How to get there from here - A workshop conducted by Joel Nunez for parents, teachers and students

I was at a workshop last night. It was the fourth time - but every time I hear this particular speaker it is always like the first time. Keeping the audience engaged on a Friday evening before a long weekend takes talent. Let me outline the salient points that were covered.

So what did we learn?

Failure is not the opposite of success, rather it is an ingredient of success. If you teach children to avoid failure they will never try. Thomas Edison did not fail 10000 times before he invented the bulb. He just found 10000 different ways that will not work. Had he given up we may ave still been using candles.

Set Goals. Children must have a plan A and a plan B about what they will do in their future.

Teach children values: Respect, Honesty, Integrity are the building blocks of attaining their goal.

Give responsibility to children and do not under-estimate their capabilities. I'd like to add here that in Islam a child is considered a major at 15. Given the opportunity he or she can rise to the level of an adult taking up equal responsibility and being a fully contributing member to a household and family.

I would like to thank Dr Nunez for his motivating and very informative session. I hope to use the above advice in my parenting techniques.