Simon Squibb’s New Children’s Book: A Guide to Finding Purpose Beyond Traditional Education

In a recent LinkedIn post, Simon Squibb announced the release of his new book, “What’s Your Dream? The Workbook,” aimed at children and designed to impart life lessons often absent from conventional schooling. Squibb, an entrepreneur who has founded 19 companies and experienced significant financial ups and downs, including periods of homelessness and wealth, frames this book as his life’s most crucial work.

The Genesis of a Purpose-Driven Book

Squibb details a personal journey spanning over four decades to discover his own purpose. He recounts early aspirations, such as becoming a BMX trick biker, which were dismissed as unrealistic. His experiences with homelessness at 15 and a subsequent two-decade pursuit of wealth left him feeling unfulfilled and “miserable” in retirement at 40. This profound realization, that he lacked a reason to get out of bed despite achieving financial success, fueled his desire to help others, particularly children, avoid a similar path.

Squibb articulates his motivation stemming from his own life experiences:

“I don’t want that for your kids. I don’t want a single child to sit in a classroom being told their dream isn’t realistic. To spend decades chasing someone else’s version of success. To wake up at 40 and wonder what happened.”

The book is positioned as a tool to equip children with the knowledge and skills to identify their passions and build a life around them, lessons Squibb believes are fundamental but not typically taught in schools.

Core Lessons for Young Dreamers

According to Squibb, the workbook is designed to teach children essential life skills that go beyond academic learning. These include:

• Discovering what they truly love.
• Building a life centered around their passions.
• Taking the crucial first step towards their goals.
• Learning to persevere through failure.
• Understanding the importance of asking for help.
• Finding their ultimate purpose.

Squibb emphasizes that these are the same principles he teaches his own son and intends to pass on as a legacy. He stated in his post:

“The same lessons I teach my own son. The same lessons I’ll leave him when I die. Not money, but the knowledge in this book.”

Bridging the Knowledge Gap

A central theme in Squibb’s message is the idea of equitable access to knowledge and purpose-finding skills. He argues for the importance of democratizing this wisdom, ensuring that all children, regardless of their socioeconomic background, have the opportunity to learn how to pursue their dreams.

As Squibb puts it:

“Because a kid from a council estate deserves the same knowledge as a kid from a mansion.”

He views the creation of this book as a significant undertaking, describing it as the most important thing he has ever made. The book aims to empower the next generation to define success on their own terms, fostering a sense of purpose from an early age, a lesson he learned himself over 40 years.