Kevin Mayall - Official Blog: Low socioeconomic status and oppotunity

Kevin Mayall - Official Blog: Low socioeconomic status and oppotunity: "Should a low socioeconomic status mean having nothing meaningful or positive to contribute to society? I say 'No'. It is my belief that a ..."

McDonalds and our Teachers showing us how how to kill ourselves

This sickens me and who ever organised this should be removed from any contact with children. How is McDonalds educational other than showing us how to be lazy and how to kill ourselves with poor lifestyle choices.

McDonald's field trip 'educational' | Stuff.co.nz

www.stuff.co.nz

A group of young Petone pupils are gearing up for an "educational" field trip to McDonald's, with free burgers in the offing.

Come on you idiot teachers. This is the kind of stuff thats killing (literally) our society. Get off your lazy backsides and teach our kids some positive stuff.

How to grow and eat fruit and vegetables. Healthy food and lifestyle choices would be a great start. I would also add the following:

Go to (and there are plenty if you chose to look) for businesses that have a great social conscience and adding to the community.

Go to the great entrepreneurs, the great preforming artists, the great sports people, the great carers and community workers...the list goes on. 

These are the people and resources our kids should be spending time on field trips with.

So come on you lazy Teachers. Get off your backside and do the right thing by our kids.

Every kids has a special talent.

As you know my passion is around getting GenNext getting ahead in life. It is my belief that every human being has a special talent unique to that person, a gift that they will use to add to this world in a positive way. It is also my opinion that no matter what your economic status you should have the opportunity to express those talents. Just because someone is poor should not exclude them from expressing those talents.
For our social and economic not to mention humanitarian well being, we need to be giving our kids every opportunity to use those talents.



I recently read an article that said you will only achieve based on your social standing.
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/education/news/article.cfm?c_id=35&objectid=10720220
The league table of school examination results we published yesterday broadly confirms the view within the teaching profession that pupils' family wealth largely determines their educational success. The Ministry of Education gives every school a "decile" rating depending on household incomes in its district and last year's results reflect their socio-economic situation.

So why are some people "haves" and other "have nots?" Why do some kids achieve and others become statistics?



Here are some (generalisations) observations. Have nots make poor lifestyle and nutrition choices. These choices include high consumption of fatty food (and takeaway food), high sugar and processed food. High consumption of alcohol and tobacco. All of which cost more in money and lead to poor health and inhibit our young minds bodies and spirit.

Some people (see political parties) think that giving more money is the answer. Taxing the rich. How dare the rich succeed and have all of the money. Anyone who saw the Jamie Oliver series he did in America would have been shocked at the high level of institutionalised support to keep that country fat. Support right up to government level. How will those kids ever achieve when they will be dying of diabetes and heart disease before the age of 30? And this is acceptable?

How can kids ever expect to express their god given talents when they live under these conditions?

The single biggest and most important part missing is this. 
Its the passing on of positive thought, beliefs and habits.

Education is the passing on of knowledge. Right? All I'm seeing is the passing on of qualifications in the education system. What about positive life experiences? If education is the passing on of knowledge then why isn't positive life experiences being passed on? Teacher do a fabulous job passing on the knowledge to gain qualifications....who is passing on the life skills?

The education our kids receive would be infinitely different if it was designed by successful business people, high performing athletes and successful recording artists.

Our kids would be learning positive thoughts beliefs and habits which would help them make good lifestyle choices and encourage and empower our kids to be all that they can be.

So what can you do about it? Easy. Make good lifestyle choices and be successful....and pass that goodness on. Our kids are waiting for you right now.

Step Parenting...Love is not enough

Book stores are full of Parenting and Relationship books, experts give great advice on these topics but there appears to be a massive hole that no one talks about.

Step Parenting.

Its (as I see it) the single biggest relationship buster. We meet someone new a special and they, or you or both of you have kids.



The top 5 Step Parenting potholes to avoid at all costs

Kids disrespecting the Step Parent.
Step Parent trying to be the Parent.
The "other" Parent interfering/undermining you/your new family
The Step Parent disliking their partners kids.
Treating your own kids differently to your step kids.

