Growth mindset, a term coined by Dr. Carol Dweck, is a popular topic these days. I’ve written about it before and I’m revisiting it today because I have a fresh observation. To briefly define growth mindset, it’s the belief that a person’s intelligence, talents, and abilities are not innate but can be developed with effort…. Read more »
The Why Generation and Why You Should Care
The Why Generation is characterized by a single question: why? They’re forever asking, why do we do things this way? Why is this needed? Why can’t we make it better? This generation is asking a serious question. In general, their asking why is not an attempt to flout authority or show off. They are sincerely… Read more »
Building a Planning Culture with the Career Tree
Last year, we unveiled the new Root System Career Plan that helps your students create their personal, viable plans of study for life after graduation. Today, I want to look at the bigger picture surrounding the Root System Career Plan, and that is the concept of the planning culture. What’s a Planning Culture? A planning… Read more »
How to Fail Miserably and Wind Up on Top
Have you ever hit rock bottom? You know what they say about rock bottom—there’s no way to go but up. That’s a nice thought, but when you’re actually there, actually facing obstacles that seem insurmountable, it’s hard to take that abstract idea and turn it into practical action. But it can be done. I’ve proved… Read more »
TFS Founder’s Perspective: From Passive to Proactive in 2019
It’s January, and we’ve all made (or at least thought about making) New Year’s resolutions. There are always things we want to change, things that we could do better—whether they be in our personal or professional lives. I don’t want to give you another New Year’s resolution to take on, but rather a way to… Read more »
Why Sir Ken Robinson is Right
I have long admired Sir Ken Robinson and his innovative take on our educational systems. I especially enjoy the RSA Animate illustration from his TED Talk “Changing Education Paradigms.” This speech was given in 2009, but we can still learn from the insights he shares. This is a quick 11-minute watch and it’s well worth… Read more »
Be Brief
“I didn’t have time to write a short letter, so I wrote a long one instead.” -– Mark Twain I know just how Twain felt. Short and sweet messages that still convey our full meaning are harder to craft than long, drawn-out treatises. (That’s why truly powerful, memorable taglines are so elusive: they sum up… Read more »
Founder’s Perspective: Challenges or Assets? Your View of Young People Changes Everything
Your perspective on the younger generations is powerful. It determines the underlying attitude and approach you bring into every conversation and interaction. It can predict your level of success in engaging, motivating, and empowering them. And your view of their generation is something you communicate to those young people every day, whether you mean to… Read more »
Young People, You Can Make a Difference
Hey, Generations Y and Z. If you’re 38 or under, I know you’re battling some tough labels—like lazy, entitled, and selfish. I interact with your generations every day and I’m here to tell you, those labels aren’t true. Some people call you high maintenance because of your constant need for reasons; I call you the… Read more »
The Impact of Strategic Communication to Reach Your Audience
I’ve written before about what I call “the Rain Effect,” where you drip value messages onto your target audiences until they become saturated with the story and then act on that knowledge. These “drips” can be anything: postcards, billboards, brochures, letters, visits, career nights, showcases, community involvement events, radio spots, and any other way to… Read more »
