By Debbie Elder

I believe in you! Parents, this is one of the most powerful phrases you have in your arsenal. With these four words you can propel a child into adulthood as a confident leader. Back these words with specific actions and the results will amaze you. Teach them this battle cry – ‘Why not you? Why not now?’ I borrowed this philosophy from Rich DeVos and his incredible book Ten Powerful Phrases for Positive People. I strongly recommend you take some time to study this book.

Participating in Mastermind groups is a great way to propel your life and also teach your children by example. Your kids are watching every move you make! So make your moves carefully and deliberately! By reaching out to others in a mastermind group, you learn to help others and to be helped! The most productive mastermind groups are made up of people from all walks of life and from very diverse backgrounds and industries. The amazing insight you can learn from someone who can look at your ‘forest and comment on your trees’ is priceless!

Participate in your children’s activities! Cheer them on from the stands, show up at their events and discuss the adventure on the way home! Nothing says I believe in you like your participation in their lives. And if you are so inclined – be the coach, the girl/boy scout leader, the home where every kid wants to hang out! Each of these augments your child’s feelings of self- worth and your position in their world!

When you believe in yourself you can visualize the person you want to be. Once your children have a clear picture they can start to move towards that goal. Helping them to develop the clarity is a big part of your role as their parents. There are several exercises you can use to help you prepare your children for this self discovery journey. If you are interested in learning about this please contact me for more information.

By Debbie Elder

Imagine a world where everyone had great self-confidence and a healthy self-esteem. Wouldn’t that be a terrific place to live? No petty arguments, no egos getting in the way, just harmony and peaceful, productive living. Well why not make this a reality? Science has taught us the power of our minds and physicians have known for years the amazing effects of placebos. In fact in the 18th century doctors deliberately used ’sugar pills’ when they had no suitable drug to prescribe.

When we believe, we can achieve anything, even increased self confidence. People who are self assured make better choices and treat others with respect. They carry with them an attitude of gratitude and truly appreciate all that they have. When you are grateful you have joy and it is through joy that true happiness emerges. Self confident people speak up and share their ideas willingly. They are quick to offer help and believe they can be of assistance. They focus on the needs of others and are quick to contribute.

Each of us has a purpose in this world but if we are lacking in self confidence that purpose may not be expressed. Your children deserve to be the best they can be and the rest of us deserve to benefit from their gifts. What if Beethoven never played piano because he didn’t believe he was good enough? We might still be in the dark if Edison didn’t believe so strongly that he could in fact design an incandescent light bulb that would work. Or what about Ford, people laugh at him and made fun of his Model -T, but look at us now, we can’t even imagine a day without our automobiles.

Parents, take some time to discover the ‘placebo’ your children need to truly believe in themselves. We are all born into greatness and by unleashing the confidence necessary for success, success will follow – guaranteed!

By Camille Rodriquez

After recently working with a personal trainer at the local gym, several benefits that apply to homeschooling as well became apparent. The core tenets of a training program include pushing yourself harder than you think possible, keeping yourself accountable to an objective partner, and overall strength and growth training. Focusing on the same vision for your homeschool program allows you to take your program to a higher level and give your students skills that will serve them in college and beyond.

Most students do not want to push themselves too hard or at all. However, every homeschool student has had one experience or another when they do very well on an assignment and gain a sense of pride. Serve as their trainer in education and emphasize the ability it took to accomplish that goal so they can replicate that effort. Homeschool students who see their ability to keep pushing higher will learn to set higher goals.

Accountability is another benefit of a fitness trainer that is also true for homeschoolers. Homeschoolers need to have accountability partners in their education. Be sure your student has someone to whom they are accountable with definable goals, measurements, and standards of expectation. As a homeschool parent, you should have this type of partner as well.

Scheduling gym sessions causes a person to open up their schedule for that time, and likewise, homeschoolers need their school schedule to be given top priority. Medical appointments, sports, and extracurricular activities should be included in a homeschool program, but they need to be scheduled after the school work is given top priority. Make school the primary focus and purpose in your homeschool training.

Building standards for educational achievement, raising expectations, staying accountable, and prioritizing your activities are skills your students need to learn. Involve them in the planning and visioning of your homeschool goals and objectives, and they will gain confidence in their strengths and abilities. This “stretching” and “toning” of their academic muscles is exactly the type of unique gift that homeschool students can take advantage of, allowing for the individualized needs of each student and their distinctive abilities.

Set high standards for your homeschool program; increase your expectations, and see where your students can perform – then raise the standard again!

By Camille Rodriquez

Act like you enjoy what you are learning and one day you will! This approach helps motivate the unmotivated homeschool student and make the difference in lifetime application skills. Parents can model appropriate attitudes toward learning that will impact their children for many years. Learning never stops, so cultivating the right attitude towards learning is worth modeling; it makes it more fun and teaches the value of enjoying what you learn.

