The Important Division Between Fault and Responsibility
My mom and dad told me over the years that I was a funny little kid, when I was very young. Whenever anything went wrong in our home—a spilled drink at the kitchen table, a lost item from a room, a torn sock, you name it—I apologized for it. Even if it clearly wasn’t my fault, I felt I needed
How to Overcome Job Shaming
I’m not sure if you caught it, but actor Geoffrey Owens recently appeared on ABC’s “Good Morning America” after an incident that took place in New York. You might remember Owens as the actor known for his comedic role as Elvin Tibideaux on The Cosby Show, between 1985 and 1992. But recently, Owens was “job shamed.” Photos of Geoffrey, working in a Trader Joe's, were published by The
A Good Change Between Millennials and Generation Z
I probably don’t need to tell you—the kids who make up Generation Z are not merely a continuation of the Millennial Generation. The times are different; culture has shifted and more realities are uncertain than ever before. Let me illustrate some of the shifts that have happened from one generation to the next: Millennials Generation Z I am naïve and nurtured I am savvy and
Four Practices That Naturally Develop Leaders
I am honored to announce that The Growing Leaders Initiative has been named a top five finalist in the Southeast region for the 2019 True Inspiration Award. Voting is now open. Help The Growing Leaders Initiative continue to make a difference in the local community and internationally by voting. Thank you! To vote: 1. Click this link 2. Select the Southeast region 3. Submit
The Fine Line Between Excellence and Obsession
I recently met a family on a road trip who epitomizes today’s society. Their three children are the center of their lives. They spend most of their money to resource those children. Both screens and sports occupy the majority of their time. Because they have some discretionary income, they have built a literal sports complex at the house to enable their
Parents Say the Darndest Things to Educators
Most teachers would say they collaborate well with their student’s parents. Every year, however, teachers report some of the craziest requests parents make on behalf of their kid. Some of these true stories include the following: “I had a parent (and her son) who refused to sign my rules and expectations sheet at the beginning of the school year because one
Building a “Whatever It Takes” Attitude On Your Team
The phrase hung over the doorway of the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room for decades. It has been used over and over again by championship teams from all sports. It’s a mindset. It’s a way of life. It’s an attitude. “Whatever it takes.” Yet, after surveying young adults today I’ve observed a hesitancy to embrace this attitude. While the phrase “whatever it takes”
The One Soft Skill That Can Make or Break a Person
A new survey was taken among both educators and parents—which revealed that each has different perspectives when it comes to our kids. We gain a fresh perspective when we see life from the classroom as well as the family room. Both teachers and parents, however, agree on one thing for sure: that schools should assess students on both “academic knowledge”
Four Ordinary Traits of Extraordinary Leaders
During my doctoral studies in leadership development, one question framed more conversations than almost any other: do great leaders form in any age and under any circumstance—or do contrary circumstances actually “summon” leaders to step forward? For example, would we have ever heard of attorney Abraham Lincoln had we never had a civil war to fight or a union to
Four Discoveries Students Should Make in Health Class
Do you remember health class back in middle school and high school? I recall taking the class back in the 1970s—and it was a period different from all the others. Unlike my other classes such as Algebra, English, History or Social Studies, it was a 55-minute period that allowed most students to disengage. Why? Our football coach taught the class and we
The Main Reason Kids Lack Confidence
When Brandon told me he wanted to start a YouTube channel that helped people who share the same vision get together and collaborate, I asked him, “What’s stopping you?” “I don’t have the confidence,” he acknowledged. Over the next several minutes, Brandon and four of his friends joined me in a conversation about why teens may lack confidence to try things they
My Commitment: To Make Myself Useful to Generation Z
I recently spoke to a university student who candidly told me what he was up to. As he shared his political views, his plans for a career, his spiritual beliefs and his fluid gender identification—I immediately smiled, as I knew it was a departure from his parents’ worldview. When I asked, “Have you talked to your parents about all this?” he