8 roles parents must play if they want their children to be successful, according to Harvard research

t
• Harvard professor Ronald Ferguson is author of "The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children."
t
• After becoming fascinated with what parents did to shape his most talented students, he conducted research and determined that there are eight parental roles that make up the formula for master parenting.
t
• Being an "early learning partner" is the most crucial, he said, which helps kids become excited about gathering new information and succeeding.
t
• Also being a "philospher" to help kids find themselves on their life journey is important.
t
• Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

Spotting patterns, trends, and formulas make our work (and life) easier. But I never thought I'd see someone unlocking the formula for the hardest job of all: raising super-successful children.

Harvard professor Ronald Ferguson, author of " The Formula: Unlocking the Secrets to Raising Highly Successful Children," recently told the Harvard Gazette he's done exactly that.

Ferguson was fascinated with what parents did to shape his talented students. So he and co-author Tatsha Robertson comprehensively studied how different parenting styles shape children's success. Test subjects included the youngest statewide elected official in the country and the mother of the CEOs of YouTube and the genetics company​ 23andMe.

What emerged?

Eight parental roles that Ferguson says make up the formula for master parenting. "It was like a hidden pattern that gradually revealed itself - a set of widely recognized, well-researched qualities that are the basic success foundations."

Play these eight roles well and you'll ace parenting.