“Effective leadership is putting first things first,” insisted Stephen Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People. “What you do has far greater impact than what you say.” About 30 years ago, a group of teachers, youth ministers,...
Teens are starving for attention from an adult who believes in them. A teen who doesn’t have a healthy relationship with an adult often lacks confidence. They are less likely to develop communication and social skills needed to establish strong personal...
After speaking at a leadership conference, I left a hotel in downtown Atlanta to look for a good place to eat. A large crowd of young demonstrators poured into the streets. They held signs with powerful messages such as “Stand Up to Racism,” “Black...
The pastor of a small church encouraged his congregation to reach out to young people and make them feel welcome. “Our youth are important. We need you,” he insisted. “You are our future.” Everyone applauded. Unfortunately, no young people were in the audience to hear...
Several years ago, I guided high school seniors through collaborative goal-setting exercises. An 18-year-old boy barked questions at me from across the classroom as I assisted a group of girls who were working on a project. “What should I do next?” he shouted. I...
