“Working to help parents raise money-smart kids.”
Hello, friends!
Andrew Huberman, a neuroscientist and tenured professor in the Department of Neurobiology at Stanford University’s School of Medicine, is a firm believer in the laboratory motto “Watch one. Do one. Teach one.”
According to this approach, a scientist first watches a technique or experiment being conducted. She then repeats the process herself. And finally, she teaches others, allowing the circle of knowledge to expand. 🧠
Looking back at my own life, this framework can be applied to how I came to be writing this newsletter for you.
— 1 —
Watch One: I was fortunate to work with Louie Anderson, the wonderful comic who recently passed away. I produced his animated show, Life with Louie, for the Fox Kids Network. My time spent with Louie and the show’s director, Matt O’Callaghan, taught me much about life, creativity and inspiration.
I also produced the pilot for Bruce Smith’s The Proud Family series that is now relaunching on Disney+ as The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder. I’m not involved in the reboot, however.
As a line producer on these shows, my job was to steer each ship on as smooth a course as possible and, naturally, to make sure dollars were being spent wisely.
What excited me most, though, was the front-row seat I had to the creative process, including some of the best minds in the industry. Even so, I eventually tired of line production because, in the end, I was bringing to life someone else’s ideas. However terrific these concepts were, I really wanted to create my own programs.
— 2 —
Do One: That chance came around with our first child. As my wife and I drove to Southern California’s Lake Arrowhead for a weekend getaway with our six-month-old, we serendipitously stumbled upon a big opportunity.
During the trip we began discussing our dreams for our daughter. Since we wanted her to be money-smart, we started to ask questions:
- How early can this process begin? 👶🏽
- What if we made money-smart learning fun for kids? 👧🏽
- How could animation, a medium often devoted to celebrating consumption, engage children with the idea that it’s fun to “Share and Save and Spend Smart Too”? 💰
Maybe I could use the ideas and inspiration I’d gathered from watching my colleagues to do some serious good: help parents raise money-smart kids.
The Money Mammals were born!
— 3 —
Teach One: It took several years, one movie and three Money Mammals books later for me to realize that although getting children excited worked, parents like us also needed help raising our kids to become money-empowered.
Despite some progress on the classroom front, it’s not practical, or in many cases even possible, to rely on schools to teach what almost any parent will agree is a most important life lesson — that money smarts are essential to set up a child for long-term success.
I created my own allowance program with terrific books like David Owen’s First National Bank of Dad helping to guide my way. However, I recognized it was time to take my own stab at writing a book to teach what I’d learned during our family’s money-smart journey and from talking to many other parents about their own experiences.
So let’s continue to expand this circle of knowledge together. You’ve been “watching one” through this newsletter. I hope you’re “doing one” by creating your own program with your family. And perhaps you’ll also be “teaching one,” either by sharing what you’re doing with fellow parents or by helping your own kids as they begin to raise your grandkids. ♻
Whatever you do, don’t forget to enjoy the journey!
John, Chief Mammal
P.S. Please consult with a financial or investment professional before engaging in any decisions that might affect your own financial well-being.
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