One of the most important character traits I try to impress on my teen children is respect. When Aretha Franklin sang about it – R-E-S-P-E-C-T! – she’s referring to her relationship with a man. I believe it goes beyond that. Respect is really a level of ethics and moral belief.

One of the characteristics of successful people is that they have respect from within and for the people around them. Having respect generates confidence in your abilities and shows a genuine appreciation for what you do and what you’re capable of doing. It takes time to build respect in your endeavors (sports, business, etc.), but work hard at it and others will begin to see your true value. Keep focused on achieving your goals to earn respect and the success that comes with it.