One Trait Every Kid Needs to Succeed in the Future
Did you catch the news? Google is on a tour. No, not a tour to find a new city to establish a new headquarters. It’s a “Grow with Google Tour” to help people prepare for and find jobs in the future. It’s not just a PR tour, either, although I am sure this effort will not look bad on social
The Future Proof Skills Your Students Need: Podcast #52
Today I’m excited to share with you a conversation with Andrew McPeak. Andrew is a next gen researcher, speaker, and writer for Growing Leaders. He also is the coauthor of our newest book, Marching Off the Map. Here are some highlights from our conversation. Andrew McPeak: The future, sometimes, can be a scary thought. It’s especially scary for students today, because all students think
Three Steps to Help Students Start Their Careers
“So, what do you want to do with your life?” This question paralyzes students more than any other. They get stumped—not because they don’t have any idea—but because they have so many ideas. They often have several visions for their future. When I sat down recently with a group of high school and university students, this is what I heard: 1. What
The Masked Generation: Five Ways to Build Confidence
I recently watched a debate panel, made up of college students. Two sides were debating a controversial issue and one student, in particular, was dominating the argument. He was articulate, intelligent and, most of all, confident. After it was over, I approached this young sophomore. It was then I was stunned by his actual demeanor. The student was not only quiet,
What Enables a Student to Be Resilient?
I’m not sure if you got to see it, but on week one of the NCAA college football season Jake Olson took the field as the long snapper for the USC Trojans. Big deal, you say? It is if you understand that at age 12, Jake went blind. Yep. This young athlete cannot see anything. He has to be touching the back of
Why Not Knowing Anything About an Industry Could Be Your Biggest Advantage
This column was originally published on Entrepreneur.com on September 28, 2017. You may not be shocked to learn that the majority of today’s emerging youth population see themselves as entrepreneurs. Instead of seeking that corner office in a large company, they envision creating or curating something and then selling it as a product or service. What’s amazing is—sometimes their lack of experience
Five Steps to Teach Students to be Critical Thinkers
I will never forget a conversation I had with a college student a few years ago. She was a sophomore, majoring in psychology. In our conversation, she was buzzing about a news story she’d just read and passed on to friends. Evidently, a cat and a dog had mated and given birth to a hybrid cat/dog. I’m not sure if
How to Problem Solve a Problem Child
Do you remember the 1990 movie, “Problem Child,” starring John Ritter and Michael Oliver? It was a comedy about a couple who adopt a boy, only to find out he’s terribly troubled, dysfunctional and even destructive to others. The film sparked two sequels, as it hit home with so many viewers. It’s a story that hits home with us because it’s
What the Future of Leadership Looks Like
I get to meet some of the most amazing students as I travel. In fact, our entire team of speakers (at Growing Leaders) meets them, from secondary schools, to universities to international schools in Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. As I meet these students, I am noticing something different. They are examples of the global research done
Seven Steps to Cultivate a “Whatever It Takes” Attitude
As the 2017 school year began, I was scheduled to speak in back-to-back cities and campuses. Little did I know that this little tour would have some speed bumps. Our first stop was Georgia Southern University. It’s a four-hour drive to Statesboro from Atlanta, so Matt, Timothy and I rented a car and headed south to GSU. As I sat in
The Harmful Prison Your Kids Experience Every Day
Not long ago, Facebook founder, Mark Zuckerberg, wrote and posted a letter to his newborn daughter. If you read it, you’ll find it interesting that he specifically encourages her (and her older sister) to “go outside and play.” Wow. That advice seems to be at odds with the empire Mark has built. Isn’t it interesting that tech icons such as Zuckerberg or
Four Qualities of an Outstanding School
Change is in the wind when it comes to higher education in America. And it is changing the way both schools and students navigate a post-secondary education. Let’s start with tuition. Recently, The Wall Street Journal carried an article about how U.S. college tuition is growing at the slowest pace in decades. Seriously. On the heels of a nearly 400 percent
The Biggest Changes Generation Z Brings to the Adult World
Susan Sawyer, M.D. of the Murdoch Children’s Institute confirmed something I have been saying for years now: being an adolescent today is very different than it was even 20 years ago. Certainly, it’s different than when I was a teen. The adolescent phase of human development now lasts much longer than it once did. In fact, adolescence, as a stage of