Five Important Conversations I Had with My Kids
As a parent, an educator and a leader, my kids grew up observing my bias toward growth and lifelong learning. Over the years, I would take them out to breakfast or lunch, or we’d go on a trip, and we’d talk about life and leadership. I wanted them to not only be career-ready but life-ready. Here are five of the
The One Thing I Do at the End of Each Year
For thirty-five 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 half of 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
Seven Gifts Leaders Should Give Their Team This Holiday Season
My mother always enjoyed the Christmas season. Ever since I can remember, she’d want to pull out the decorations as early as possible and get them up. My dad always said she’d have them up all year round if he’d let her. My mom, Sally, passed away fourteen years ago, and I miss her to this day. I think of
Four Ways to Practice Emotional Intelligence During the Holidays
Almost every one of us will spend time with family or friends over the holiday season. We “push pause” on our busy lives and spend time with others with no agenda except exchanging gifts and consuming food. Well, except for millions of families. I have noticed when families gather during the holidays and aren’t busy with their jobs or with a football
Six Steps to Move Students from Cynicism to Optimism
It was exactly 50 years ago that the Internet was born. In the fall of 1969, two letters were typed and transmitted online, forever altering the way knowledge, information, and communication happens among humans. On Oct. 29, 1969, Leonard Kleinrock, a professor of computer science at UCLA and his grad student, Charley Kline, sent a transmission from UCLA’s computer to a
Four Ways Parents Reduce Gratitude in Their Kids
I recently witnessed three teenage girls at a shopping village with their mom. They were Christmas shopping and completely caught up in the season. As they interacted, I heard the teens getting louder and louder. Without trying, I began to hear what they were talking about. Each of them felt they deserved certain gifts from their grandparents; one mentioned how
Time’s 2019 Person of the Year Is a Teenager
Have you heard of Greta Thunberg? In many ways, she’s a typical 16-year old student from Sweden. She’s an adolescent on social media who wants to change the world. The big difference is—she actually is changing the world right now. Greta was just named TIME magazine’s 2019 Person of the Year. Yep. She’s the youngest person to ever win the award. In
How to Raise Healthy Kids in a Fearful Culture
This week, I am blogging on three cultural realities and how we can help our kids from Generation Z navigate them. We’ve explored our culture of avoidance and our culture of outrage the past two days. Today, I want to talk about our culture of fear. Because we’re raising our kids in uncertain times, adults are consumed over all that could
How to Lead Kids in a Culture of Outrage
This week, I am blogging on cultural trends that we would do well to pay attention to, especially if we teach or lead young people. Yesterday, I posted about our culture of avoidance. Today, I am discussing our current culture of rage and outrage. Earlier this year, a story broke in the Washington D.C. Mall. You may recall an old Native
Five Tips for Raising Kids in a Culture of Avoidance
My wife and I live in a neighborhood with a HOA (Homeowners Association). Everyone who moves into a home signs an agreement to live by specific guidelines about upkeep, yard maintenance, and curb appeal. One of our neighbors has failed to keep the agreement. This is not uncommon, but what makes her situation difficult is she has gone silent. Absent. She
Seven Characteristics That Distinguish Generation Z
One question I often get asked is: How is Generation Z (the youngest population being assessed today) different than Millennials? The answer? They’re distinctly different. If we have any hope of partnering with these students, we would do well to understand them. Below is an excerpt from our new book, Generation Z Unfiltered: Facing Nine Hidden Challenges of the Most
Why Colleges Should Not Drift from Their Original Mission
In forty years of teaching and leading university students, I’ve seen the college campus evolve in a tangible way. I love some of what’s happened… but mourn other changes. Many schools that were once incubators of inquiry and critical thinking — willing to debate any and all ideas — have now become places of emotion over intellect. Often, the faculty can
You Don’t Have to Be Rich to Be Generous
Today is Giving Tuesday—but I don’t plan to ask you to give to our philanthropic work at Growing Leaders. Instead, I want to tell you a story and challenge you to do something in response to it. Dozens of you responded to my request for stories of generosity. Below is one of them I felt symbolized the art of generosity