Kids: Dare to dream or stick to your strengths?

What's the more important message to convey to children?

Obviously we want them to have that dream. That sparkle in their eye. On the other hand that "dare to dream" philosophy is why we have so many failed pro-sport prospects bagging groceries after they wasted a free pass at a respectable college.

Telling kids stick to your strengths isn't a basket of fruit either though. Considering the major lack of self confidence in today's youth, many under estimate themselves and may never reach their full potential with that advice.

What's your take?

 

well, many parents (including my own) have got a compromise between the two. Dare to dream, but only the dream they pick out for you.

 

dream big but realistically.

failed pro-sports - well, i attribute some of that to specialization way to early in the kids life. parents pushing just one sport, when the kid should be learning to be an athlete first.

i tell the kids i work with to dream big, but that they have to work hard for those dreams. hard work will get you those big dreams.

improving weakness will make your strengths much stronger, IMO

 

You know the ratio of pro-sports atheletes to high-school kids?

I don't, but I bet you it's ridiculously unbalanced and points out that for most kids, no amount of hard work will lead to pro-sports.

Not to discount what you do because mentoring kids is amazing. And I haven't picked a side on this myself.

I'm just trying to figure out the pro's and cons here.

 

Well that's not really dreaming is it? That's not even sticking to your strengths. That's just doing what you're told.

What is your parents goal for you? What would you rather do that you're good at?

 

Dare to fucking dream. There is absolutely no point in taking life seriously and slaving your life away.

Unless that is your dream.

 

Slaving your life away and being realistic about goals and abilities are two different things aren't they?

 

Not entirely.

You can be anything you want to be, as long as you dare to dream.
As long as you don't let your ego or some other ego or the collective ego of society be in your way.

Realism is as fake as surrealism. Anything is possible, since nothing is certain.

 

well, the ratio is pretty bad and unbalanced - i agree.

whats the ratio for kids who want to be a pro in the big sports (NBA, NFL, MLB, etc) vs all the other sports out there? they want to grow up and be on the big screen. i try to teach them to be an athlete first, then go out and see what sport you can excel in. how many kids are willing to go play pro ball in another country other than the US? out of the kids i work with, not too many, even though we have a guy who plays semi-pro over in germany at the camp - the best part abotu him is, he doesn't work with the kids in basketball. he works with the kids who are a bit overweight or the kids who aren't really interested in sports, but want to do some physical activity.

yes, its still a lofty dream - no argument over that. you still have to bust your ass and have incredible skill and talent. shit, i'd play for the scout team of any pro team out there if i had the chance.

but how many home-grown pro snowboarders are there or skateboards/bmx/etc?

i also don't jsut tell them to dream of making it big in sports - i get them to dream big about other things and i push doing well in school and if you can't play with the best in sports, why not dream to work with the best in sports? analysts, trainers, assistants to coaches, etc...

theres always some way to make yoru dream or part of your dream come true

 

Nice.

Thanks man.

 

Making part of your dream come true is like your neighbour winning the lottery.

 

if you kid doesn't have any strengths, tell them to dream big. maybe they'll find some.

 

if your a fucking mooch, sure

using sports - not everyone can be a pro basketball player. but the chances of working for a pro basketball team are much better.

 

It is also much more boring - still a far, far distance away from your dream.

In other words: it is like your neighbour winning the lottery.

 

wait kids............dreams.................WTF i'm only having kids so i can have legal slaves to do all my house work.

 

That's an added benefit, but believe me when I tell you those slaves are an expensive liability.

 

dream big always

 

Id do my best to send my kid in the right direction, but thats the most anyone can really do without being one of those dicks who lives through their kid.

Very few people reach their dreams, and by dreams i dont mean visiting some far away island, i mean actually getting all they ever wanted.

 

Not necessarily. Agents often have access to all kinds of player related activites and functions. Rub elbows with the same people as pro players, and have the best seats at games. Not to mention the life style is still high paying and fast paced.

 

its a more realistic dream, and still quite a big dream at that. rather this happening than having the kid waste college after finding out he isn't pro-matieral and turn up as a bagger at the local grocery store