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220YL was Voted a Top 25 Workshop at the 2017 National Afterschool Association Convention!
We can always find something or someone else outside of ourselves to blame when things don’t turn out the way we want. But one of the most critical skills we can develop is the ownership mentality, where we look inward, not outward, to examine every possibility of how our thoughts, decisions, and actions impacted the outcome.
This young stud goes beyond persistence, determination, and a never-give-up-mentality. Watch the video to see one of the greatest examples of hard work we've ever seen.
"It doesn't matter how young or old you are or your age. You can achieve anything that you set your mind to...It requires discipline, hard work, determination, and most importantly it requires self-belief."
"Push yourself. Be your own coach. Make yourself feel uncomfortable. Believe in yourself. And know that if you do have dreams and goals, if they don't work out it's okay. It's not the end. It's not time to give up and be depressed. If you wanted to make it to the NFL, like me, well maybe you should become an agent, or a sports writer. Maybe you try to own the team instead of playing for the team." -Will Adams
Eric Thomas talks about taking advantage of the opportunity you have in front of you today. The problem, is most people look past the opportunity they have today because they see it as small. As weightless. As insignificant.
We are thrilled to share our speeches from P20 Talks 2016 in Goa, India, hosted by Parenting 2.0 and The Global Presence. The Talks were focused on relating a personal story to a critical life skill. We would sincerely appreciate our 220 Community sharing, liking, and promoting these on social media including YouTube, Facebook, and LinkedIn!
Whether you run a business or not, a type of professional/family/personal retreat is a powerful way to reflect on where you are, be grateful for how far you've come in your life and everything you have, decide on your vision for the future, and then go execute.
Happy Holidays and Happy New Year to our 220 Community!
The book focuses on six people (including Joseph and I) that pursued their passions regardless of the associated risks, obstacles, fear, social pressures, and negative internal dialogue that we all face. The book is set to come out in early 2017.
In June, Michael Brindley passed away suddenly and unexpectedly at the age of 16 from natural causes. Michael was one of my students. Michael was my friend
As Jamie Foxx once said, "What's on the other side of fear? Nothing." Many times, fear is a result of limiting perceptions we create in our own heads. Just like we're hesitant to jump in the rain before we get wet, or take a chance on ourselves, or risk failing at something new and challenging, or going after our ultimate goals, the scariest part comes at the beginning- before we've tried anything at all. Once we go for it, it's never as bad as we imagined it would be- and it's often much, much better.
We are honored to be featured as a resource in the chapter on promoting student resilience and grit. One of our quotes can also be found on the book jacket! (both below)
We can’t believe it. Although it started with a small summer camp in 2009, this week we are celebrating our company’s one-year anniversary. One full year gone by, one full year since we made the jump, one full year since we started 220. One full year working in the career of our dreams.
The fact is, whether we are talking about an elite performer across any profession, they put in the time it takes to achieve their ultimate goals. Sure, maybe some of them had some natural talent or another slight advantage. But vision, commitment, and hard work always catch up to talent and any other advantage left untrained and stagnant.
Today should be the day. The day you start working towards that goal you've always wanted to start, but have never been able to get going. To eliminate the habit you've always wanted to break, or the start the habit you've always wanted make. Not tomorrow, today: the day you read this post.
Now those of you who know Jordan at all are probably smiling or laughing right now. It's pretty common any time someone hears his name (I know I do). There are a lot of reasons for that, including but not limited to...
Appreciating the small things makes our days seem longer, richer, and more fulfilling. It can make problems that would normally ruin our day seem trivial, and make those regular moments seem special every single time.
Legendary college basketball coach Jim Valvano (known as Jimmy V) said it best in his Arthur Ashe Award Acceptance Speech recognizing his illustrious career and his inspirational battle against cancer: "If you laugh, you think, and you cry, that's a full day. That's a heck of a day. You do that seven days a week, you're going to have something special."
The YES Group student-leaders left for the summer with new "unrealistic" individual goals and action plans related to academic achievement, leadership development, and communication skills.
You only get so many July 4th's in your lifetime, so make sure to appreciate the opportunity you have this weekend to spend time with your family, friends and loved ones. Start a new tradition. Try a new recipe. Do something as small as a dance or karaoke contest, a board game, or even telling someone you appreciate them. Make this 4th of July count.
A powerful, thought-provoking quote to take with you into the weekend...
Joseph and I look forward to Mondays in the summer as much as any day of the week. Mondays mean we have our weekly company founders meeting with our coffees, walking along Lake Michigan discussing our students, our business, and life overall. Oh and as huge sports fans, we of course find time for sports.
But being open to change is one of my biggest strengths, and I believe one of the critical skills for success in life. So I decided to give it a go. I have been taking cold showers for right around two months now, and I don't think I am ever going back to hot showers.
I started to reflect on what my unconscious fears were, and it was extremely powerful to think about what these fears, when unidentified and prioritized ahead of our goals, can do to our performance in school, in extracurriculars, in the professional world, and in our relationships.
I am very excited and humbled to announce that Joseph and I will be featured speakers at the 2016 international conference for life skills in Goa, India!
We wanted to repost this quote from several weeks back to honor Muhammad Ali, one of the greatest athletes in history and an amazing humanitarian. #RIP Muhammad Ali. Do you buy into this idea? Or are you someone that prefers to stay comfortable vs. challenge themselves and grow? What is your perception of the word "impossible"?
No matter how strong your student is at standardized test taking, their scores will benefit from exposure to additional coaching and training. The incremental improvement could be the difference from admissions to their university of choice or for that next level of scholarship funding. That is where Method Test Prep comes in.
Make your summer to-do list! This is a really fun way to make sure you make the most of the amazing opportunities that summer has to offer and do not take it for granted so that it's over before you know it. This is a great activity to do with a family member or best friend.
Mandy Harvey performing her original song: "Try" on America's Got Talent. So many amazing lessons in this video.