I can’t believe we’ve published 100 issues of the Prequel Newsletter! 🎉

Not gonna lie, I’m pretty proud. 🥰

But the thing I’m most proud of is the kids who prove that they’re capable of anything—

Every. Single. Day.

Like Matthew, a 9-year-old who joined Prequel’s Apollo Program and leveraged AI to launch SpaceCrafted Designs — his own line of digital coloring books.

Registrations are now open for the summer cohort of Prequel’s Apollo Program for kids!

And if you’re not inspired to sign up after reading 100 lessons from the last 100 issues of Prequel, I don’t know what to tell ya. 🤷

100 Lessons from 100 Issues of Prequel

I looked back through the last 99 issues and pulled together the most important lessons we’ve covered. Enjoy! 👇

1. When you write consistently, it’s amazing how fast your body of work can grow.

2. Teaching is the best way to learn.

3. Getting good at problem-solving can prepare kids for any career.

4. Get better at talking to your kid by transitioning away from transactional conversations, and into emergent conversations.

5. True growth comes from creating.

6. Any book not worth re-reading isn’t worth reading in the first place.

7. Getting your kid started with investing will not just equip them with financial skills, it will train them on how to make informed, confident, and strategic decisions.

8. Hands-on experience is a far better teacher than books — according to Elon Musk.

9. Good relationships keep us happier and healthier. Period.

10. It’s abundantly easier to start a business today than it was 20 years ago.

11. Build trust with your kid by listening to them, admitting your mistakes, and respecting their privacy.

12. How much we achieve is based on how big our goals are.

13. No matter how (unreasonably) upset your kid might be, don’t invalidate their emotions.

14. The art of negotiation isn’t only relevant in boardrooms or high-stakes standoffs — it’s vital for the success of your kid.

15. Teach your kid to focus on surrounding themselves with inspiring people.

16. Nurture your kid’s intrinsic motivation and help them learn to listen to it.

17. Debt can be a good thing, if you teach your kid how to complete a cost-benefit analysis.

18. Schools are now embracing AI, but parents need to stay in the loop.

19. The four crucial components of teaching kids to budget are setting a goal, making a plan, adhering to that plan, and evaluating.

20. Kids spend 7.5 hours per day looking at screens, so you might want to consider a family digital detox.

21. Financial decisions aren’t black and white, so it’s not a good idea to enforce financial rules on kids.

22. Take time to help your kid define what success means to them.

23. Strive to confuse your kid in order to spark learning.

24. Simply giving your kid a high-five can boost their mood, increase their happiness, and strengthen your bond.

25. Good habits are the foundation of reaching ambitious goals.

26. A gap year can be just the thing to help kids complete resume-building projects to kick-start their post-college career.

27. In order to raise a fearless kid, you need to normalize fear.

28. In today’s virtual world, one of the biggest skills you can teach your kid is discernment.

29. Being around energizing people is a drug, and if your kid gets a taste of it, they’ll be set up for a lifetime of positive relationships.

30. Fearlessness is a choice.

31. Sports can teach kids teamwork, self reflection, how to build resilience — but it’s easy for those lessons to slip away.

32. Data science is far from boring — and it’s a stellar career for your kid to consider.

33. Your kid can start exploring careers right now.

34. Advancing women’s equality could add $12 trillion to the global GDP (but that’s just according to McKinsey – what do they know?).

35. Forget resumes, help your kid build a career portfolio.

36. “Done” is always better than “perfect”. 

37. Microlearning + gamification = the future of education.

38. Perfection is a recipe for psychological distress — you need to help your kid get comfortable with mistakes.

39. Teach your kid to view the world through the lens of entrepreneurship, even if it’s on a simple trip to the grocery story.

40. Talent shouldn’t be rewarded — persistence should.

41. If your kid is interested in healthcare, the future of medicine provides opportunities far beyond becoming a doctor.

42. Procrastination isn’t a quirky personality trait –it kills dreams– and teaching your kid to avoid it will save them.

43. Tough times don’t last — tough people do.

44. As terrifying as public speaking can be, mastering this skill can elevate your kid head-and-shoulders above their peers.

