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

12 |“Talent and intellect does not always add up to success. Perseverance does.”

Every so often, I’ll come across an article or television broadcast entitled “Where are they now?” I figure that if the question needs to be asked, “they” aren’t in the limelight any more. Look at all the child stars who shone so brightly in their youth—Macaulay Culkin, Gary Coleman, and Lindsay Lohan— and seemingly peaked there.

These young people achieved fame early on, without all the effort that others put into their craft. Actor Corey Feldman starred in his first commercial when he was three years old and says he was famous before he even knew his own name. Years later, he battled drug abuse. His best friend, fellow actor Corey Haim, died of pneumonia at the age of 38, after 15 stints in rehab for drug addiction.

Ted Kaczynski enrolled in Harvard University when he was 16 years old. He earned his Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of Michigan and became an assistant professor at the University of California, Berkeley, by the time he was 25. Kaczynski later embarked on a bizarre crime spree that spanned 17 years. Also known as “The Unabomber”, he is now serving a life sentence with no possibility of parole for three murders and 23 injuries that resulted from the 16 bombs he set.

Talent and intelligence are not guarantees for success. It’s what you do with your abilities that matters in life. Success comes from recognizing your strengths as well as your weaknesses, and pushing yourself to achieve in spite of any obstacles that will most certainly block your path.

There are plenty of talented, smart people in the world. Some of the most gifted people I know (singers and musicians) don’t have recognizable names. They love their music, but haven’t achieved the fame of many, less talented performers. These artists are passionate about their music and stick with it even when naysayers tell them to quit, that their chosen field is not going to sustain them. They keep going, in spite of the difficulty, because they believe in themselves.

What you find about most people who are successful is that they won’t quit. They get knocked down and bounce back up, even when it’s almost impossible to find the strength. They learn from their mistakes—but don’t dwell on or repeat them.

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.