Generation iY and the Winds of Culture Today
I saw a master sailor at work last year, when I was part of a team that trained youth workers in Egypt. During our stay in Cairo, we got in a sailboat for a tour on the Nile River. It was interesting to watch our guide navigate his way down the river. He struggled at first, attempting to figure out
The Future in a Word
I have been speaking to faculty, administrators, deans and parents this last year about Generation iY, the second half of Generation Y. They are the young people born since 1990. Our research reveals there’s been a measurable shift between the kids born in the 80s and the ones born since 1990. What will Generation iY’s future be like? After talking
Video Blog: Your Best Year Yet!
For the past two days, I've posted about a ritual I've performed for the last 26 years - one thing I do at the end of every year and one thing I do at the beginning of every year. Today, I thought I would change it up a little bit and post a video blog about this topic. Enjoy! Looking for
The One Thing I Do at the Beginning of Each Year
Yesterday, I blogged about a ritual I perform at the end of every year, for the last twenty-six years. Today, I will share with you a second ritual I do, as a follow up. It enables me to enter a new year “on purpose.” After I invest a morning reviewing the previous year, I spend the second half of the
The One Thing I Do at the End of Each Year
For twenty-six years now, I have performed a ritual at the end of December. It’s the way I wrap up each year and gain some perspective on my life. I take a half a day and get completely alone. Usually, I get away from the house and find a quiet place to reflect. During this time, I think, I pray and
Growing Peacefulness in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Kindness in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Obedience in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Positive Attitudes in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Love in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Perspective in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Service in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Gratitude in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those who either missed it last year – or need a reminder
Growing Patience in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It’s hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! It seems like we just celebrated Thanksgiving a few days ago. This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: “The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I’ll be posting those articles on my blog for those
Growing Generosity in Your Kids at Christmas
12 Days of Christmas Parenting It's hard to believe that Christmas is right around the corner! This time last year, I posted a holiday blog tour called: "The 12 Days of Christmas Parenting” on the blogs some of my favorite people. This year, I'll be posting those articles on my blog for those who either missed it last year - or need a
Growing leaders, not just graduates
Every year in June for the past 5 years, Growing Leaders has hosted the National Leadership Forum in Atlanta, GA. We intentionally designed the National Leadership Forum to be unique compared to any other conference or event. Each year, we purpose to: • Select a specific theme for executive leaders, then stick to it • Allow several gifted and notable speakers to address the
New Day for Communication
USA Today reported last week that communication is changing in public places. For example, patrons are encouraged to actually keep their cell phones ON during concerts, symphony performances or theatre plays. In fact, special seating has been arranged for such people who will do so. Why? They want people to tweet and blog about the show. Concert promoters know that
Write it down
Today's blog is a guest post from Brenda Coomer, a leadership coach from Tulsa, OK. I hope you are as challenged by her words as I was! I have a 13-year-old client (we’ll call her Amy) who had a life-altering event 2 years ago. She was on vacation with her family, when their vehicle spun out of control into a head-on
What Makes Education Valuable
This past week, I had the privilege of working with two great national organizations. I participated in a three-day “think tank” with the national FFA, in Indianapolis. Our goal was to think strategically about what student leaders and staff needed to know and do to become effective leaders. Then I flew to Omaha, Nebraska for the weekend, to speak at the Central Region event for DECA. I spent Saturday with faculty talking about how to connect with students and provide what the need to be healthy leaders as adults.
Why Leaders Must Create a Culture
Last week, I heard a leader say, "Organizational culture is not something leaders are responsible to create. Culture just happens." Unfortunately, he is both right and wrong. Culture does just happen, by default, if leaders are not careful to intentionally foster a healthy culture through their influence. I believe it is the responsibility of executive leaders to cultivate the atmosphere and values
Common But Not Normal
When I look around me, I see both good and bad. Our society is full of positive components, like volunteerism, new and helpful technology, and breakthrough medical procedures that lengthen our lives. At the same time, I see lots of broken things—in organizations, families, education, churches and government. My concern for leaders is—that we let what’s become common be considered normal. Let
The Most Important Factor When Leading Students
If you’re like me, you hear all kinds of theories about how to best lead and teach students today. There are countless books on the market with the latest suggestions on how to handle this different generation of kids, who grew up online, who now carry their phones around as though they were an appendage to their bodies and who