Its also important to acknowledge how difficult it is to live in the same house with a step child/children you don't like. As Parents we tend to let things slide with our own kids. however we are way less tolerant with the step kids. It seems to just be nature. How hard is it to say to your partner "I don't like your kids". But I tell you what. Its worse if you don't say it. At least by talking things through you get a resourceful resolution. If you don't then very bad things will happen not only for you but for all inhabitants under your roof.

Parents are people too and they are just trying to get their own lives sorted as well. Blended families are difficult and can wear down seemingly strong relationships down till they break. Blended families can work and work great, however they need specialist attention and the ability to talk about the things we don't want to talk about. Have one on one time together away from all kids. Time to discuss what needs sorting and time where its just romance. No couple can survive when all they talk about is their kids.
Also important is to have quality time with your own kids. Not everything has to be blended.

Talk about the things you don't want to talk about. This is hard. It requires respect and brutal honesty.


Get the ground rules/expectations sorted before you move in together.

Women teach Men to lie

Yes, you read right. Women actually teach men to lie. I realise that I am about to get rocks thrown at me so before you do let me explain.

Women ask us questions, often knowing they wont like the answer. Do I look fat in this dress? Is she pretty? Past girlfriend questions...the list goes on. What is a man meant to say to that question? If he says yes then all hell breaks loose. Girls, don't even bother trying to defend yourselves against that one. We get all the theatrical explosion in our face....for years to come.




So instead we lie...just to keep the piece. Its just not worth the hassle answering honestly.

Then to make matter worse, women expect men to be mind readers. We try and anticipate what we think the 'correct" answer is. Heaven help us if we are wrong.

This whole process starts at a young age. Teenage girls shame boys (that's the polite way of putting it) and boys just want to be cool around the girls anyway (Look up Testosterone) so right from the outset, boys learn to try and say the right thing in front of girls. This process continues on into the adult world.

The answer? You need to let men tell you the truth no matter how much it may upset you...and make it ok for him to say what he wants to say. No repercussions.



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WBUZHRX3kY&feature=player_embedded

Just go and get a job!

Teenagers everywhere face the daunting question....what am I going to  do with my life?

Its a problem Parents and Schools grapple with but are adults qualified to be giving life and career advice to GenNext?

Teens don’t want to follow us, Teens see our generation as miserable and who can blame them? Want some more proof? Our generation never have enough time or money. Heck, we even invented Prozac. Teens just switch off and in the end the exasperated parent yells “Just go and get a job!”

This is a common line given to most teens around the age of 17 and 18 mostly delivered from the exasperated parent who sees their teenager laying around home with no direction.

What parents need to know is that teens are worried about their future and money. They just don’t know what to do about it. In fact this is one of the major stresses in their life right now.

Most tend to deal with it by “hoping something falls in their lap”. The future is a major source of stress in most late teens does not stop when they go to University either. You would be shocked to know how many students with a degree (and a large student loan) who still have no idea what they are going to do with their lives.

Most teen’s first experience with earning money generally comes from a negative experience.  This unfortunately acts like a negative imprinting. Work hard to make not much money. JOB stands for “Just over Broke”. Mmm. Not vey appealing.

Take that attitude in the workforce and you have an unmotivated employee.

This is a major concern for Employers trying to attract and retain Generation Y.

Employers constantly talk of unmotivated under 25’s, their incredible sense of entitlement and how they can’t handle “work”.

Something’s going wrong. Why don’t our kids want to work?

Generation Y doesn’t want to settle for what we have. Friends and fun are more important.

The time has come were we need change how we view “work”.

Generation Y have something to teach us just as important as what we have to teach them.

Both sides are right yet neither side is listening to the other.

The answer lies in combining your “fun” with how you earn your money. Find you’re “passion”, your “fun” or even your hobbies and find out how you can earn money from them. Then work hard at that.

