Parenting

The unemployment/underemployment problem facing millennials predates the great recession. It goes back to the early programming they received from their parents when the economy was booming in the early 2000’s. And parents haven't let up. Dreams? Passion? Love? Sounds more like the teaser copy on the back of a smutty romance novel than sage career advice. The mindset of today’s parents is all about getting their kid to aim for the stars, to believe their dream, and to

With roots steeped rich in Celtic, Roman Catholic, and Protestant tradition, the annual Trick‑or‑Treat ritual that takes place this week can be traced back centuries. Originally, children would adorn hand‑made ceremonial costumes and go door‑to‑door singing out “a trick a treat!" Then they’d entertain their neighbors with carefully rehearsed songs, skits, and dances. If they performed well, the neighbor might reward them with some bread, fruit, or nuts. This encouraged the

My last day of teaching high school and coaching football was June 3, 1986. Due to declining enrollment of the school district where I was employed, my position was being eliminated. I didn't know it at the time, but looking back, I think I escaped just before the Apocalypse. Back then, I never feared parental retribution by giving a student a bad grade or by getting up in a player's facemask and yelling "Dammit Johnson, you're not giving 100%!" In all but a few isolated

This isn't just another one of the thousands of articles, blogs, and stories sharing personal feelings of betrayal in light of Lance Armstrong's recent confession to Oprah. There's already been so much public outrage that anything I add about him would be redundant. This is about something bigger and infinitely more important. I'm more concerned about how I should frame this to my own kids. Not that I have to frame anything, mind you. My kids are now grown and gone; youn

The phrase "Coffee is for Closers" resonates with anyone who's seen the classic film, Glengarry Glen Ross. This 1992 movie stars six Hollywood A-list leading men as salesman who work for an unethical real estate outfit. The actors portray fast-talking hucksters who lie, exaggerate, and use a series of con games to goad unwitting prospects into signing on the dotted line for overpriced real estate. (If you haven't seen the movie, and you have a high tolerance for foul languag

The employment landscape in America for 16- to 24-year-olds is abysmal; the worst it's been in more than 50 years. So if you've got a teen or a young adult on your holiday gift list, don't head to the mall or to your nearest big box retailer. What they need most from you cannot be found in stores. According to Opportunity Nation, 5, 527,000 young adults (or one in 7 young adults ages 16-24) are not in school or working. Unemployment rates for youth ages 16-24 are double the

Bodybuilding is the most narcissistic, self-absorbed ‘sport’ ever conceived. I can offer that critique as a former competitor, promoter of numerous state bodybuilding championships, emcee of the Mr. & Ms. Universe competition, and color analyst for ESPN’s bodybuilding coverage. (All of these things took place before Bill Clinton was sworn in, but my opinion has not changed much over the years.) That being said, I owe a great deal of my own work ethic to the principles I lea

How strong is your voice? How convincing is your argument? When your words aren't scripted for you --- when your notes have blown away --- when you're in the spotlight and all eyes are on you --- when the pressure is on and it's do or die --- ...can you deliver? Can you lead, inspire, direct, convince, persuade, motivate, and rally the troops to get behind you -- take up their swords -- and fight for your cause? The litmus test of leadership is believability. For others to

Since my new book launched in January, I've sent out 273 complimentary copies. I know for a fact that at least four of those books were delivered. These books were not sent out unsolicited to a random list of people I was hoping to engage, but rather to clients, prospective clients, major media contacts, and close colleagues who requested them. Each received a personalized, autographed hard cover book accompanied by a hand-written postcard. Reviving Work Ethic retails for

Fans of The Beverly Hillbillies will remember the running joke that Jethro (the most educated of the entire Clampett family) had "made it all the way through the 6th grade." Yee-Haw! When this series originally aired in the sixties, no one celebrated such a modest accomplishment. Of course you made it through the 6th grade, and the 7th, and the 9th. Everyone did. It was expected that every student made it through to high school. The first celebration of academic accompl

Plenty. You see, an entitlement mentality is not innate, rather it's learned and often engrained into an individual. It stems from multiple experiences of an individual getting something for nothing, leading them to believe they are deserving and should have what they want without putting forth the effort that is normally required to produce that result. This cognitive conditioning usually begins at an early age. Last year, a community Easter Egg Hunt in Old Colorado City

With almost 2 million YouTube views in three days, this video has definitely struck a nerve with parents everywhere. (To get the full effect of his extreme measures, you have to watch to the shocking end.) There won't be any gray area; you are either going to love or hate his parenting tactics. Has dad gone too far, or not far enough? What would you do if your kid posted this message for the world to see? How would your parents have reacted if they knew you even felt thi

Think 'lack of work ethic' of the young workforce is a criticism leveled only by American employers? Think again. This story from the U.K. tells the story of an owner of a large farm in England whose frustration with young job seekers has escalated to the point he is publicly lambasting--and even boycotting--the teen job applicants coming from the local Jobcentre. "They have no work ethic and unfit for the labour market," 54-year-old Richard Haddock says. "They turn up lat

This going to strike a nerve, but here goes... I know times are tough. I know people are losing their jobs and struggling. I know work is hard to find. I know things cost now more than they used to. I know all the rationale behind letting your adult children move back home with you. Nonetheless, I don't agree with it. It is my opinion that parents who allow their struggling twenty-somethings to move back home are doing them a disservice. Yet, according to a new report in