This is a question that comes up a bunch of times… I personally have used it in a team setting as one of those Ice Breaker questions, or team building scenarios. And I get some great answers “Don’t sweat the small stuff” “Challenge yourself more” “Take more risks” “Ask that person out” “Don’t be afraid” etc. But I started thinking about how I answered a simple question and why the question was even to someone so young.
That question is “What do you want to be when you grow up?” At a young age you do not have enough experience, seen enough of the world to have a clue. You hear common answers from kids Fireman, Police, Doctor, Athlete or some answer what their parents do. But why are we so focused on making a child answer such a question without knowing what the world has to offer. A child should be curious, should be asking questions, should be a sponge to absorb information. Making them pick a direction seems counterproductive. So asking them to figure it out now, you possibly limit them and don’t invoke their true imagination.


And why do we need a child to define his or her life by an occupation? Wouldn’t it be better if a child responded that he or she wants to be a philanthropist when they grow up. Just thinking my occupation does not define who I am, it is just something I do. I have written before about what I carry in my wallet, a small note that says “My name is Larry Gold, and I make a living being myself” – And what defines me should be the following
- How Well I Treat others
- What I give back to this world
- The strength of my character
- The values I keep
- The desire to constantly get better
So what I would tell myself when ever asked “What do you want to be when I grow up?” – The answer should be “A good person who is happy and has left this place better than I found it” – My occupation “Make a living being myself”
This opinion is mine, and mine only, my current or former employers have nothing to do with it. I do not write for any financial gain, I do not take advertising and any product company listed was not done for payment. But if you do like what I write you can donate to the charity I support (with my wife who passed away in 2017) Morgan Stanley’s Children’s Hospital or donate to your favorite charity. I pay to host my site out of my own pocket, my intention is to keep it free. I do read all feedback, I mostly wont post any of them
This Blog is a labor of love, and was originally going to be a book. With the advent of being able to publish yourself on the web I chose this path. I will write many of these and not worry too much about grammar or spelling (I will try to come back later and fix it) but focus on content. I apologize in advance for my ADD as often topics may flip. I hope one day to turn this into a book and or a podcast, but for now it will remain a blog.
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