Read about wealthy people like Richard Branson and you will see a different picture on work and money. Their first experience with earning money is that’s it's an opportunity with no limits.

JK Rowling and the Harry Potter series of books proves the point. JK Rowling had a vivid imagination. Her passion was her creative ideas. JK Rowling then worked hard at taking her creativity and putting pen to paper. She was not trading her time for money, doing a “JOB”; she was paid for how good she was.

There is a common thread with people who enjoy their career. People who have achieved great wealth and enjoyment in life have done so from hard work doing what they love. They have positive beliefs and habits and are surrounded by others who support them.

Teens are looking to you for that same support.

Choosing your words

 Have you ever stopped and thought about the power and effect of the words you use each day?

We have all been guilty at some time using negative words. However its when we use those words on a regular basis that our world starts to become a not so nice place to be.


 We have a choice which words we use and when we choose positive words, positive things happen it our lives.




 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hzgzim5m7oU&feature=player_embedded

When anyone asks me "How are you" I always say that I'm "Bloody marvelous" in a happy and cheerful manner. 99% of the time its true. I have noticed that people love being around positive people and the energy is infectious.

We all know the saying "What goes around comes around" or "Give and you shall receive". Karma.
Why are we all waiting around to receive? If we want to receive then we have to give it in the first place.

That attitude goes for everything in life. Decide what you want....and give it first. If you want to receive big then you need to give big.

Start with the words you use each day. Make a day of consciously only using positive words for the whole day and  see the effect you have on other. It will be worth the effort and very soon you will see the worth of being like this each and every day.

Women and guilt

I see committed hard working CEO's, business owners, managers looking after everything and everyone and coming at great expense on their own well being.

I'll add another group in here, working Mothers. You know who you are. The man walks out the door in the morning and heads to work...thinking about his work.

The working Mum heads out the door thinking

where are the kids today?
whats for dinner?
does the washing need doing?
what family crisis needs sorting?

.....oh and what work pressure do I need to deal with today?



So my question for you is "Who is looking after you?"

You spend you whole time getting work and family sorted it comes at a personal expense. It ends up with burnout, low sex drive, diminishing personal relationships and work results suffer.
And at the end of the day, is it all worth it?

And I will add another one in here. Women have a list of things to do a mile long and if you look very carefully (often needing a magnifying glass to see) you see a thing called "me" at the bottom of that list.
And heaven forbid you put "me" any higher up the list...you have this thing called "guilt" which slams "me" right back down to the bottom of that list.

So heres my challenge:

1. Men. Step up to the plate. There is no law that says cooking and cleaning is womens work. Get involved with your kids lives (you will thank me for taking up this advice). Get with the program. We are all busy so its no excuse to use the "I'm tired/too busy" excuse.  No excuses.

2. Women. I have a saying. "You cant help the poor by being poor". This means if you keep yourself at the bottom of the list then you are doing no one any favours. If you are at the bottom of the list you have nothing to give. Answer?

Put yourself at the top of the list. And ditch the guilt. There I said it. Its ok to do stuff for yourselves. Really. Your workplace and family will thank you for it because you will be happier.

Life is meant to be fun and exciting. Yes it has its stresses, trials and tribulations. That's called being a human being to go through this kind of thing. But ultimately we are meant to enjoy life and on of the best pieces of advice I can give you is to look after yourselves first and get someone to be there for you.

Teaching entrepreneurship to GenNext

Dilbert creator Scott Adams writes:

I understand why the top students in America study physics, chemistry, calculus and classic literature. The kids in this brainy group are the future professors, scientists, thinkers and engineers who will propel civilization forward. But why do we make B students sit through these same classes? That’s like trying to train your cat to do your taxes—a waste of time and money. Wouldn’t it make more sense to teach B students something useful, like entrepreneurship?

My thoughts.

