When my son was a small child, he loved when I would read him Dr. Seuss books. Stories like ‘Oh the Things you can Think’, or ‘To think I saw it on Mulberry Street’ were some of his favorites. Maybe it was the funny stories. Or maybe it was the made-up words. But he kept asking me to read them again and again.
What he did not realize was that he was learning some important lessons about money, math and being an entrepreneur from the books. Here are a few of the Dr Seuss lessons that I love.
- ‘Horton Hears a Who’ has great lessons for business owners, who can find it a challenge to delegate work. Entrepreneurs realize that there are no small rolls in a company. And successful companies need good leadership and management. “A person’s a person, no matter how small”. My favorite point in the book is where the smallest suggestion can be transformed into something great. In my monthly podcast (http://between2trains.com/) where I interview entrepreneurs, I get real world story after story, where these Horton lessons show up.
- A less popular Seuss book is “Did I Every Tell You How Lucky You Are?”. Which has a message of taking your successes and staying humble. And if you dig a little deeper, you can see the whole glass half empty or half full debate.
- Most Entrepreneurs understand the power of persuasion. They have to sell their product or service. And to be a great salesperson, you have to show enthusiasm. This can be found in the classic Dr. Seuss “Green Eggs and Ham”. By the end of the story, the narrator has convinced Sam to try the Green Eggs and Ham. Sam has to step outside of his comfort zone and try new things. You won’t be much of a business leader, if you are not willing to take a chance on something new.
I can go on and on with Seuss books that teach math “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish”. Or even choosing the right career path from “Would you rather be a Bullfrog?”. Maybe your SmartMoneyMove should be to invest in a set of Dr Seuss books for your child or grandchild.
