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iQuestions Faculty, Dr. Tim Kimmel 
 
 
Question: 
 
My young kids are already really focused on money and status. How 
do I redirect them to focus on character and goodness? 
 
Answer: 
 
Even in the worst of times, our country has a lot to offer a typical 
family. We are an abundant culture. Because of that, it’s really easy 
for kids to get attracted to the things that shine and glitter.  
 
There’s something inside all of us that is intrinsically drawn towards 
that, so don’t be surprised that your kids are already looking into the 
success fantasy. On top of that, they’re bombarded with images every 
day through the media and advertising that draws them to that. 
 
But before you’re down on them, you need to go look in the mirror. If 
your kids are really starting to get sensitive to labels and the “best of 
the best,” you might want to look in the mirror and ask yourself, “Is 
there something about the way we’re living our life that may be 
building this desire into them? Are we living satisfied lives? Do we 
always want something better? Are we the kind of people that get 
drawn in and lured into the success lie?” 
 
Many times we don’t realize that that’s exactly what we can be doing. 
So look at yourself first.  
 
Here’s what we have found that has always helped our kids keep their 
focus in the right direction: we got them serving others. We especially 
got them serving people that had a whole lot less than they did. 
 
 
 
When they were around these young people and folks that really had 
hardly anything in life, but they saw that there were things greater 
than materialism that made life far more rich. It helped them 
appreciate what they had and not be so desirous of the next best 
thing.  
 
If we don’t build this into them now they can get drawn into the 
success lie, and it can absolutely consume their adult life. If you want 
to raise a kid to be completely irrelevant, raise them to want success 
in the future. 
 
I love your question because you’re sensitive to this. Build the 
character into them by getting them out there where they have to 
exercise character. Then when they see what a balanced life is like, 
they’re going to see that all of this “new and improved” stuff is just 
that: stuff. You’ll be fine. 
Kimmel -2- 
To download a printable version of this transcript, click here.