The One Thing I Do at the End of Each Year
Follow @TimElmore For twenty-nine 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 blogged about this last December and got such good response, I thought it may be helpful again. I take a half a day and get completely alone. Usually, I get
Teaching Young Adults to Add Value
All of our lives, we’ve heard stories of people who are “outliers” — men and women who dropped out of college (or never attended in the first place) and made their mark on the world anyway. People like Bill Gates, Oprah Winfrey, Steve Jobs, Mark Zuckerberg, Ted Turner, Walt Disney, Wolfgang Puck… and the list goes on and on. The fact
What? Cancel Christmas?
By now, you may have already heard this story, but I wanted to wait until it was closer to Christmas to comment on it here. At this time of year, I always try to write a piece that offers ideas on how we can better develop students during the holiday season. This year, I begin with a very odd circumstance
Students and the Human Right to Cheat
Yes, you're reading this headline correctly. There is a new and robust sense of entitlement among the emerging generation globally. Several college students from around the world are protesting those who accuse them of wrongdoing when they cheat -- explaining that it is their human right. Throughout history, university students have been prone to demonstrate for rights. And they're prone to
Trends in How Today’s Students Handle Relationships
Follow @TimElmore With the emergence of technology on portable devices and social media, there is a new kind of relationship pattern emerging with students today. “Generation iY” (which makes up the second half of Gen. Y) faces a new dilemma. You might call it the “artificial relationship.” Finding out that someone doesn’t love you anymore is hard—not hearing anything at all is
Wise Leaders See the Destination and the Details
I just did one of the most clumsy, stupid things I’ve done in years. The night it happened, I experienced a combination of pain and embarrassment. I’m not sure if my body…or my ego…was more bruised. My family and I were attending a wedding in Huntsville, Alabama. My wife Pam was coordinating the wedding, so she had the car. It was
What’s Better Than a Competitive Spirit?
Follow @TimElmore Oregon quarterback, Marcus Mariota, is one of the nicest college athletes you’ll ever meet. His talent is unquestioned, as this year’s winner of the Heisman trophy. His teammates talk, however, about how restrained he is; how he picks up his own and other people’s trash on the ground; how he hands out food to homeless guys on the streets;
Technology and the Law of Reciprocals for Students
A college instructor (who is also a mom) recently reminded me of an interesting change she’s made in her communication habits. Four years ago, she shifted from emailing her students to communicating via Facebook. She also admitted that instead of calling them, she began texting them. She smiled as she acknowledged the latest shift she’s made. She now uses Instagram
Adolescents Today (Part 2): Putting Pressure in the Right Place
Yesterday, I alluded to the fact that adults today put pressure on kids… but often in the wrong places. Students feel pushed to keep score on academics, sports and social media—none of which are evil, but all of which are impractical areas for youth to be pressured. As a child enters their teen years, they actually have it in them
Adolescents Today: Pressure in the Wrong Places
Follow @TimElmore Everyone I know has an opinion on “kids today.” Most observe that they’re addicted to their cell phone or tablet, which has fostered a “slacktivist” (and an even more entitled) mindset in teens. Research tells us that high school students are more narcissistic than ever and that college students spend about half their waking hours on a cell phone.
The Battle for Our Youth
Follow @TimElmore I was stopped dead in my tracks one morning after reading an interview Steve Jobs gave to New York Times reporter Nick Bilton. Shortly before Jobs passed away, Bilton asked him, “So your kids must love the iPad?” Jobs responded: “They haven’t used it. We limit how much technology our kids use at home.” What? Wait… Steve Jobs said that? Yep, and
Why Life is Great “Outside the Box”
Yesterday, I blogged about the importance for us, as leaders, to climb out of our “boxes” and think fresh thoughts. The easiest trap any successful leader can fall into is to slip into a box of conventionality and get stuck. We’re blinded, assuming that what got us to where we are will also get us to where we want to
7 Ways Great Leaders Climb “Out of the Box”
I’m sure you’ve heard the phrase “think outside the box.” It’s become a cliché among Americans today. We must remember, however, that clichés can be true, even if they’re overused. In this case, “think outside the box” contains a timeless truth that leaders must understand if they wish to remain effective in their organizations. In short, boxes represent conventional thinking: they