You Never Know What May Result From a Mentoring Relationship
Every week, I try to introduce a young person who surprised everyone around them by setting a goal and leading the way in reaching it. Sometimes you just never know what can happen when you meet such a person and invest in them. Back in 1995, a graduate student at Stanford University, Sergey Brin, stumbled upon a younger prospective student, Larry
Emotional Health at an All Time Low in Students
Earlier this month, I spoke at an event and a student made this statement during a Q&A time: “I know more than my teachers do about technology -- I think I’ll do just fine when I graduate and move into my job.” I paused before responding to his statement. He was self-assured and I didn’t want to rain in on his
5 Big Choices Kids Must Make Before They Graduate
Over the last two days, I’ve blogged about an epidemic too few of us are aware of. It will hurt our national and global future if we fail to address it: Youth unemployment. During the last two years, I’ve introduced our readers to a German sociologist, Gunnar Heinsohn, who teaches at the University of Bremen. His research tells us that whenever
Youth Unemployment — A Global Epidemic (Part II)
Yesterday, I wrote about an issue many adults are unaware of -- one that will be problematic in our future unless we fix it: Youth unemployment. They’re the highest demographic of unemployed people in the nation and the world. One of our chief problems is: Once we see we have a problem, we react in the wrong way. 2 common reactions
Youth Unemployment — A Global Epidemic (Part I)
In today’s sour economy, there’s an issue most us are missing. Preoccupied with our own jobs, we’re blind to something that may be far more problematic to our future. I’m talking about a global epidemic -- the volume of youth who are unemployed. When I was a kid growing up in the 1970s, it was normal for 16-year-olds in my community
Hard Work U
Last week, I spent two days at the College of the Ozarks in Point Lookout, Missouri. It’s my second time speaking to the faculty and students of this great place. I wish I could take you with me sometime to see it. It’s quite an extraordinary school. Its nickname is: “Hard Work U.” Students attend classes at this college, and get
Help! My Brain is Full.
The Power of Social Intelligence
Last year, I read a book called: Social Intelligence by Daniel Goleman. A Harvard educated PhD, Goleman wrote the best-selling book, Emotional Intelligence, about how leaders can build their EQ even if they cant grow their IQ. This book takes the subject a step further, and talks about how effective leaders understand connections with people can make or break any
Will They Grow Up? (Part II)
Yesterday, I started a list of ideas adults can use to help teens and young adults grow up. Our society, which used to be part of the solution -- is now part of the problem in why these kids stall and fail to mature until their late twenties. These twenty-somethings have gone through our school systems and come out ill-equipped. Somehow,
Helping Our Kids Grow Up (Part I)
I just heard from an admissions staff member at Harvard University. He told me he interviewed a prospective student recently and had an unusual experience. During the interview the student would answer his questions, then look down after each one. The staff member assumed the student was just a bit shy. But, alas, it was something else. He was looking
A Paradox Good Leaders Embrace
Why do intelligent, emotionally healthy people need leaders? Wouldn’t you think that a group of 15 reasonably smart people could figure out the best direction to take without someone telling them? On paper, this makes sense. It sounds great. It just doesn’t play out in life. Think about leadership from a philosophical standpoint. People need leaders not because they are stupid. In
Victims Don’t Share
Do you mind if I vent a little, as long as I offer some value by the time I’m through? Last week, I walked into the Dekalb County Courthouse to pay a traffic citation. I had been driving 68 in a 55 mph freeway. I don’t fancy visiting courthouses, but I tried to pay my fine on their website and it
Social Allergies with Students
I know this sounds crazy -- but do you sometimes feel you are allergic to certain people? Every time you’re around them, your body or emotions react negatively? Dr. Daniel Goleman, author of Social Intelligence, talks about “social allergies.” It’s a term that explains how you can begin to react negatively even to people you love, like family and friends. Their
How I Learned to Serve from Zappos
I believe in servant-leadership. I believe the best leaders earn their right to be followed by serving those around them and under them. I try to serve the students I teach and the team I lead at Growing Leaders. I learned this years ago, but I re-learned it recently from an unlikely place -- an online shoe company called: Zappos. A
9 Ways to Beat Negativity
There’s a major problem facing many leaders today. It’s negativity. Like a form of cancer, it can lurk below the surface destroying the health and vitality of a mission, organization or team. Negativity is something we all face. We can’t control what happens to us or the negative circumstances that we often face, but we can control how we respond. This
Do You Have a Mission or Are You on a Mission?
Let me ask you a personal question. What was your attitude as you got up this morning? Were you looking forward to your day? If you work outside your home, were you excited to get to work? According to every national survey I have read, from Gallup to Northwestern to Pew Research, most Americans don’t like their job… and they certainly
The 3 Best Kept Secrets to Building Good Relationships with Students
Some stuff you need to know as a leader -- you learn quickly. Others, you just learn over the years. As I travel and speak at schools, corporations, non-profit organizations, and churches, I see adults trying too hard to connect with young people. And there is a gap. Teachers and parents become frustrated at the lack of connection and good
Helping Students Handle Disappointment and Pain
Have you noticed a slow trend happening in our culture over the last 30 years? In nearly every area of life, we have attempted to remove discomfort and disappointment from our lives. I suppose I should have seen this coming. We have to work harder at being happy and content -- and pain or disappointment just gets in the way. So
My Favorite Books of 2010
Each January, I list the top 12 books I read over the last year. I usually read books in target areas in which I hope to grow -- and this year was no exception. I read books on leadership, people skills, spiritual renewal, change, and growth. Some of the books aren’t new -- but they were fresh for me this
6 Ambitions to Build into our Kids this New Year (Part II)
Yesterday, I started a list of 6 ambitions I believe we must build into our kids. They are targets we should aim for as we teach, employ, lead, and parent the next generation of students. The first 3 are: Know yourself, develop your gift and value people. You may notice that these 6 ambitions are relevant for us adults to
6 Ambitions to Build into Our Kids this New Year (Part I)
Wow. We’ve launched not only a new year, but a new decade. It’s a time for new beginnings. If you are a parent, teacher, coach, youth worker, or employer, you want the best for the kids you lead as you begin a new year. Let me suggest this list of 6 ambitions I’ve tried to build into my kids over