Michael Clouse gave us a powerful reminder that most people are busy etching out a living, while only a handful of people are intentionally designing a life.
That idea stayed with us because it is exactly the kind of thinking we want our children to see. If we can learn to think differently about time, money, leadership and choices, then our children have another model for designing their own pathway in life.
Michael Clouse and the Choice to Design a Life
“Most people are etching out a living and only a handful of people are designing a life.”
This is such a powerful statement, and one we often do not take the time to consider carefully. After many years of etching out a living, we are finally ready to design a life for ourselves and our children.
When we can do that, our children have another example in front of them. They can begin to see that life does not have to be only about earning money, paying bills and following the same pathway as everyone else. They can begin to make more informed choices about their own future.
We were fortunate to hear Michael Clouse speak at the annual Isagenix Convention on the Gold Coast. Michael gave an excellent talk about leadership, time, money and the thinking behind success.
Who Is Michael Clouse?
Michael Clouse is a professional network marketer, author, trainer and speaker. His official website describes his long career in network marketing, along with his books, articles, videos and audio training programs. You can learn more through Michael Clouse’s official website.
Before I share the message we took from his talk, I want to introduce why Michael made such an impression on us.
Michael came from a disadvantaged home, yet managed to become highly successful. Early in his career, he studied successful network marketers around the world and modelled himself on their habits, thinking and leadership principles.
That alone is a valuable lesson for our children. Success often leaves clues. If children can learn to observe people who are already achieving something worthwhile, they can begin to notice the habits, values and decisions behind that success.
Michael Clouse on Balancing Money and Time
One of the strongest ideas Michael Clouse shared was the importance of balancing money and time.
Most people give up time in order to earn money. Throughout their lives, they work hard in a job or small business to bring home the bacon. As a result, they may slowly increase their money, but they often become time poor. Later in life, they may finally have more time, but their income can drop.
People will argue that they have little choice. They have families to raise, mortgages to pay and expenses to cover. They need to work. In many ways, this is true.
But from an entrepreneurial point of view, it is still worth asking a bigger question:
How can we create more freedom with both time and money?
Wealthy people often create or buy back time. This might mean paying someone to clean the house, do the accounts, cook meals or help with tasks that free them to spend more time with the people they love and the experiences they value.
This is not just a money lesson. It is a life lesson.
Leadership Lessons for Kids from Michael Clouse
The reason this message matters for Enterprise for Kids is not because every child should become a network marketer. It matters because children need to know there are many possible pathways in life.
They can choose a job. They can build a business. They can create a product. They can offer a service. They can invest. They can become leaders. They can learn from mentors. They can think carefully about the kind of life they want to design.
Michael Clouse challenged us to think about leadership, not just income. Leadership is about responsibility, commitment, communication, consistency and helping others grow.
These are lessons children can begin learning long before they become adults.
Network Marketing Success Principles
According to Michael, network marketing was one possible solution to the time-money balance because it allowed people to build a business through systems, tools, relationships and leadership.
For us, the bigger lesson was not just about one business model. It was about studying success principles and then asking which of those principles our children could learn from.
Michael reminded us of a simple idea:
Success leaves clues.
Here are some of the success principles we took from his talk.
Get Into the Game and Stay in the Game
Figure out what is in it for you, and then commit. You will meet challenges and have to overcome barriers. Being fully committed helps carry you through the difficult parts.
This applies to children as much as adults. Whether they are learning an instrument, building a small enterprise, playing sport or developing a new skill, they need to learn that success usually requires staying in the game long enough to improve.
Focus on the Fundamentals
With a networking business, Michael explained that the fundamentals include connecting with people, presenting to people, and teaching others how to run their business when they say yes.
For children, we can translate this into simple leadership lessons:
- Learn how to talk with people.
- Learn how to explain your idea clearly.
- Learn how to help others understand what to do next.
- Learn how to keep improving your skills.
Keep the Main Thing the Main Thing
Michael’s phrase “Keep the main thing the main thing” is a good one for adults and children alike.
It means sticking to the system that works. It means not being distracted by every new idea. It means asking, “What is the most important thing I need to do today?”
In business, that might mean telling your story, using the tools provided, connecting with people and becoming better tomorrow than you were yesterday.
For children, it might mean finishing the project, practising the skill, serving the customer, asking for feedback, or following through on the plan they started.
Recognise Effort and Progress
Recognition was another important part of Michael’s leadership message.
Be sincere and recognise every accomplishment, both publicly and privately. Recognise yourself, the company and your team.
One of the lines that stood out was:
“Babies cry for it and men die from it.”
Praise and recognition matter. Children need to know that their effort has been seen. They need to experience the confidence that comes from being encouraged, acknowledged and supported.
Michael Clouse teaches and uses these simple principles. He built successful networking businesses and mentored others who went on to create strong results of their own. The example of Lynn Hagedorn shows what can happen when commitment, systems, belief and leadership come together.
Michael Clouse and Career Choices for Teenagers
Kaitlin, our eldest daughter, came along to hear Michael speak as well. We figured it was a tremendous opportunity for her to learn about success from a successful person.
Network marketing may or may not become part of her future. That is not really the point.
The point is that young people benefit from seeing different possibilities. They need to know about jobs, business, leadership, enterprise, investment, creativity and service. They need to understand that their future can include more than one pathway.
It simply broadens the choices a young person has.
This is why we believe exposing children and teenagers to strong leadership ideas is so valuable. It helps them think. It helps them question. It helps them notice the difference between simply earning a living and designing a life.
Michael Clouse, Time Freedom and Money Lessons for Kids
For us, the lasting lesson from Michael Clouse was not just about network marketing. It was about time freedom, leadership, contribution and being intentional.
Our children are watching how we live. They are watching how we work. They are watching whether we are exhausted, inspired, trapped, free, generous, stressed or purposeful.
If we want them to make strong choices later in life, we need to let them see different possibilities now.
That is why this message belongs on Enterprise for Kids. It is part of the wider conversation about raising entrepreneurial kids who can think clearly about money, time, leadership and the kind of life they want to create.
Key Takeaway: Help Children Think Beyond Earning a Living
Key takeaway: Michael Clouse challenged us to think about designing a life, not just earning a living. For children and teenagers, that message can open up powerful conversations about leadership, money, time freedom, career choices and entrepreneurial thinking.
Where to Next?
- Read more about financial education for kids
- Explore how entrepreneurs think
- Visit Raise Entrepreneurial Kids
- Read more family enterprise stories
What do you think? Are we teaching children only how to earn a living, or are we helping them imagine how to design a life?