The Curriculum That Counts - Insights From a Motivational Speaker
Think of the most successful person you know.
Now think about someone you’d actually want to trade lives with.
Odds are, it’s the same person.
Years ago, Zig Ziglar asked his audience to describe what those people had in common. Here's what they said:
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A positive mental attitude
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Great faith
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A strong desire to grow
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Enthusiasm
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The ability to really listen
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A sense of humor
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Integrity
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Consistency
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A healthy self-image
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Love for others
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Honesty
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Hard work
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Encouragement
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Compassion
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Sincerity
Then he asked a simple question:
“How many of you learned any of this in school?”
Cue crickets.
We were taught geography and algebra, how to dissect a frog and maybe file a tax return if we were lucky. But the traits that actually determine our success? Crickets.
We point the finger at schools for not teaching these qualities. But when you point one finger forward, there are three pointing back at you.
Let’s break it down.
There are 8,760 hours in a year.
Roughly 1,200 of those are spent in school.
That leaves 7,560 hours not in school.
If character matters—and it does—then where is it really shaped?
At home.
If we want our kids to be successful—not just rich but ready—we’ve got to stop outsourcing the job of character development. Parents, grandparents, mentors… the work is ours.
What if school reinforced these qualities—but didn’t have to install them from scratch?
What if home was the first classroom?
What if family became the forum where character was modelled, practiced, and refined?
What if a family podcast became a weekly habit—an excuse to talk across generations about what really matters?
Here’s the kicker:
These aren’t just success traits.
They’re life traits.
They make you a better employee, yes. But they also make you a better partner. A better parent. A better human.
So… who's going to teach them?
🧭 Let it be us.
💬 Try This:
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Have a conversation with your kids or grandkids about one of the traits above.
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Ask: “Who’s the most encouraging person you know? Why?”
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Start a low-stakes family podcast where each week you discuss one trait and share a story from your life around it.
📢 “Education starts at home” isn’t just a slogan. It’s a strategy.
