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| Mark Papadas |
Highly successful author, speaker, coach and
businessman Mark Papadas has worked with world class self-help authors and
motivational leaders like Tony Robins, Brian Tracy, and Zig Ziglar. After years
of improving the lives of adults, Mark turned his focus to the most important
people in the world — OUR KIDS!
Mark Papadas created I AM 4 Kids
to fulfill
the needs
of children!
Let’s find out more about this incredible
educational foundation and the man behind it!
Interview
Alex: Please
tell us a bit about yourself and what motivated you to create this phenomenal
non-profit organization known as I AM 4 KIDS?
Mark Papadas Bio:
Mark Papadas is an author, speaker, coach and founder
of I AM 4 Kids™, an innovative children’s empowerment program that is
revolutionizing elementary education. After years of training and coaching
adults, he’s delivering those same self-empowerment tools to children.
Being blessed to work in the self-development field
for over 20 years, working with and for such leaders as Brian Tracy, Zig
Ziglar, and Anthony Robbins, Mark has been witness to countless success stories
by those who realize their power and achieve their goals using proven tools and
strategies.
When introduced to the concepts of personal growth
and self-empowerment in high school, Mark was immediately hooked. Growing up in
the 70’s, his parents worked hard to keep food on the table and make ends meet.
Frequently, Mark was in the care of two older brothers – one of which often got
his point across with his fists. Many times, he was beaten severely. While it
was a difficult period growing up, he learned to control his mind and look
inward for strength. Those tough childhood years are the threads that help Mark
relate to the challenges many children face today.
Mark is an engaging leader, great motivator and
superb teacher. His creative energy has compelled him to create several
innovative programs that are helping tens of thousands of people today.
Some of his career achievements are:
- Created I AM 4 Kids – an innovative new children’s empowerment program taught in elementary schools teaching each child how to create their own empowering identity.
- Authored the book 10 Secrets to Empower Kids and Awaken the Child in You!
- Nominated for 2011 Chicago Innovation Award for I AM 4 Kids.
- Wrote final chapter in collaborative eBook, "The Way Out…Your Guided Path to Success" with Brian Tracy, Bill Bartmann, Jim Cathcart, Steve Siebold, Hyrum Smith, Marsha Petrie Sue, Ivan Misner, Don Hutson, & others.
- Appeared with legends such as Zig Ziglar and Brian Tracy.
- Hosted live talk radio show - The Motivational Hour - on AM 560 WIND on Sunday mornings from 2005 – 2007.
- Managed the operations of Anthony Robbins & Associates - Chicago.
- Designed programs such as I AM…The Power of Your True Identity™, The R.A.P.I.D. Sales Method™, and Their Lips are Moving™ - which have changed the lives and fortunes of individuals and businesses.
Mark is bringing his message of identity, empowerment
and leadership to the most important people in the world — OUR KIDS!
Why I AM 4 Kids:
As someone who has been a student of
personal development for decades and trained/coached adults successfully for
years, I can’t tell you how many times people have said, “Why didn’t they teach
me this stuff in school?” Also, as a parent of three amazing kids and a coach
of multiple youth sports, I had been teaching kids “informally” for a number of
years. Then, one night as if by fate, I had an epiphany - a stream of
consciousness in which the program, the characters, the format, and the
business model came to life. I realized that I had found my life’s purpose. The
reason I was on the planet. The “why” of all the things I had learned and
experienced up to that moment. All that was left was to build an organization
and execute the plan.
Alex: This may
seem like a simple or naive question but why does empowering kids at an early
age work?
Mark Papadas: First off, let me tell
you that I believe every child is born with all the traits and characteristics
they need to be successful throughout their lives. It is the stuff they learn
from adults as they are growing up that handicaps them.
There is a reason why we chose
the age group of 2nd thru 5th graders. It is the optimal
time to reach kids. It is the point in where they are developing both their
cognitive thought processes as well as their belief system. Unlike adults who
have to “unlearn” their disempowering patterns, belief system, and lack of
identity, kids are a blank slate at this point in their development. The
identity that a person develops as a child is the identity they will have as
adults. The younger a child develops an empowering identity, the more likely
he/she is to succeed…not just now but as teens and adults.
