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Which Instrument Would You Like to Play?

13 December, 2011 by James Lawther 2 Comments

For most people, their most expensive purchase is a house, followed, somewhat distantly, by the cost of a car.  I should be so lucky.  I live in an inner city.  The local free schools hand out certificates in drive by shooting and drug dealing (not strictly true, but let’s not let the truth get in the way of a good story).

My most expensive purchase is my daughters’ education, in fact, by the time both of them have finished school I will have invested enough to buy a very nice villa overlooking the Mediterranean and a stable of Porsches.

Which begs the question why, apart from my middle class sensibilities, would I spend that much money?

A friend of mine recently sent his son to a fee paying school.  He explained why very succinctly.

Where my son used to go to school, they asked him “Would you like to play an instrument?”   At his new school they asked him “Which instrument would you like to play?”

It is a world of difference

Which begs the question, what questions are you asking?

P.S. the drum kit arrives next week.

Read another opinion

Image by Banda PunKake

 

Filed Under: Blog, Employee Engagement Tagged With: motivation, self belief, video

About the Author

James Lawther
James Lawther

James Lawther is a middle-aged, middle manager.

To reach this highly elevated position he has worked in numerous industries, from supermarket retailing to tax collecting.  He has had several operational roles, including running the night shift in a frozen pea packing factory and carrying out operational research for a credit card company.

As you can see from his C.V. he has either a wealth of experience or is incapable of holding down a job.  If the latter is true this post isn’t worth a minute of your attention.

Unfortunately, the only way to find out is to read it and decide for yourself.

www.squawkpoint.com/

Comments

  1. maz iqbal says

    14 December, 2011 at 9:09 am

    Hello James

    I believe that Anthony Robbins said something like “The quality of your questions determines the quality of your life”. Another story that comes to mind is one where someone is asked if he plays the piano and he replies that he does not know as he has never tried.

    As for the value of education and the fortune you are spending on it – I totally get it, we are in the same boat even though I do not live in the inner city.

    Maz

    Reply
  2. Adrian Swinscoe says

    17 December, 2011 at 9:42 am

    Hi James,
    Here’s where I think Maz, yourself and myself diverge. Coming from a working class background (even though some would say I now have the makings of a middle class lifestyle) your story of school choice says to me: That’s some very expensive drum lessons!

    Personally, I don’t think of education as just being school but I do agree that the questions that are posed are the key. However, what I think the key distinction is is not the questions that are asked of us but the questions that we ask of ourselves.

    Adrian

    Reply

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