Day 134 - A 'childlike mental model' you can steal and deploy in 2025 (1,000 days content creation challenge)
Ethan Musolini
CEO Success Africa, Executive Coach, HR Consultant, Author & Motivational Speaker
My two young daughters (7 and 10 years old) have emerged as some of my best teachers. Let me explain…
They will question everything and seem to have an answer or an opinion over everything if you dare ask "what do you think?"
My 7-year-old, when she was 6 years asked me, "Daddy, If God created everything and everyone, who created God?" I don't have a convincing answer yet because she asked me again today when we were driving back home.
They are curious. They want to explore. Sometimes they will tell me they just want to go to the super market to explore. Never mind they explored a certain place in the neighbourhood that I felt was questionable. I applauded their courage and thankfully they emerged safely.
They think that everything is possible and probable. No limits. When I raise certain limits, they remind me how I tell them to believe in themselves and also be courageous.
When they meet strangers, they say hello without judgement.
About a year ago, when my 10 year old chose to sell one of my books to a certain lady after a training, she persisted so much that I felt sorry for the prospective customer. It seemed like the lady was not ready to buy. My girl could not take no for an answer. She made the sale where I could have given up.
When I seem unhappy, they are quick to ask me "daddy, why are you looking sad?". Happiness is a standard.
Yesterday we washed the car together. They were splashing water while giggling and laughing. By the time we were done, their clothes looked like they had just crossed a river. Oh, how much joy I would squeeze out of life if I looked at every event from a perspective of fun.
About six years ago, I learned about the power of mental models. This shifted my life for the better.
This evening as I write this, I wondered how life would be if as an adult I explored what I Am calling the ‘child-like mental model’. I have two amazing teachers at home.
Then I would…
Ask, explore, persist, laugh, live. learn, love…much more.
That's what's on my mind now. A mental model worth exploring in 2025.
Managing Director at SMS ONE (U) LTD
2wInteresting perspective! However, how would the child-like mental model look like if you throw in the adult responsibilities? May be, one could say once in a while, we should adopt the child-like mental model. I'm sure after washing the car, your mind switched back to the other 'waiting' responsibilities 🙃