Alex: What are
some of the educational results parents and teachers can expect by implementing
I AM 4 KIDS strategies?
Mark: Children will do better in
school. By capitalizing on the Mind/Body connection, the child will be in their
peak learning state in school. In our pilot classrooms, over 60% of the kids
grades improved and disciplinary actions decreased by over 70%. As the program
is implemented in more schools across the country, we fully expect that
attendance will improve as well.
Alex: How long
does a typical I AM 4 KIDS program take and what are the costs associated with
the program?
Mark: The I AM program only takes a
couple hours of in-class time but is a lifelong gift for anyone who goes
through it. The DVD portion of the program takes between 90-120 minutes – depending
on the class size. After that, it literally takes less than two minutes of time
in class each day to keep anchoring the identity. All other aspects of the
program are extracurricular. We designed the program with input from classroom
teachers as well as administrators. We have eliminated all of the objections
that a school would have to implementing the program… including cost. The
program costs the school ABSOLUTELY NOTHING!!! The costs of implementing
(about $3,500 per school) are paid by corporate sponsors and philanthropic
donors.
Alex: What
does a typical I AM 4 KIDS class look like?
Mark: I think you are asking what
happens in the class rather than the socio-economic demographics. So, that’s
the direction I’ll go with this answer. The program consists of an interactive
DVD of me interacting with the 5 animated I AM 4 Kids characters. It is divided
into several short engaging segments with each followed by an exercise to be
done in class or for homework. After that, we use technology to communicate and
challenge the kids and their family to live up to their identity each and every
day.
Alex: I ‘m
sure there are many, but can you tell us a few of the success stories from the
I AM 4 KIDS graduates?
Mark: Due to privacy laws dealing
with minors, I cannot give specific details of individual children. There have
been several children who went from failing grades to Honor Roll within a year.
But the real successes come from the projects the kids do in the final step of
the process. For examples of projects that kids have come up with:
Alex: The I AM
4 KIDS supporters/sponsors are people and companies that embrace the mantra
“Make a Difference EVERY Day!” Who are some of the big name supporters
for this phenomenal foundation?
Mark: Some of the big name
corporations who have supported us to date are Jones Lang LaSalle – the world’s
largest commercial real estate company and Goldman Sachs.
In terms of celebrity backing, there
is Barbara Niven – one of Hollywood’s busiest actresses, celebrity fragrance
designer Geir Ness, and several former NFL players like Emery Moorehead and
Shafer Suggs.
Alex: IAM4KIDS
works within the educational system how can an interested educator or parent
become involved within the United States? Would it be possible to
recreate the IAM4KIDS experience overseas?
Mark: Absolutely. That is part of
the reason we chose animated characters. This is becoming a movement that will
spread across the globe. It is too important not to.
Alex: Mr.
Papadas your new book, “10 Secrets to Empower Kids & Awaken the Child in
You!” has been receiving accolades from various educational stakeholders, can
you give us a few practical parenting tips that we could start on right away?
Mark:
1. Expect greatness and let your kids
know it. For many years, the last thing my wife and I say to our kids when they
leave for school each day is “Be Great!” to which they reply enthusiastically,
“I AM!” It is a little thing that has an amazing impact over time.
2. Lead by Example. This is
important for many reasons. We all know the old quote, “Action speaks louder
than words.” If your words are not congruent with your actions, your kids will
doubt what you tell them. They hear one thing but see another. If you are not
the trusted source, who then fills that void? Gangs? Cliques?
3. Decisions have consequences. We
have to let our kids learn from their mistakes and accept the consequences for
their choices and actions. If kids never experience the “bad” of a bad choice,
how can we expect them to consistently make good ones?
Alex: Where
can we get hold of your new book “10 Secrets to Empower Kids & Awaken theChild in You!”?
or
Alex: Mr. Mark Papadas, once again thank you for taking the time out of your hectic schedule!
Mark: Thank you
Alex!
For
more information check out this IAM4KIDS informational video!
Make
a Difference EVERY Day!
More information on I Am 4 Kids
Ambassadors
Geir Ness Celebrity Fragrance Designer
Celebrity & Healthy Lifestyle Consultant SASHA!
See you next week!
Connect
with ALEX!
