parents that will show you the most unconditional love. However, your parents will not be here as long as you will be.
o There is only one constant for eternal love and acceptance. There is only one friend who will never desert nor betray you. Nothing you have done in your life has changed that love one bit.
o Faith makes facing death much easier, but it also makes facing life much easier also. Having a strong relationship with God will not solve all your problems, it just makes them so much easier to bear. Many people that become friends with God notice that ALL aspects of their lives start to improve. God created us all to succeed.
Know and understand the world in which you live.
o The world today is much different that the world that people grew up in 30 to 40 years ago. Not better, not worse, just different.
o 40 years ago, this country was at war with Viet Nam. A brutal, directionless war that was fought 100% on foreign soil. If you were a young man living in this country, the war would affect you in some manner on the way to becoming a man.
o Today we are at war. Have no doubt, this country as well as most of the western world is at war. We are at war with an unseen enemy that does not claim a country nor wear a uniform. This enemy is in this country right now with the dual goals of destroying our economy and killing our people. They don’t want to change us, they want to kill us.
o Whether we like it or not, our economy is becoming segmented into haves and those that do not have. Training and education are the best tools that a person can have to ensure that they will not become a “have not”. This nation has made a decision in the 1990’s to greatly increase our immigrant population. Many of these people have no skills, no training, and no education. However, most are hungry and highly motivated. These are the people that you will be competing against in the job market if you decide not to have advanced education or training.
Health care/health insurance is your biggest expense.
o If you can work for an organization that offers benefits (health insurance), great. It is still very expensive as organizations tend to pay less and less of the cost every year.
o If you do not have benefits were you work, health insurance can be prohibitively expensive.
o This is critically important. As a young person, the best strategy to being covered by health insurance is to STAY IN SCHOOL. By staying in school, you will be able to be covered by health insurance until you are 25.
o If you get sick without having health insurance, you will be taken care of. This is a law in our state. However, the health provider will be coming after you for years for remuneration.
o If you get sick in a socialist country like Canada, be aware they have rationed health care. Elective treatment may have a waiting list of months. Many Canadians come across the boarder for treatment of illness as time to wait and quality of care is much better in this country.
o Many in this country think that the health care crisis will be over in 5 to 10 years in this country. The cost growth is simply not sustainable. You will have the opportunity to be part of the solution to fix it.
Not having plans and strategies are no longer options
o In the post modern world, having strategies for success are just has important as putting gas in your tank. Not have strategies and Plan “A”, Plan “B” and so on, will leave you defenseless against the onslaught of the ever changing world.
o One of the things that the former Soviet Union did well was to keep five year plans on everything. In other words, where to you want to be in five years and what are the steps in getting there. Everyone should do the same with their lives. Where am I now, and where to I want to be in five years. This could be physically, educationally, vocationally, financially and so on.
o “Plan the work and work the plan” is an old business adage which simple means once you have the plan, implement it.
o Write your plan and strategies down. Many of the aspects of your life plan are too complex to remember. Also, having it written down makes it easier to modify and validate as time goes on.
Make friends with God
o This is the most important one and yet it is in last place.
o As you go though life, you will have some close friends and you will have some friends that will greatly disappoint you. Many of your friends will come and go as time goes on. In this world, it is your parents that will show you the most unconditional love. However, your parents will not be here as long as you will be.
o There is only one constant for eternal love and acceptance. There is only one friend who will never desert nor betray you. Nothing you have done in your life has changed that love one bit.
o Faith makes facing death much easier, but it also makes facing life much easier also. Having a strong relationship with God will not solve all your problems, it just makes them so much easier to bear. Many people that become friends with God notice that ALL aspects of their lives start to improve. God created us all to succeed.
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