45. Networking sucks, but building authentic and powerful relationships is the key to success.

46. The more your kid can get better at being a beginner, the more they’ll master.

47. Kids can reach Olympic-level excellence in anything they set their minds to.

48. Building a “second brain” is the easiest way for your kid to retain information.

49. Multiple income streams are always better than one.

50. Your kid can start a newsletter today — and make money doing it.

51. Studies have shown that people who begin building businesses at a young age set themselves up for greater success later on.

52. Most schools don’t require a financial literacy course to graduate, so you better pick up that slack with your kid.

53. The ability to adopt good habits is a singular skill that has the power to make all the difference.

54. When you’re talking to a teen, you’re listening to a voice from the future.

55. Reward kids for doing hard things — not just for winning.

56. Kids who have an audience on social media have an insane advantage over their peers.

57. Teach your kid to embrace asking for what they want.

58. The role of a parent is to be a student of their kid.

59. Kids are going to be influenced by their peers no matter what, so help them find the right peers.

60. If we prevent kids from using AI entirely, we’re setting them up to fall behind.

61. Simply hearing that a respected adult believes that a kid can achieve greatness is enough to change that kid’s life.

62. Resilience is the #1 skill that kids can learn.

63. Stop focusing on perfect grades, and start pushing kids to create something new for the world.

64. Screen time limits don’t work — kids have to get smarter about the role screens play in their lives.

65. Help your kid understand the consequences of being distracted, and they’ll become more productive adults.

66. If you do a hard thing, and prove it can be done, it’s easier to move on and do bigger hard things.

67. Set high expectations, but instead of nagging your kid to achieve those expectations, ask them to create their own plan.

68. The best way to help your kid is by getting them real-world experience through building their own project, or landing an internship.

69. Encourage your kid to solve their own problems so they can develop confidence that’s grounded in their ability to overcome challenges.

70. Schools are still focused on preparing kids for jobs that no longer exist, but entrepreneurship will always be an option.

71. Don’t let your kid be the smartest — always put them in an environment with people who know more than they do.

72. Focusing on passion and building useful skills will help your kid stand out more than piling on extracurriculars.

73. Definitions of success look different for every person.

74. Help your kid avoid burnout by establishing self-care, like exercise, meditation, or journaling.

75. Kids can build their own credibility by building an audience that trusts them.

76. Don’t use AI to cheat. Period.

77. Model courage by learning something new yourself — and showing your kid that even if you’re afraid of messing up, you’re still trying.

78. If your kid learns to love the process, not just the outcome, their journey becomes their reward.

79. Teach your kid to not fear rejection — the answer will always be “no” if you’re too afraid to ask.

80. No one can multitask — especially not your kid.

81. It’s hard to grow until you get comfortable with being uncomfortable.

82. Parents who emphasize effort over perfection are less likely to have kids who develop anxiety and depression.

83. Starting a business can really help your kid learn adaptability, creativity, and how to accept feedback.

84. People skills are important no matter what the future holds.

85. Listening to instrumental music while studying can greatly improve deep focus.

86. Teach your kid to always be on the lookout for problems that need solving.

87. Don’t let your child fill up their schedule just so they can be busy — help them establish real goals.

88. Don’t define yourself by the career you choose — define yourself by the impact you leave on the world.

89. Read stories of successful people, and the mistakes they’ve made along the way.

90. Decision fatigue is real — don’t make decisions when you’re tired.

91. ChatGPT can help kids learn the 80/20 principle.

92. Inflation means that a dollar tomorrow buys less than a dollar today.

93. Teens build incredible things all the time.

94. To achieve a level of true understanding, you have to be able to explain things in simple words that anyone can understand.

95. It’s good to encourage skepticism of AI with your kid, but don’t let them be afraid of it.

96. In high school, popularity pays off. In college, compliance pays off. In adulthood, productivity pays off.

97. After achieving ~$75k in income, any subsequent rise in income only has a mild effect on happiness.

98. Kids gain confidence after doing something hard — not before.

99. “Loneliness kills. It’s as powerful as smoking or alcoholism.”

100. Teaching your kid to invest doesn’t mean you’re teaching them to gamble as long as you set reasonable expectations on the time horizon.

Whew!

That’s a heck of a lot of learning.

Time to get your kid into Apollo!

Until next time,

Ivy

CEO Prequel, BETA Camp, Apollo

Follow my journey on LinkedIn