“When will it end?” This is a common thought among school-aged teenagers. There may be an occasional exception to this rule, but many teenagers approach school as if each painful minute is the most boring moment of their day. What if the adults encouraged a love of learning in their students and looked for ways to bring about a different attitude? Students should see the adults in their lives seeking knowledge on a regular basis, and sharing their studies with people around them. If students see adults around them learning regularly, growing to love what they are learning, and taking pride in their work, the impact upon young adults will be great.

Adults can model a persevering attitude that sets the tone for proper respect and admiration for learning. The first question that you should ask if you feel that you have an unmotivated student is, “What am I modeling for them?” Be sure to show your students that learning never stops and it should be an ongoing and daily goal. Lack of motivation can be changed by a decision to make the best of it and a realization that the benefits will be of value.

The benefits to learning to tie shoes, ride bikes, and drive cars for example are worth the effort to learn, and school subjects should be no different. The difference is having an attitude of beneficial effort. Everyone has to work through some difficult or less than entertaining things sometimes. Share what you are learning with your homeschool students, and encourage them to tell you about their studies and what they are learning. It makes the material more meaningful, worthwhile, and engages your student in finding the purpose and higher value in their information.

By Debbie Elder

Have you ever noticed how ‘lucky’ successful people are? Things seem to mysteriously fall into place for them. Everything they touch turns to gold! Or does it? Perhaps it is because they are willing to do hard things, roll up their sleeves and dig deep to find whatever they need to make it work. They are willing to do the ‘ucky’ jobs, which is why they appear to the outside world as ‘lucky’.

So, where in your life are you not doing what needs to be done? What areas are you feeling unlucky or unsuccessful? Take a few moments to ponder these questions. Now that you have an understanding of the facets of your life that need improving, let’s get started. One great place to begin is to study people that look lucky, what are they doing, thinking and saying that you aren’t? What behaviors can you incorporate into your life that can start to impact your success rate?

Purposeful living is another opportunity for positive change. Instead of reacting to circumstances, start making decisions about your life’s path. Determine where you want to go, the best route to get there, and execute your plan. You need to do things differently to see changes. Don’t be afraid to start today, even the tiniest steps in the right direction make an impact.

Find an accountability partner, a friend to hold you responsible for the changes you decide to make. Set out the guidelines for this new alliance and with their support you will move much faster towards your end result. In most cases we know what needs to be done and we can even keep at it for a while until ‘life’ gets in the way and all our good intentions get left behind. The purpose of your accountability partner is to help you stay on track, even if you get derailed, they can dust you off, remind you of your goals and get you back on the path to success.

Anything you truly want, you can have. You just need to decide to do what it takes to get it. Sometimes that might mean you need to do the ‘ucky’ jobs to get lucky! But don’t you deserve it, whatever it may be to you?

 By Camille Rodriquez

Not every student finds that leaving for college right after high school is what best suits them. Some students find that taking a year off from their educational pursuits, a “gap year,” is best for them. This is a focused, intentional preparation that will lead to higher degrees of success and advancement when students do enter college. A gap year will address some of the concerns and issues that face high school students, and lay the groundwork for a competent, independent learner for the future.

Many students struggle to know what they want to do for college – what they want to study, what college they wish to attend, etc. Another concern for some is that they may not have built the solid academic footing needed to be successful in college. Sometimes, these skills and abilities are slower to develop, regardless of biological age. Similarly, college can be a costly venture, and getting more so every year. Many students find the need to spend some time working prior to entering college for financial reasons. These factors show some of the indicators that students might need a gap year.

During a gap year, students should actively prepare for higher learning. Students who spend time focusing on cognitive skills, speed reading, study habits, positive academic behaviors, and writing techniques may also find time to take on a job that will build their financial reserves in order to make college possible. This is an excellent time to take on a job that provides financial resources, teaches responsibility and reliability, as well as provides adult professionals as references.

Students who have planned ahead in high school, built a solid academic foundation, and taken advantage of learning and study courses may find they want to study abroad, travel, or enter a mission field, volunteer work, etc. A gap year may be a solution for them also. Taking time to build strengths saves time and money if a student does poorly and has to repeat college work. A gap year should never be considered a failure, but rather an investment in future success. This option is a great alternative to rushing out unprepared for college simply because students have finished high school.

By Debbie Elder

If you want to be successful with people, and who doesn’t – you need to master the art of appreciation. In a recent management study, researchers found that 46% of employees quit their jobs because they do not feel appreciated. Anyone who has had to hire an employee knows how difficult this task is, so difficult that once you find the right staff member you definitely do not want to lose them.

There is typically a disconnect between what a manager believes motivates his staff and what really motivates an employee. Employees regularly indicate that appreciation for a job well done is their number one motivator, but when a manger is asked the same question they put appreciation eighth on the list. Managers rank good wages, job security, promotion opportunities, good working conditions, interesting work, loyalty from management, and tactful discipline before appreciation. Is it any wonder there is a problem?

