As part of her research for the book Raising an Entrepreneur, Margot Machol Bisnow interviewed 70 parents who raised highly successful adults.
By asking them about how they helped their children achieve their dreams, he found that communication plays a big role in whether a child will later have the entrepreneurial 'spark'.
And according to CNBC, he found the four phrases these parents never used when their kids were young:
1. "I don't trust you, that's why I checked your work and corrected your mistakes."
All parents emphasized the importance of responsibility. They wanted their children to take responsibility, fix problems, learn from mistakes and become more confident as they grow up.
2. "We increase your pocket money so you can buy what you want."
"Never hand out cash freely," a father told her. The parents the author spoke to came from a wide range of economic and social backgrounds, but they taught their children the value of money. Even the wealthiest children had to work for spending money.
3. "Afternoon activities cut until your grades improve."
Many of the parents Machol Bisnow spoke to didn't understand their children's hobbies, but they all gave them plenty of time to devote to them.
Some kids were great students, but they also did what they loved. Others put all their energy into these pursuits and were not as good at school. Their parents supported them as it is.
4. "I'll give you money if you get good grades."
Children who became great businessmen later on were never taught growing up that their goal in life was to become rich. Instead, it was to succeed, to do better, to improve, and to create something great.
Parents understood that their children would never be happy if they tried something they didn't like, that they would never excel at something if they didn't work hard at it, and that they wouldn't work hard at something if they didn't like it.
So they grew up kids who put their passion into their businesses and made better products and services. The children believed that, in all probability, the money would come. And even if they didn't come, it would be better than working hard for something they didn't love.
MoneyReview