“The 5 Pieces of the Puzzle of Life” — Inspired by Jim Rohn
Have you ever thought about what it really means to be successful?
Many of us grow up believing success is about grades, money, or achievements. But true success isn’t built on just one piece, it’s a complete picture made up of different parts that fit together beautifully.
Jim Rohn reminds us that success has five puzzle pieces:
Wealth, Health, Relationships, Leadership (Influence), and Contribution.
When these five fit together, the picture of a fulfilling life becomes complete.
So how can we nurture these five pieces both in ourselves and in our children?
It begins with small daily habits and discipline. Success is rarely a giant leap, it’s built one small step at a time.
If we stare at the mountain, it feels impossible to climb. But if we focus on just taking the next small step. We’ll get there, eventually.
💭 “The future is built one today at a time.”
So the question is, how are you spending your today?
🧩 1. Wealth – It starts with your first dollar saved.
“If you can’t take care of $100, it’s hard to handle $10,000.”
For adults: Be mindful with your spending — not all wealth is money; it’s also time, knowledge, and wisdom.
💡 For children:
- Give them small opportunities to make choices with money (e.g., saving vs. spending).
- Start a simple savings jar — label it “Save, Spend, Share”.
- Let them see you make wise spending decisions — children learn through observation.
🧩 2. Health – It’s built on daily choices.
“Without health, you can’t enjoy your wealth.”
For adults: Choose movement, rest, nourishment, happiness. Your children notice what you prioritise.
💡 For children:
- Talk about why certain foods help us grow strong.
- Model simple habits like choosing water instead of soda.
- Celebrate small wins, “You chose fruit today, great job taking care of your body!”
🧩 3. Relationships – Built through small, consistent actions.
“A ‘thank you,’ a smile, a helping hand.”
For adults: Presence matters more than perfection. Consistent connection builds trust.
💡 For children:
- Have short, meaningful daily chats (during dinner, bedtime, or walks).
- Encourage gratitude: say “thank you” to each other at home.
- Let them see healthy conflict resolution — how you handle disagreement teaches empathy.
🧩 4. Leadership (Influence) – Leadership starts with accountability.
“Influence grows when you show up, do your best, and build trust.”
For adults: True leadership isn’t about power, it’s about responsibility and example.
💡 For children:
- Give them small responsibilities (e.g., feeding a pet, setting the table).
- Let them make small decisions and reflect on the outcomes.
- Praise effort and integrity more than results — “You kept your word, that’s being a leader.”
🧩 5. Contribution – Giving starts small.
“It’s not about how much you have, but how much heart you give.”
For adults: Contribution isn’t limited to money — it’s also time, kindness, and skill.
💡 For children:
- Encourage acts of kindness (sharing toys, helping classmates).
- Talk about how helping others makes a difference.
- Celebrate kindness as much as academic achievements.
🌱 These five pieces are all connected.
Daily habits — like watering a plant — create growth over time.
Neglect, too, grows quietly. If we forget to water it, it might not die today, but eventually, it will.
At The Little Academy, we don’t just want children to be followers who listen and complete tasks.
We want them to be learners who think, reflect, and make wise choices.
Because English literacy isn’t only about reading and writing.
It’s a language for understanding the world, expressing ideas, and building human connection.
And real success?
It’s not just about grades. It’s about what we do consistently, every day, to build character and purpose.
– Eileen Tan
