Bri, great to hear your story and so glad you are on the pirate ship. I can’t wait to learn from you. My question is how do I talk to and listen to my college age young adults so we can have a discussion about their finding their superpowers. They can listen to this discussion but you all know they will roll their eyes at me when I raise the subject at dinner and try to get to what they think about what you all talked about.
Thanks, Jennifer! I have several thoughts for you:
1) I've had this same conversation with my sisters about my middle school and high school nieces and nephews. I could tell the kids the same thing as their mom, and they'll listen to me, but roll their eyes at mom. If there is someone in your kids' life that you can have a conversation with, who will then have that conversation with your kids, I would start there.
2) You can also begin to have a superpower conversation with them...without actually having it. If you notice there's something your kids are good at (and it might be their superpower), compliment them. They might shrug their shoulders at you, but they'll internalize and remember how to talk about their strengths at the next job interview they go to because they heard it from you.
My mom stole the concept out of the book/movie "The Help" and used it a lot on me growing up. I was constantly told, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."
I'm currently staying in my childhood room for the holidays, and I've been reminded of some of the small things my parents did that have greatly influenced me. Telling me phrases like that is one of them, along with:
I have several signs in my room of positive encouragement to do great things...some of the more memorable are "Dream big, little one" from my dad, and "Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains" on a chalkboard written by my mom. My mom's high school graduation gift to me was Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You'll Go" signed by several friends, family, and mentors. I was constantly told that I was going places (and neuroscience tells us how important these messages are).
While seemingly small, the grandeur of those thoughts passed on to me cannot be measured.
Those are some ways I would try to sneak in tidbits of conversation that have the conversation, without actually having the conversation.
And as we talked about in the podcast...sometimes sh*t has to hit the fan for good to come out the other side. When and if that happens, you'll be well equipped to walk them through that and support where necessary. I can't tell you how many times my dad has told me, "gotta start a business," and given me several different ideas based on my strengths as early as middle school. I rolled my eyes whenever we had those conversations...but he was right...I'm doing what he thought I would be good at, exactly as he predicted in high school. BUT it took me getting fired to finally pursue it.
Great interview. Bri is an awesome addition to your team. There was a lot of talk about being in the wilderness and Christopher mentioned scouting. I’m an Eagle scout and I can tell you if it weren’t for scouting my future would have been a lot different. I was an awkward young man when I entered scouting and it gave me core values and principles that have guided me for the past 50 years. I’m grateful to my scout master, Armond Lancia, his son Steven, who is still a dear friend, for being the best leaders I could learn and mentor from.
My college degree was in the integration of wilderness and psychology. I still remain fascinated by the power of stepping outside at any life stage, and how more people don't do it. Goods are in the woods!
Bri, great to hear your story and so glad you are on the pirate ship. I can’t wait to learn from you. My question is how do I talk to and listen to my college age young adults so we can have a discussion about their finding their superpowers. They can listen to this discussion but you all know they will roll their eyes at me when I raise the subject at dinner and try to get to what they think about what you all talked about.
Thanks, Jennifer! I have several thoughts for you:
1) I've had this same conversation with my sisters about my middle school and high school nieces and nephews. I could tell the kids the same thing as their mom, and they'll listen to me, but roll their eyes at mom. If there is someone in your kids' life that you can have a conversation with, who will then have that conversation with your kids, I would start there.
2) You can also begin to have a superpower conversation with them...without actually having it. If you notice there's something your kids are good at (and it might be their superpower), compliment them. They might shrug their shoulders at you, but they'll internalize and remember how to talk about their strengths at the next job interview they go to because they heard it from you.
My mom stole the concept out of the book/movie "The Help" and used it a lot on me growing up. I was constantly told, "You is kind. You is smart. You is important."
I'm currently staying in my childhood room for the holidays, and I've been reminded of some of the small things my parents did that have greatly influenced me. Telling me phrases like that is one of them, along with:
I have several signs in my room of positive encouragement to do great things...some of the more memorable are "Dream big, little one" from my dad, and "Let her sleep, for when she wakes she will move mountains" on a chalkboard written by my mom. My mom's high school graduation gift to me was Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You'll Go" signed by several friends, family, and mentors. I was constantly told that I was going places (and neuroscience tells us how important these messages are).
While seemingly small, the grandeur of those thoughts passed on to me cannot be measured.
Those are some ways I would try to sneak in tidbits of conversation that have the conversation, without actually having the conversation.
And as we talked about in the podcast...sometimes sh*t has to hit the fan for good to come out the other side. When and if that happens, you'll be well equipped to walk them through that and support where necessary. I can't tell you how many times my dad has told me, "gotta start a business," and given me several different ideas based on my strengths as early as middle school. I rolled my eyes whenever we had those conversations...but he was right...I'm doing what he thought I would be good at, exactly as he predicted in high school. BUT it took me getting fired to finally pursue it.
Great interview. Bri is an awesome addition to your team. There was a lot of talk about being in the wilderness and Christopher mentioned scouting. I’m an Eagle scout and I can tell you if it weren’t for scouting my future would have been a lot different. I was an awkward young man when I entered scouting and it gave me core values and principles that have guided me for the past 50 years. I’m grateful to my scout master, Armond Lancia, his son Steven, who is still a dear friend, for being the best leaders I could learn and mentor from.
The wilderness is incredible!
My college degree was in the integration of wilderness and psychology. I still remain fascinated by the power of stepping outside at any life stage, and how more people don't do it. Goods are in the woods!