Tom Brady is the epitome of hard work paying off and never giving up, no matter how many times you fail.
While those are two things that made him the seven-time Super Bowl winner he is today, the 47-year-old retired quarterback claims that he doesn’t see those same traits in a lot of kids today.
But instead of blaming the kids, Brady, instead, blamed modern parenting and shared how he is re-writing the script with his own children.
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“Think of today’s world, how we screw these kids up,” he said to “Fortune” editor-in-chief Alyson Shontell at the outlet’s Global Forum in New York on Nov. 12.
“Every time they mess up, we send them to an easier place to succeed,” he added.
Brady goes on to argue that those “challenges” and “adversities” we face in life are vital to our growth and development as people.
“Look at the hardest things that have ever happened. We look back at those and realize they’re the best things that could’ve happened,” he said.
Brady reflected on his own childhood and upbringing, and how it differs from what most children experience today.
For example, it took him until his senior year of high school to finally earn a shot as his team’s starting quarterback.
When he got to college, he had to wait another three years before being named the starting QB of the Michigan Wolverines.
Then he made it to the NFL, but only as a sixth round draft pick. He again had to work his tail off as a backup before being named the New England Patriots’ starting QB.
That journey resulted in a legendary 23-year career in the NFL that included a laundry list of records and more Super Bowl wins than any other franchise.
Today, he’s heavily regarded as the greatest football player to ever step foot on the field, but he says he never would’ve gotten there if he didn’t have to earn it.
“There’s no way I would’ve had that success had I not gone through all the challenges of high school and college sports,” he said.
Unfortunately, he doesn’t see many kids being given that opportunity today, especially with so many of them transferring to schools who will give them a starting position without having to work for it.
Brady explains importance of stepping outside comfort zone
The problem, in Brady’s eyes, is that we’re not teaching our children the value of stepping outside of their comfort zone.
“They’re told they’re great; people coddle them; they never have to push beyond their limits,” he argues. “Even some of the best athletes in the world never have to go outside their comfort zone.”
That’s why when he was a captain in the NFL, he made it a point to make his teammates uncomfortable.
“I was always focused on ensuring they were working harder than they ever thought they’d have to work,” Brady siad, adding that he expected his teammates to be humble, have a good attitude, and be curious to learn.
It’s the same approach his parents took with him, and the same approach he takes with his three kids.
“The blessing my parents gave: When I was that long-shot as a kid who was a backup quarterback, they never said, man, don’t do that, it’ll be too hard, think about another backup plan,” Brady continued.
“They said, go for it—that’s probably my parenting style.”
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Brady shares a son, John “Jack” Edward Thomas, with ex-girlfriend Bridget Moynahan and two children, son Benjamin Rein and daughter Vivian Lake, with ex-wife Gisele Bündchen.