How to Raise a Trailblazer
In an age of highly sophisticated parents dedicated to providing our children with access to education beginning in utero, we continue to find our college age children graduating and being pushed into the world without critical skills for success.
While we strap earphones to our bellies so that our unborn baby can listen to Mozart before he's born, and create a birthing plan for his entry into the world, we spend far less energy and focus on teaching our child how to create a life plan; in part because we do not learn these critical skills ourselves often until late in life.
In this ever-increasing global market where education is imperative, parents are strapped with college tuition bills that look like the national debt of a small country, and students are faced with a highly competitive, uncertain job market at best.
Those who strive in every economic climate are Trailblazers who are empowered to blaze their own trail regardless of external circumstances.
Trailblazers create strategic life plans by setting goals, networking, identifying mentors, and creating opportunities rather than being at the mercy of limited resources.
All of the skills mentioned can be tailored for college, high school, and in some cases, even middle school students.
The phrase strategic life plan can sound overwhelming to parents and their students who are just trying to get into college, never mind what they plan to choose as a major.
In fact, creating a strategic plan is empowering because Trailblazers are going to succeed regardless of the college they attend or the major they choose, and no plan is meant to be in stone.
Changing plans is perfectly fine because you get to choose when you blaze your own trail.
Help your student identify a goal for his future and empower him to execute the goal independently.
In order for a goal to be significant it should be measurable, with a target date of achievement.
Challenge your student to create a strategic plan for the goal.
Ask him questions about his next step, who he thinks would be a good resource to approach, and what will be his greatest challenge.
Be supportive but stand back.
Our job as parents is to become obsolete.
Whether your son wants to become a doctor, a painter, a dancer or an engineer, learning the critical skills of a Trailblazer will serve him well.
Teach your student to identify mentors in his field of interest.
Mentors can provide invaluable direction and advice about the reality of their profession both good and bad.
Don't be limited by teachers or people you know, reach out to anyone you admire, the worst they can do is not respond, but most people will be gracious.
Teach your student how to network.
Networking is a crucial lifelong skill that should be done early and often.
Many adults are overwhelmed by this skill and have to master it as a professional in order to be successful.
There are books and classes and events designed for the very purpose of networking.
There's no reason to wait until you have a job to learn how to network.
Teach your student how to introduce himself to people, be gracious, follow up and thank them for meeting.
Remember that social media is a powerful form of networking.
Teach your student that social media can both help him or hurt him.
Never underestimate the power of words or an image to impact your credibility.
Creating opportunity is a skill that is always good to have, but is imperative in competitive or challenging times when opportunities seem scarce.
Frequently students only apply for internships or jobs that they find listed, but what if you don't get any of those opportunities, then what? Trailblazers don't just apply for jobs and internships that are posted; they strategically reach out to people and offer to work for the experience, recommendation, and potential future job opportunity.
As parents we dedicate ourselves to raising successful, independent people, but now more than ever we need to ensure that our children are prepared to navigate the complexities of an unknown future.
Life as we know it is changing and none of us can predict the future, but empowering our children to stake their place in the world and blaze their own trail is a gift that will feed their stomachs and their souls.
Success is not merely represented in the dollars we earn, but the power we possess in our lives to create our own experience in the world regardless of our circumstances.
While we strap earphones to our bellies so that our unborn baby can listen to Mozart before he's born, and create a birthing plan for his entry into the world, we spend far less energy and focus on teaching our child how to create a life plan; in part because we do not learn these critical skills ourselves often until late in life.
In this ever-increasing global market where education is imperative, parents are strapped with college tuition bills that look like the national debt of a small country, and students are faced with a highly competitive, uncertain job market at best.
Those who strive in every economic climate are Trailblazers who are empowered to blaze their own trail regardless of external circumstances.
Trailblazers create strategic life plans by setting goals, networking, identifying mentors, and creating opportunities rather than being at the mercy of limited resources.
All of the skills mentioned can be tailored for college, high school, and in some cases, even middle school students.
The phrase strategic life plan can sound overwhelming to parents and their students who are just trying to get into college, never mind what they plan to choose as a major.
In fact, creating a strategic plan is empowering because Trailblazers are going to succeed regardless of the college they attend or the major they choose, and no plan is meant to be in stone.
Changing plans is perfectly fine because you get to choose when you blaze your own trail.
Help your student identify a goal for his future and empower him to execute the goal independently.
In order for a goal to be significant it should be measurable, with a target date of achievement.
Challenge your student to create a strategic plan for the goal.
Ask him questions about his next step, who he thinks would be a good resource to approach, and what will be his greatest challenge.
Be supportive but stand back.
Our job as parents is to become obsolete.
Whether your son wants to become a doctor, a painter, a dancer or an engineer, learning the critical skills of a Trailblazer will serve him well.
Teach your student to identify mentors in his field of interest.
Mentors can provide invaluable direction and advice about the reality of their profession both good and bad.
Don't be limited by teachers or people you know, reach out to anyone you admire, the worst they can do is not respond, but most people will be gracious.
Teach your student how to network.
Networking is a crucial lifelong skill that should be done early and often.
Many adults are overwhelmed by this skill and have to master it as a professional in order to be successful.
There are books and classes and events designed for the very purpose of networking.
There's no reason to wait until you have a job to learn how to network.
Teach your student how to introduce himself to people, be gracious, follow up and thank them for meeting.
Remember that social media is a powerful form of networking.
Teach your student that social media can both help him or hurt him.
Never underestimate the power of words or an image to impact your credibility.
Creating opportunity is a skill that is always good to have, but is imperative in competitive or challenging times when opportunities seem scarce.
Frequently students only apply for internships or jobs that they find listed, but what if you don't get any of those opportunities, then what? Trailblazers don't just apply for jobs and internships that are posted; they strategically reach out to people and offer to work for the experience, recommendation, and potential future job opportunity.
As parents we dedicate ourselves to raising successful, independent people, but now more than ever we need to ensure that our children are prepared to navigate the complexities of an unknown future.
Life as we know it is changing and none of us can predict the future, but empowering our children to stake their place in the world and blaze their own trail is a gift that will feed their stomachs and their souls.
Success is not merely represented in the dollars we earn, but the power we possess in our lives to create our own experience in the world regardless of our circumstances.