Combine Skills. The first thing you should learn in a course on entrepreneurship is how to make yourself valuable. It’s unlikely that any average student can develop a world-class skill in one particular area. But it’s easy to learn how to do several different things fairly well. I succeeded as a cartoonist with negligible art talent, some basic writing skills, an ordinary sense of humor and a bit of experience in the business world. The “Dilbert” comic is a combination of all four skills. The world has plenty of better artists, smarter writers, funnier humorists and more experienced business people. The rare part is that each of those modest skills is collected in one person. That’s how value is created.

It is the combination of skills and experience that has created value.

Fail Forward. If you’re taking risks, and you probably should, you can find yourself failing 90% of the time. The trick is to get paid while you’re doing the failing and to use the experience to gain skills that will be useful later. I failed at my first career in banking. I failed at my second career with the phone company. But you’d be surprised at how many of the skills I learned in those careers can be applied to almost any field, including cartooning. Students should be taught that failure is a process, not an obstacle.

and

Write Simply. I took a two-day class in business writing that taught me how to write direct sentences and to avoid extra words. Simplicity makes ideas powerful. Want examples? Read anything by Steve Jobs or Warren Buffett.
Learn Persuasion. Students of entrepreneurship should learn the art of persuasion in all its forms, including psychology, sales, marketing, negotiating, statistics and even design. Usually those skills are sprinkled across several disciplines. For entrepreneurs, it makes sense to teach them as a package.
That’s my starter list for the sort of classes that would serve B students well. The list is not meant to be complete. Obviously an entrepreneur would benefit from classes in finance, management and more.
Remember, children are our future, and the majority of them are B students. If that doesn’t scare you, it probably should.

As I said, we are sitting on an untapped gold mine in the form of GenNext. Everyone has talents that can add to the betterment of society. It is up to us to provide the tools to help GenNext find and utilise those talents.

Our social and economic well being depends on it.

Pressure on our lives.

    How many Adults relate to this image?

    It seems its close to breaking point.

    Money
    Work
    Kids (especially Teenagers)
    Money
    Relationships

    .....the list goes on





It seems the whole world is in a giant tumbler at the moment. Events across the world beamed on our televisions and economies faltering everywhere. The pressure is building on families as costs just keep rising.

We are at breaking point right now. Before you throw it all away (and often it would be easy to do that) its important to take a step back focus on what really is important in your life.

Yes the world is changing (and I have a theory on that for another time) and change it must. It is taking monumental change to force the issue.We cant hide the fact that this world needs to go back to the basics. The further we have moved away from nature the future we have gotten into trouble.

We are sicker and more unhealthy than before...yet we are spending more money on health care.
Our food is becoming so expensive many cant afford it...yet garden grown food is cheap and healthy.
We work in jobs that many of us dislike...yet our families suffer because we are miserable.

There is a great deal you can do to influence your life.

Are you spending time in the environment that most suits you?

Are you allowing yourself a healthy balance of recreation, exercise and laughter?

Are you building and maintaining close relationships, establishing a sense of control, hope and optimism?

Does your environment, behavior, beliefs and values align with a long and healthy life?

Are you managing both stability and change effectively?

Do you have a good balance between paying attention to yourself and your needs, and giving attention to others and their needs?

What are you doing that is making it harder for your body to serve you well?

What are your good choices? 
Here are Ten signs of good health

  An increased awareness and appreciation of yourself.   
 Taking your own quiet time to think, meditate, relax or pray. 
 An ability to maintain close relationships. 
 The ability to adapt to changing conditions without stress.  
 Enjoyment of physical activity each day.  
 Laughter, pleasure and fun.    
 Hope and optimism. Looking forward to the future   
 An appreciation and love of the environment 
 Personal self-care.    
 Peak experiences. A feeling of living a life of purpose.

Start doing things that cost nothing. 

• Get your physical exercise sorted. This doesn't mean you have to go to the gym. What do you enjoy? Whats your hobbies? There should be a direct link between physical exercise and fun.
• Write a list of the 10 things you most admire and love about your partner and kids.
• Plan 5 things that will make you laugh this week.
• Plant a garden....get the kids to help
• Write down some personal goals.

And finally, have some "me" time (and not feel guilty about it)