So, armed with this information, how can you make a difference? Whether you are a student, a homemaker, an entrepreneur, a teacher, or a parent, you can benefit from this knowledge. Motivating others is something we are called to do on a daily basis. No man is an island; we need others to accomplish what we are tasked to do. By deciding to regularly demonstrate appreciation for others, you reward them with true feelings of self worth. Mother Teresa made an observation several years ago and summed it up with these words, “There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread.”

Take a moment to think back to the last time you felt appreciated by someone. Didn’t it feel wonderful? Do you remember the extra bounce in your step you felt after you were validated? Don’t you know someone right now that deserves the same feeling? Go and find them and take a few minutes to value, love, and appreciate them for being a part of your life.

By Camille Rodriquez

Time management can be one of the most difficult tasks for a new college student to grasp. There are numerous distractions, and the statistics on drop-outs, fail-outs, and drawn-out degrees show that students are entering college unprepared to do the work, complete it on time, and avoid the pitfalls of unstructured freedoms. However, learning to manage time and tasks can be taught early to build this skill into the nature and character of students.

For a week or so, have students keep a daily log of the activities that they do each day, and how long they do them. This shows them how much time it takes them to complete basic tasks. They should record everything for a consistent period so they have a true picture of their time use and misuse.

Then, give them the next big school assignment to plan at the beginning of the project. Give them a calendar and have them put the due date on it. Have them put dates on the calendar for each step that will be required for the project or assignment. Next, they need to break down each due date into small steps to complete that specific dated entry on time, and note those on their calendar.

Most students are rarely taught this process. Writing down specific dates, and keeping a calendar system in use will make the difference. Continue to add projects, and by the time the school year rolls around in the fall, students should be able to create their own lesson plans for the year in most subjects, or at the very least, be very involved in the process of planning out their entire year.

We only have so much time in the course of each month, week, or day. Making the best use of time and assignments is something rarely taught to students and as a result, many students enter college with no idea how to complete their work in the midst of so many freedoms and non-academic opportunities. However, if a student is trained in time management skills in middle school or high school, they will be able to successfully complete their work, on time and in-depth, as well as have the time to engage in extracurricular opportunities along the way.

By Debbie Elder

We are not all alike, some of us are visual, others are auditory and still others are kinesthetic. Therefore, we all like to be appreciated a little differently. Find out how the person you want to appreciate likes to receive the message and you have just ramped up the effect by 100%. So how do you find out their preference? Well, one way is to ask them to tell you about the time they felt most loved. Encourage them to describe it to you. A great follow up question might be “Was it what they said, something they did, or the way they touched you?” Once you have identified their primary mode you can tailor your appreciation to that style.

Visual people like to be appreciated with things they can see and look at long after you have given it to them. They will appreciate cards, letters, plaques, certificates, and pictures. Don’t be surprised to see your card on their bulletin board the next time you visit their office. The reminder of your thoughts will continue to warm their hearts long after the initial gift was received.

How you say what you say, will have a great impact on an auditory person. The tone of your voice and delivery will make a big difference to them. The compassion in your voice is their litmus test. Auditory people will really appreciate a phone call to say thank you and the more specific you can be, the better.

The ‘hands on’ people, our kinesthetic individuals, prefer their appreciation a little differently. These folks respond favorably to hugs, a pat on the back, and a handshake. They will really appreciate a gift card for a massage. In addition to that, you can take them out to lunch, spend an evening dancing at your favorite club, or a visit the local park and just go for a walk.

The art of appreciation can be mastered with a little bit of study. Invest in those you care about, ask the right questions, observe their behavior preferences, and make an impact!

By Camille Rodriquez

The education and training of a student can be looked at as open territory for the mind. When the students are trained to take a “pioneer” approach to learning, rather than a “settler” perspective, they will forge ground more easily, find long-term learning more enjoyable, and experience greater access to college opportunities as well as post-college success. This attitude begins in the home. This gives homeschool families a unique opportunity to cultivate this attitude and mindset from an early age. A part of every homeschool program should be the continual assessment and evaluation of this question, “Pioneer or Settler?”

Pioneers are willing to do things more intensely to pave the way for a strong educational foundation. They pay careful attention to details, are diligent, and work hard until the material is mastered. Pioneers are consistent workers and put their energies first on things needed for academic survival and growth and then on recreation and play. They are driven, intentional, and don’t stop until their benchmarks are met. Pioneers set goals and strive conscientiously to achieve them.

The difference between a pioneer and a settler, in academic terms, can be boiled down to those willing to work to achieve their goals no matter how hard, and those who only hope to keep things running smoothly. Educational settlers look at the landscape before them and are satisfied to do things just like those around them with varying degrees of success. However, a true pioneer in education will look for ways to take the resources before them, utilize those to their best ability, and push through difficult times to make their dreams come to pass.

Complacent learners have the idea that it doesn’t take much effort to meet school standards, so they put forth the minimum level of work. This attitude is developed early in middle school and high school years and prevents students from reaching their full potential. However, when students are raised to be curious learners and ask “why” and “how,” they become pioneers in an educational sense. This approach will take them into a journey of life-time learning, life-time application, and the ability to positively impact future generations.