Book Review: HOW TO RAISE SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE book by ESTHER WOJCICKI

ho is Esther Wojcicki?

She is an American journalist, educator, and businesswoman. She is the founder of the Palo Alto High School Media Arts Program. She has also served as the chairman of the Creative Commons board of directors.

Wojcicki is the mother of three daughters: Susan, Janet, and Anne. All three of her daughters have gone on to successful careers.

Susan is the CEO of YouTube. Janet is a medical doctor and geneticist. Anne is a business executive and entrepreneur of the company 23andME

Also, the author has been teaching journalism to high school students for almost four decades and she writes success stories of many kids under her guidance. 

Esther Wojcicki's teaching methods

Wojcicki uses a unique teaching style that emphasizes student collaboration and real-world experience. She has her students work in groups to produce news articles, videos, and podcasts. They also have the opportunity to intern at local businesses and organizations.

This hands-on approach has helped her students develop strong skills in communication, teamwork, and critical thinking.

What can we learn from Esther Wojcicki? 

I especially like the way she starts her first chapter- We all tend to parent the way we parented, but when I became a mother, the one thing I knew for sure was that I didn't want to repeat the mistakes of my parents. 

I am sure every parent would relate to this. 

From Wojcicki, we can learn the importance of giving our children the opportunity to explore their interests and develop their talents. We can also learn the importance of supporting our children as they pursue their dreams.

Wojcicki comes from a very orthodox background where women weren’t given much importance.

In an interview, she said “My parents were very traditional. My mother didn’t even have a job. It was assumed that the man would be the breadwinner and the woman would stay home and take care of the children.”

Despite this, Wojcicki was determined to succeed in her career. She started her own business and has since become a successful journalist, educator, and businesswoman.

Wojcicki’s story is an inspiration for all women who want to achieve success in their careers. It shows that anything is possible if you are willing to work hard and pursue your dreams.

What is the book about?

The book is about how to raise successful people. It provides simple lessons for radical results.

Her book talks about the basic principle of raising kids TRICK

Trust-  Esther says that we are in a crisis of trust in this world and we need to model trust to our kids by trusting their decisions.

She says as parents we have to trust our children to make good decisions. We have to trust the basic goodness of people and the basic goodness of the world.

Respect- We need to respect our children and their individual talents and abilities. We should also respect their privacy and give them the space to grow and develop at their own pace.

She says every child has a gift and as parents, it's our responsibility to nurture it. This does not mean deciding everything for them like what they want to be, or what profession they should pursue it's actually like guiding them to pursue the goals they want to achieve.

 Independence- We need to allow our children to be independent and make their own choices. We should encourage them to take risks and pursue their dreams.

According to Esther Children who learn responsibility and self-control early in life are better equipped to face the challenges of adulthood. They have the skills to innovate and think creatively. She says independent are capable of coping with adversity and are more resilient.

 Collaboration- We should encourage our children to work together and cooperate with others. This will help them develop strong teamwork skills.

This means encouraging kids to contribute to discussions and decisions. It is no more telling kids what to do but asking for ideas and working together.

Kindness- We should teach our children to be kind and compassionate towards others. We should also model these values in our own lives.

She says real kindness involves gratitude and forgiveness, service towards others, and awareness of the world.

What are the key takeaways?

The key takeaways are simple lessons for radical results, how to raise successful people, and Esther Wojcicki's insights on parenting.

What are the benefits of reading this book?

The benefits of reading this book are: understanding how to raise successful people, gaining insights from a successful journalist and educator, and learning about different parenting methods.

Here are 5 of my favorite quotes from the book. 

Parents need to calm down. Your kids will walk. They will talk. They will learn to use the bathroom. They’ll do it in their own time.

Enforcing high standards only works when kids can bring some passion to what they’re doing. You want them to be successful in whatever they pick, not what you pick.

Nobody is happily living a life that’s dictated by someone else. If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a mother and teacher, it’s that kids of all ages need their independence.

No matter the family income, I strongly suggest all teens get jobs. There is no better way to learn about how the real world works.

Parenting is never just about the children: it’s about the adults they become. The citizens they become. The changes they fight for and the ideas they contribute.

While reading the book, I could reflect on my own parenting style and see where I could make changes.