Motivating Teenagers

I was reading the this morning about Bob Ladouceur, Head Football Coach at De La Salle High School on how he motivates his football players and teenagers in general. He outlines eight things to remember when motivating teenagers:

1. I've discovered as my age increases, my IQ decreases. In other words, the older I get, the more I realize how little I know - But that is OK. This is the first step of self-awareness.

2. Teenagers need trustworthy adults in their lives to guide them - other than their parents. When I was a young coach, I used to have parents come to me and ask if I would talk to their sons about - getting a haircut; taking more time on homework - among other things. They used to say, "They'll listen to you." I used to think "What's wrong with those parents? This is their job, not mine." Then my daughter turn 16 and I realized exactly what they were requesting. Parents need help, so do kids.

3. Remember Father Flanagan from Boys Town? He said, "There's no such thing as a bad kid." I believe he was right. There is no such thing as a bad kid. But there are kids who make bad choices, choose bad behavior, and sometimes are victim of bad parenting.

4. Teenagers are not lazy. When they have no direction, no passion or goals then the symptom is a lack of motivation.

5. Whatever we (as adults) want and need - Teenagers want and need also.

6. Teenagers pay more attention to the messenger than they do the message. So if you're the messenger then live the message.

7. Believe in a higher power. Personally, I am not smart enough or good enough to shepherd myself through life's journey. And what I found out is that the journey is not an outward journey but completely and absolutely an inward journey.

8. Everybody wants to be a success. I've never heard anyone say I want to be a failure. One person may have one idea of success, another person may have another idea of success, but everyone wants to be whatever it is their idea of success may be.

We measure our success by how well we have embraced the spirit and essence of those intangibles.

Success to us is understanding that where preparation meets opportunity - greatness can be achieved. Preparation for us is long, tedious and difficult and the windows of opportunity are brief, short and intense. I know for a fact that nobody - at least our opponents - out work us. We prepare well and when ready, we welcome, not fear our opportunities. Hard work is the cornerstone upon which all achievement emanates.