Spotlight: Peanut Butter Principles By Eric Franklin

Peanut Butter Principles: 47 Leadership Lessons Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids

By- Eric Franklin

In “Peanut Butter Principles: 47 Leadership Lessons Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids”, entrepreneur, speaker, author, management consultant and parent Eric Franklin has assembled a wealth of wisdom that has stuck with him like peanut butter sticks to the roof of your mouth. One by one, you can serve up spoonfuls of Peanut Butter Principles to the youth in your life and make a profound impact to help them grow into confident, intelligent, and successful adults and leaders who make good choices, build healthy relationships, and cultivate another generation of leaders.

And here is an Excerpt from Peanut Butter Principles: 47 Leadership Lessons Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids

1 |“ “Life is not fair. Get over it.”

Do you remember your first major disappointment? Maybe Santa didn’t bring the toy you had been aching for or you didn’t win a race or contest. Or possibly it was the first time you felt the pain of unrequited love. Disappointment comes from expectations that aren’t met.

It happens. That’s what we call “the real world”. Life is fraught with disappointments, heartbreak, and rejection. Sure, it feels unfair sometimes, but there’s no rulebook for life that says the playing field will always be level. We are given chances and choices all along this journey. And even when you feel you’ve

made the right decisions and played your best, sometimes, you still don’t win.

You can accept this truth or spend your time whining, “It’s just not fair!”

In order to truly appreciate what we have, we need to experience the unfair things in life. Shielding children from loss and rejection gives them an unrealistic sense of accomplishment. When every child walks away from a competition with a ribbon or a medal, these prizes reward them just for the act of showing up; it has nothing to do with excellence. Years later, do you think a college professor will applaud every student who shows up to class or an employer will pat each employee on the back for arriving on time to work? Of course not. But these are the behaviors for which children are rewarded. So, they come to expect accolades for what should simply be expected of them.

Children can only become exceptional when they have a realistic view of what this measure really is. When we do everything possible to level the playing field, how can they possibly rise above the status quo? How can they differentiate between mediocre, average, and excellent? A person who sees the world as unfair is probably looking at it from the bottom rung of the ladder—not a leader, but someone who blames the world for what he hasn’t had the ability.

About the Author-

Eric Franklin, Entrepreneur and Author of  Peanut Butter Principles: 47 Leadership Lessons Every Parent  Should Teach Their Kids Eric Franklin had his first taste of leadership during a summer job when at age 16, he was appointed supervisor to over 200 peer employees at his local amusement park. He has been on a mentoring roller coaster ride ever since. Although Eric has held a multitude of distinguished positions over the years and is currently CEO/owner of several successful businesses that operate across the U.S., his core values are as basic to the soul as a peanut butter sandwich is to a hungry appetite.

Eric's formal education has earned him a Bachelor's degree in biology from Hampton University and a Master's in procurement and acquisitions from Webster University. His family and community have been the most influential in imparting upon him the character traits that have enabled him to be so successful.

When Eric isn't busy with writing, business coaching and running several businesses, his ideal scenario for a day would be he, his wife and 3 kids, eating fresh seafood on a tropical island, with of course,the family dog and cat close at hand. An accomplished musician, Eric would end the day by playing a few of his favorite music selections on the piano. Eric also enjoys the simple things in life, like peanut butter.

Eric is a staunch advocate for STEM (Science Technology, Engineering and Math) education and serves on the Southern Maryland Higher Education Council. However, Eric is concerned that with the increased technical proficiency of our students, basic character and life principles are not being taught. He sought to develop resources would be embraced by parents and other mentors and shared with the young people in their lives to ensure a firm foundation for the next generation of great leaders.